O'Reilly and Associates is known mainly for publishing excellent books about programming languages and operating systems, and for catering to propellerheads' endless appetite for minor details. In Windows 2000 Quick Fixes, O'Reilly proves that it can put out equally excellent books for less technical users of operating systems--people who'd rather solve problems and move on than spend hours dwelling upon the obscure. Jim Boyce has written a very fine book that combines deep knowledge of Microsoft Windows 2000 and the networks it facilitates with a knack for writing that most anyone will be able to understand and follow. You'll almost certainly find this book handy as a Windows 2000 reference, and it's not a bad review for the Microsoft Windows 2000 professional certifications either.
You will likely begin using this book by browsing through the table of contents, which lists problems and objectives you'll probably encounter ("Modify your computer's name" and "Restrict others' use of your printer at certain times" are two examples). Upon turning to the referenced pages, you'll find a couple of paragraphs about what causes the problem or what factors must be adjusted to achieve the objective. Then comes a procedure (sometimes several, if prerequisites must be met first) to follow. The procedures may be too sparsely illustrated for some tastes, but the text is clear and it deals with optional settings.
--David Wall
Topics covered: Microsoft Windows 2000 (both Server and Professional), approached via recipes for solving difficulties and accomplishing common goals. All of the operating system's capabilities, including its user interface, its relationships with applications and printers, and especially its network and security settings, are covered fully.
For those who are faced with switching over to the powerful but often confusing Windows 2000, Windows 2000 Quick Fixes offers something completely new: not just solutions, but a fast, easy way to find them. Designed with the power user in mind, this book is laid out for optimal accessibility; it defines problems clearly and follows up with concise, yet detailed, solutions. Windows 2000 Quick Fixes is an essential reference for both the novice and the well-seasoned Microsoft OS user. For instance, newcomers to Windows 2000 who have children using their computers can quickly learn how to protect some areas without walling off the entire system. Old hands at Windows will learn quick and easy new ways to recover data or what to do when the administrator's password's been forgotten. Unlike many of the oversized and poorly organized books on the market, Windows 2000 Quick Fixes doesn't waste time with endless tutorials, fluff, and useless background material. And while the book is designed for easy access, the material is by no means basic. It provides extensive coverage of problems for both the Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 Server editions, and takes power users from installation issues, through complex networking configuration problems, to important backup and security concerns. Some of the topics covered include:
- Setting up a dual-boot system
- Recovering data
- Resolving hardware configuration conflicts
- Restoring the Registry from a back up
- Making a printer available through the Internet
- Using automatic address assignment without DHCP
- Configuring Internet Connection Sharing
- Hosting a web site
With its clear, well-organized fixes to common problems,
Windows 2000 Quick Fixes is the book to reach for when the pressure is on and there's no time to waste hunting for buried solutions.
A guide to quickly reversing problems with Windows 2000, such as problems hosting a Web site or resolving hardware conflicts. Topics covered include recovering data, setting up an FTP site, making a printer available through the Internet, and setting up a dual-boot system. Softcover.
