Synopses & Reviews
An operating system is a piece of software that should do its work in the background while you do your work in the foreground. In an ideal world, that's precisely how an operating system would work. In our world, however, operating systems constantly get in our way. They annoy us. And few are more annoying than Microsoft Windows 98. Perhaps you're annoyed with the icons that Windows deposits on your desktop and that you never use. Or you're frustrated with the new elements of the Windows 98 interface. Or you consider Windows 98's central feature, its integration of Windows and the Web, to be a massive inconvenience.
With Windows 98 Annoyances, you can put an end to these and countless other annoyances. Given the book's format, which presents particular problems and immediately offers one or more solutions, you can quickly identify the Windows 98 features that most annoy you and equally quickly provide a fix for them. In the process, you'll take charge of Windows so that it works the way you want, rather than the way that Microsoft or some other software publisher has configured it.
Based on the author's extremely popular Windows Annoyances web site www.annoyances.org, Windows 98 Annoyances provides an authoritative collection of techniques for customizing Windows 98, including:
- Useful keyboard shortcuts that let you work with Windows 98 more efficiently
- Techniques for working with the Windows registry, the database of system and application-specific configuration information
- Available third-party software and utilities that handle some of the more complex workarounds and customizations
- Dealing with software applications that overwrite your file associations without warning
- A discussion of scripting with the Windows Scripting Host as a means of eliminating many of the Windows 98's annoyances to be the definitive resource for customizing Windows 98.
Synopsis
David A. Karp, author of the popular "Windows Annoyances", takes readers step-by-step through the workarounds for the annoyances found in this new Windows 98 operating system. Covers in detail the new Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0. Details Active Desktop and the new Windows Scripting Host.
Synopsis
Where do you really want to go today? If it is off Microsoft's well-worn path, bushwhack your own trail with Windows 98 Annoyances. Here's more than 400 pages of good stuff billg did not tell you. Like how to dis -integrate Windows 98's legendary (some would say notorious) Web integration features. How to get Windows to (thankfully) start faster. And how to script your Web connection so you do not have to log in manually.
About the Author
Windows expert David Karp is the author of O'Reilly's bestselling "Windows Annoyances" series of books, including his latest, "Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks". He also co-authored "Windows XP in a Nutshell". A clear and engaging writer, he is a consistent voice for empowering Windows users to get more out of their operating system, and his annoyances.com web site has garnered a sizeable following. David has also written "eBay Hacks" and "eBay: The Missing Manual".
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Making the Most of Windows 98
What's Wrong with Windows
Flavors of Windows-Past and Present
Transition to Windows 98
2. Customizing the Interface
Coping with Explorer
Get Control of the Desktop
Fundamental Interface Tweaks
3. The Registry
Getting to Know the Registry
Tips and Tricks
Registry Tools
4. Tinkering Techniques
Cleaning Up the Desktop
Fixing the Start Menu
Files and Folders
Making Windows Your Own
5. Maximizing Performance
Fine-Tuning Your Components
Fixing Software Bottlenecks
Upgrading Your System
6. Troubleshooting
General Troubleshooting Techniques
Error Messages
Preventative Maintenance and Data Recovery
Hardware Configuration
DOS to the Rescue
7. Networking
Setting Up a Workgroup
Installing Dial-Up Networking
Coping with Dial-Up Networking
Mixing and Matching Networks
Security and Multiple Users
8. Taking Control of Web Integration
A Little History and Motivation
Massaging the Interface
The Web View and the Active Desktop
Choosing Your Defaults
9. Scripting and Automation
Windows Scripting Host
DOS Batch Files
Scheduled Tasks
A. Setting Locator
B. DOS Lives
C. Contents of the MSDOS.SYS File
D. Class IDs of System Objects
E. Interface Terminology and the Basics
F. Software to Solve Annoyances
Index