Ed Bott and Carl Siechert have combined their considerable talents for producing user-level documentation in creating Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out. One of the most carefully researched books on Windows XP to date, this large volume has all the information and procedures most everyday users of the operating system will want. With its nicely formatted how-to instructions, detailed documentation of command-line commands, intelligent explanatory text, and broad scope, this book makes a great reference for a family or business that uses Windows XP extensively. Even the illustrations are more helpful than usual, largely because the publisher has gone to the trouble of annotating many of them with pointers and labels.

Bott and Siechert deal with the most controversial features of Windows XP, notably product activation, in a straightforward way. They simply explain what activation is for, tell how to go about it, and move on. If you're a power user interested in getting around activation and performing other unsanctioned hacks, look for your information in online newsletters. This book plays by Microsoft's rules, and that's fine. It's obvious that the authors have had access to Windows XP for some time, and spent a lot of time exploring its new features. Count on this book to explain the complete set of Windows XP's features--even the exciting networking stuff--in terms you can easily follow. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft Windows XP (Professional and Home editions) for home and office users who want to install, use, and run applications. Emphasis is on basic set-up and configuration, hardware installation and modification, file management, multimedia, and networking.


From Book News, Inc.
This deluxe edition is a clothbound version of the book which includes an evaluation version of Microsoft Windows Server 2003, XP-related tools from the Server 2003 resource kit, and the Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security eBook. Topics of the book (and corresponding pdf eBook on CD-ROM) include recent updates and troubleshooting tips as well as fundamentals such as setup and startup, security, customizing Windows, storage and file management, digital media, networking, using e-mail, fax, and messaging capabilities, and system maintenance and recovery. Bott has been working with and writing about Windows for 15 years.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Book Description
Packed with Deluxe Edition resources and tools, this supremely organized, one-volume reference can help advanced users and system professionals achieve new levels of Windows XP mastery-from the inside out! This thoroughly updated second edition delivers more depth and detail on core and advanced Windows XP topics, along with all-new information on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Windows Server(tm) 2003, security auditing, corporate network interoperability, Microsoft Windows Media(r) Player 10, Windows Movie Maker 2, and more. The award-winning INSIDE OUT format makes it easy to find the timesaving solutions, troubleshooting tips, and workarounds you need to get the job done. Plus new Reality Check sidebars offer the straight scoop on popular "wisdom" for Windows XP. You also get a Deluxe Edition CD packed with an eBook of the entire text, Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP, bonus content on Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition, Windows XP Expert Zone columns, and eBook versions of Microsoft's latest computer dictionary, networking encyclopedia, and security encyclopedia.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out is the XP guide for power users. A lot of books tell you they're full of undocumented tips and great ideas. This one really is.

In 1,240 pages, Bott and Siechert have the room to cover both Windows XP Professional and Home Editions in incredible depth, and they take full advantage of it. And even though this book is from Microsoft Press, authors Ed Bott and Carl Siechert pull very few punches.

For example, Windows XP Home Edition's "reduced" file sharing features have been widely lamented; Bott and Siechert show you that you can evade the limitation, and set individual file and folder permissions to your heart's content, simply by rebooting in Safe Mode. Similarly, you can evade Outlook Express' refusal to send certain file types (because they've been abused by virus authors). If your recipient is running XP, just use the new Windows Messenger instant messaging feature instead.

Lots of books will remind you to run the Upgrade Advisor before you install Windows XP. This one reveals that some device drivers that won't install onto a new XP system will work perfectly fine if you install them on Windows 2000 and then upgrade to XP. Lots of books lament Windows XP's anti-piracy Activation feature. This one tells you to back up the Wpa.dbl hardware fingerprint file, so you can avoid reactivation if you need to reinstall Windows XP on a system that was previously activated. (The authors also suggest holding off on activation for at least a week, until you're sure everything's running right. Common sense, sure -- but we haven't seen that advice elsewhere!)

Thus far, we've talked primarily about Windows XP's "controversies." But Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out is equally strong on coverage of the powerful new Windows XP features that make upgrading so attractive. For example, you'll learn how to make the most of the new Windows Media Player 8 (from skins to playlists to add-ons for MP3 ripping to backing up your media licenses). There's a full chapter on organizing and editing images using the Scanner and Camera Wizard, Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, and other new tools.

Thankfully, the authors realize you know how to browse the Web and focus their Internet Explorer 6 coverage on advanced features, such as: sharing your Favorites folder, customizing your privacy settings, and changing the default search engine built into Search Companion.

The book concludes with more than 300 pages on system maintenance, recovery, networking, and administration. Absolutely authoritative, utterly invaluable. (Bill Camarda)

Bill Camarda is a consultant, writer, and web/multimedia content developer with nearly 20 years' experience in helping technology companies deploy and market advanced software, computing, and networking products and services. He served for nearly ten years as vice president of a New Jersey￯﾿ﾽbased marketing company, where he supervised a wide range of graphics and web design projects. His 15 books include Special Edition Using Word 2000 and Upgrading & Fixing Networks For Dummies®, Second Edition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Packed with Deluxe Edition resources and tools, this supremely organized, one-volume reference can help advanced users and system professionals achieve new levels of Windows XP mastery-from the inside out! This thoroughly updated second edition delivers more depth and detail on core and advanced Windows XP topics, along with all-new information on Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Microsoft Windows Server￯﾿ﾽ 2003, security auditing, corporate network interoperability, Microsoft Windows Media￯﾿ﾽ Series 9, Windows Movie Maker 2, and more. The award-winning INSIDE OUT format makes it easy to find the timesaving solutions, troubleshooting tips, and workarounds you need to get the job done. Plus new Reality Check sidebars offer the straight scoop on popular "wisdom" for Windows XP. You also get a Deluxe Edition CD-ROM packed with an eBook of the entire text; Windows Media Bonus Pack, including Windows XP Power Toys; bonus content on Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition; the Windows XP Expert Zone Bookshelf; and eBook versions of Microsoft's latest computer dictionary, networking encyclopedia, security encyclopedia, and guide to Microsoft Office OneNote￯﾿ﾽ.

SYNOPSIS