Windows XP Annoyances

This book is not designed to complain or criticize, but to acknowledge the problems and shortcomings of the Windows XP operating system in order to overcome them. Complete with a collection of tools and techniques, thebook allows users to improve their experience with Windows XP and establish control of the machine - rather than the other way around. Based on the author's Windows Annoyances Web site (http://www.annoyances.org), the book offers solutions, tips, workarounds and warnings that enable you to both customize and troubleshoot Windows, including: understanding the Windows Registry, including the use of the Registry Editor and advanced topics such as finding the right Registry Keys and restoring a corrupted registry; customizing the interface beyond Microsoft's intentions, including many undocumented tweaks; and mastering Windows built-in networking capabilities, including advanced technologies such as Internet connection sharing, remote desktop sharing, and virtual private networking Repairing Windows XP now that the DOS safety net is gone.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Making the Most of Windows XP What IS an Annoyance? A Brief History of Time, Re: MS Windows Transition to Windows XP 2. Basic Explorer Coping Skills Working with Explorer Exploring Basic Explorer Settings Force Explorer to Remember Its Own Settings Helpful Explorer Keystrokes Convince Explorer to Start with the Folder You Want Handling Files and Folders Take Charge of Drag-Drop Copy or Move to a Specified Path Make a Duplicate of a File or Folder More Ways to Rename Files Make It Easier to Delete Files How to Delete or Replace In-Use Files Fix the Search Tool A Crash Course on File Organization Working with ZIP Files Clean up Windows Shortcuts Regaining Control of the Desktop Dealing with Themes, Schemes, Styles, and Skins Make the Control Panel More Accessible Massaging the Start Menu Refresh the Desktop Without Restarting Windows Customize the Windows Startup Logo 3. The Registry Getting to Know the Registry Editor The Structure of the Registry The Meat of the Registry: Values Hives Are for the Bees Backing Up the Registry Registry Tips and Solutions Using Registry Patches Finding the Right Registry Key Search the Registry Effectively Using INI Files Create an Interface for a Registry Setting Registry Tools 4. Tinkering Techniques Customizing Your Desktop Cleaning Up Desktop Clutter Customizing My Computer and Other System Folders Covering Your Tracks Taming Recent Documents Thinning Out Explorer's New Menu Customize the Tray/Notification Area File Types: The Link Between Documents and Applications Customize Context Menus Understanding File Types Protect Your File Types Customize Context Menus for Drives, Folders, and Desktop Icons Print Out a Folder Listing Turn File Icons into Thumbnail Previews Disable the Automatic Display of Thumbnails in Certain Folders Turn off the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer Cool Things You Can Do with Drives and Folders Customize Drive and Folder Icons Mirror a Folder with Folder Shortcuts Customize the Places Bar Curb AutoPlay for CDs and DVDs 5. Maximizing Performance Eliminating Software Bottlenecks Tame Mindless Animation and Display Effects Speed Up Menu Responsiveness Speed Up System Startup Speed Up System Shutdown Get the Most Out of Your Games, Speed-Wise Squeezing Performance Out of Your Hard Disk A Defragmentation Crash-Course Choosing the Right Filesystem Advanced NTFS Settings Optimize Virtual Memory and Cache Settings Increasing Disk Space (or What to Throw Away) Eliminate Unwanted Windows Components Fine-Tuning and Upgrading Hardware Components Monitors Video Cards (Display Adapters) Motherboards Processors Memory Hard Disks Hard-Disk Controllers SCSI Controllers CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R Drives, and the Like Tape Drives and Removable Cartridge Drives Modems Network Interface Cards (NICs) Sound Cards Printers Mice and Other Pointing Devices Keyboards The Box and Power Supply 6. Troubleshooting General Troubleshooting Techniques Where to Go from Here Specific Software Issues What to Do when Windows Won't Start Error Messages During Startup Programs Run by Windows when It Starts Check Your Drive for Errors with Chkdsk Error Messages and Crashing Applications Closing Hung Applications Programs Commonly Running in the Background Patching Windows with Windows Update What to Do when Windows Won't Shut Down Dealing with Drivers and Other Tales of Hardware Troubleshooting Looking for a Driver Updating and Verifying Drivers Handling Misbehaving Drivers Working with Restore Points Understanding Version Control Firmware: Software for Your Hardware Resolving Hardware Conflicts The Trials and Tribulations of Plug-and-Play Using Multiple Hardware onfigurations Which Slots to Use for Internal Devices Fixing Device-Specific Problems Video Cards (Display Adapters) Monitors Motherboards Processors Memory USB Controllers and Devices Hard Disks and Most Removable Cartridge Drives IDE Controllers SCSI Controllers CD & DVD Drives, Recordable and Otherwise Tape Drives Modems Network Interface Cards (NICs) Sound Cards Printers Scanners and Cameras Keyboards Power Supplies Preventive Maintenance and Data Recovery Quick, On-The-Fly Backups Back Up Your Entire System Installing Microsoft Backup Tips for a Better Backup Recovering Your System After a Crash Protecting Your Hardware 7. Networking and Internetworking Getting Started with Networking Terminology Primer Planning Your Network Configuring Network Connections Step-by-Step Procedures Building a Peer-to-Peer Workgroup Connecting to the Internet Sharing an Internet Connection Fix Your Shared Internet Connection with a New MTU Test Your Throughput Virtual Private Networking Accessing an FTP Site in Explorer Controlling Another Computer Remotely (Just Like in the Movies) Managing the Nameserver Cache Securing Your System on a Network Closing Back Doors in Windows XP Using the Internet Connection Firewall Scan Your System for Open Ports 8. User Accounts and Administration Managing Users Understanding Permissions Protecting Your Files with Encryption Use the Traditional Log On Dialog Instead of the Welcome Screen Customize the Welcome Screen Customize the Log On Screen Logging on Automatically Logging in as the Administrator Hiding User Accounts Working with User Folders Sharing Files and Printers Sharing Folders Accessing Shared Resources Remotely Sharing Printers Stop Sharing Scheduled Tasks 9. Scripting and Automation Building a Script with VBScript Using Variables to Store and Manipulate Information Giving Your Scripts an Interface with the InputBox and MsgBox Commands Creating Interactive Scripts with Conditional Statements Using Loops, Using Loops, Using Loops Making Building Blocks with Subroutines and Functions Extending Scripts with Object References Running Applications from Scripts Accessing the Registry from Scripts Manipulating Files from Scripts Creating Windows Shortcuts and Internet Shortcuts in Scripts Networking with Scripts Manipulating Internet Explorer from Scripts Using Command-Line Parameters in Scripts Managing Services with Scripts Writing CGI Scripts for a Web Server Making a Startup Script Deciphering Script Errors Finding a Better Editor Further Study Automating Scripts with Scheduled Tasks Wacky Script Ideas Quick Floppy Backup Tool Internet Fishtank Smart Phone Dialing Quick SendTo Shortcut Creator Rename Files with Search and Replace Mirror a Folder with Folder Shortcuts 10. Installing Windows XP Installing the Operating System Installing on a New (Clean) System Upgrading from a Previous Version of Windows Installing from the Command Prompt Reinstalling Windows XP Dealing with Potential Problems During Setup Migrating to Windows XP Casualties of the Upgrade Adjusting Windows XP to Smooth Out the Migration Making Room for Windows Transfer Windows to Another Hard Disk or System Working with Partitions Advanced Topics Setting Up a Dual-Boot System Creating a Bootup Floppy Activating Windows XP Using the Windows Recovery Console A. Setting Locator B. BIOS Settings C. Command Prompt Crash Course D. TCP/IP Ports E. Error Messages (Blue Screen of Death)

About the Author :
David A. Karp, a graduate from the University of California at Berkeley in mechanical engineering, is a specialist in user-interface design and computer-based training. He currently consults on Internet technology, web site production, and software engineering. He has written for a number of magazines, most recently for Windows Sources. He created the Windows95 Annoyances web site, the catalyst for this book. David initiated the web site as an early beta tester of Windows95, and by the time the product was released, the site was widely cited as one of the best technical resources on the Web. Noted recognition includes PC Computing magazine, Yahoo! Computing, Windows Magazine, and the San Francisco Examiner.