Windows XP in a Nutshell

Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition documents everything there is to know about the world's most widely used operating system. Updated to include information on Service Pack 2 (SP2), this compact guide is the ultimate resource for IT professionals and Windows XP power users everywhere.Written in O'Reilly's time-tested in a Nutshell format, Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition cuts through the hype and delivers practical details in a no-nonsense manner. At the heart of the book is an invaluable 200-plus-page section titled Windows XP Application and Tools. In it, readers will find:
* A list of available commands and utilities, including Start Menu accessories, command prompt tools, and hidden system administration utilities
* A Task and Setting Index for quick access to hundreds of XP settings
* A complete reference to XP's command prompt, including advanced commands and scripting features
Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition also includes a primer on files, folders, and windows; control panels and built-in applications; how to set up a PC for Internet use; and the standard Windows rituals of troubleshooting, installation, and upgrading.And, of course, this greatly expanded second edition also includes all the need-to-know details about the security technologies featured in SP 2, so you can better defend yourself against viruses, worms, and hackers. Readers even receive guidelines and instructions for installing SP2 on their PC, or across a network of computers.With its wealth of tips, careful instruction, and expert advice, this must-have desktop reference is dedicated to making your time at the computer safer, easier, and more fun.

Preface;
Considerations and Scope;
Organization of the Book;
Conventions Used in This Book;
We'd Like to Hear from You;
Safari Enabled;
Windows XP Resource Links;
Using Code Examples;
Acknowledgments;
The Big Picture;
Chapter 1: The Lay of the Land;
1.1 The Big Picture;
1.2 What's New in Windows XP;
1.3 Windows XP Home and Professional Editions;
1.4 Windows Update;
1.5 Windows Service Packs;
Chapter 2: Using Windows XP;
2.1 The Desktop;
2.2 Point-and-Click Operations;
2.3 Starting Up Applications;
2.4 Styles and Consequences of Styles;
2.5 Windows and Menus;
2.6 Keyboard Accelerators;
2.7 Common Controls;
2.8 Files, Folders, and Disks;
2.9 The Command Line;
2.10 Online Help;
2.11 Shutting Down;
Alphabetical Reference;
Chapter 3: The User Interface;
Chapter 4: Windows XP Applications and Tools;
4.1 Using the Command Prompt;
4.2 Alphabetical Reference to Windows Components;
Chapter 5: Task and Setting Index;
Chapter 6: The Command Prompt;
6.1 Using the Command Line;
6.2 Command Prompt Choices;
6.3 Wildcards, Pipes, and Redirection;
6.4 Alphabetical Reference to DOS Commands;
6.5 MS-DOS Batch Files;
Advanced Topics;
Chapter 7: Networking;
7.1 Networking Terminology;
7.2 General Procedures;
Chapter 8: The Registry;
8.1 What's in the Registry;
8.2 Adding and Deleting Registry Keys and Values;
8.3 Organization of the Registry;
8.4 Hives;
8.5 Backing Up the Registry;
8.6 Exporting and Importing Registry Data with Patches;
8.7 Ten Cool Things You Can Do in Your Registry;
Chapter 9: The Windows Script Host;
9.1 What Is WSH?;
9.2 Additional Resources;
9.3 Executing Scripts;
9.4 Creating a Script;
9.5 VBScript;
9.6 Object Model;
9.7 Wscript Object;
9.8 Shell Object;
9.9 Registry Routines;
9.10 Shortcuts;
9.11 Popup;
9.12 Network Object;
9.13 Network Printer-Related Functions;
9.14 FileSystem Object;
9.15 TextStream Object;
9.16 Object Browser;
9.17 Database Example;
9.18 Messaging;
Appendixes;
Installing Windows XP;
Installation on a New (Clean) System;
Migrating to Windows XP;
Before Upgrading to Windows XP;
Keyboard Shortcuts;
Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key;
Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Function;
Power Toys and TweakUI;
Inside TweakUI;
Keyboard Equivalents for Symbols and International Characters;
Common Filename Extensions;
Services;
Service Packs;
Before You Install;
Getting Service Packs;
Installing a Service Pack;
Key Features in Service Pack 1;
Key Features in Service Pack 2;
Colophon;