Windows Annoyances, a comprehensive resource for intermediate to advanced users of Windows 95 and NT 4.0, details step-by-step how to customize your Win95/NT operating systems through an extensive collection of tips, tricks, and workarounds.
Learn how to customize every aspect of your Win95/NT system, far beyond the intentions of Microsoft. Programmers and network administrators will appreciate the information in this book. Even advanced users will find it intriguing. All of the extensive details have been laid out in a simple, direct format that intermediate to advanced users can follow with ease.
Features that can be found in both Win95 and WinNT 4.0 are covered:
- Customize your PC by learning methods of backing up, repairing, compressing, and transferring portions of the Registry.
- For Win95 users, discover how Plug and Play, the technology that makes Win95 so compatible, can save you time and improve the way you interact with your computer.
- Explore an exhaustive collection of tips and tricks for customizing the new interface of Win95/NT.
- Learn how to benefit from the new 32-bit software and hardware drivers that support such features as improved multitasking and long filenames.
You will also find topics ranging from useful keyboard shortcuts to ways you can format floppies faster, more reliably, and with greater capacity. Networking in Win95/NT is an issue for many users, but this book covers in detail everything from dialing into the Internet to connecting two computers across a peer-to-peer network! This book even provides instructions for capatilizing on security and multiple-user settings for Win95 and WinNT. You will also discover ways of acquiring and using third-party software and utilities to tackle some of the more complex workarounds, requiring a minimum investment in both time and money. Windows Annoyances not only shows you step-by-step how to personally customize your Win95/NT operating systems, it provides you with the ability to troubleshoot common problems, thus giving you immense control over the operating system.
(Note: This book is not replaced by Windows 98 Annoyances. O'Reilly will be providing ongoing marketing support for both volumes.
The premise of
Windows Annoyances is that Windows 95 and Windows NT are pretty dreadful until you've performed a healthy amount of customization work. If you are a long-time supporter of this premise, you'll appreciate this eclectic grab bag of techniques for fixing major weaknesses, curing minor annoyances, and boosting overall performance.
The book begins with a basic introduction to the Windows shell customization, then immediately delves deeper. You'll be introduced to the registry and registry editing, including how to use patches, search for entries, and--if you're feeling bold--compact the registry database. The next chapter, on advanced shell configuration, is particularly rich with unusual tricks. These include ways to get rid of standard icons, such as My Computer, remove the Documents menu, protect your file types (Associations), and even edit the text on the Start button. While some of these tips are simply tweaking for tweaking's sake, others can offer real improvements in security.
A brief chapter on system administration presents advice on everything from improved Windows 95 security to how to transfer the operating system to another hard disk. Another section on performance optimization includes a fabulous suggestion for minimizing Windows 95's tendency to kick off long sessions of pointless hard disk thrashing. In addition, a long troubleshooting section draws your attention to some of the system's more vulnerable areas (your winsoc.dll file, for example), addresses configuration file issues, and gives good advice for disaster prevention and recovery. The troubleshooting topic that suggests ways to curb Windows 95 from searching for phantom files on an empty floppy drive is sure to become a favorite. Finally, the networking section offers plenty of valuable hints for workgroup setup and using dial-up networking.
All in all, Windows Annoyances is more of a collection of tips and tricks than a systematic resource manual. But most of the book's tricks are so useful and powerful that you'll be glad you learned them.
