Windows 98 in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference (Nutshell Handbooks)

Windows 98 in a Nutshell is a comprehensive, compact reference that systematically unveils what serious users of Windows 98 will find interesting and useful. Little known details of the operating system, utility programs, and configuration settings are all captured in a consistent reference format. Based on the bestselling "In a Nutshell" approach, this book contains more information about using Windows 98 than any other book on the market. Guaranteed. Windows 98 in a Nutshell was coauthored by Tim O'Reilly, the publisher whose books have revolutionized computer book publishing with their commonsense approach, depth of detail, and focus on practical information that you can really use. If you can't remember which option on a dialog box controls a function, or if you just want to have a better handle on what's available in Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, this is the book you need. It contains:

• Detailed information on almost every command and utility available with Windows 98, including Start Menu accessories, DOS commands, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Policy Editor, and TweakUI, as well as new utilities in Windows 98
• Detailed advice and documentation on system configuration via the Control Panel, system startup files, and the Registry
• A detailed treatment of Internet configuration and access via Dial-Up Networking
• Hundreds of tips, gotchas, and clever ways to do familiar and not-so-familiar tasks
• A focus on ways to integrate the command line into your work with Windows 98
• Pointers to dozens of useful online sites that contain additional information
• Information on how to use Win98's new Web integration features to build custom "Web applications" within folders or on your desktop
• Detailed information on Windows Script Host (WSH), the feature that lets you use VBScript or other scripting languages to automate common tasks

This book follows the commonsense O'Reilly approach, cutting through the hype and giving practical details you can use every day. Any user who wants to make the most of Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition will love this book.

Windows 98 in a Nutshell, the latest addition to the family of O'Reilly's Nutshell books (an extremely useful set of references for developers, system administrators, and users), covers the current version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, Windows 98. Up to date enough to cover the latest SE edition, it's a compilation of tips, information, and guides to using and working with Windows.

This is a book of three parts, the first giving you a brief overview of the Windows way of working. Section two is a deeper, alphabetical reference to the various functions and features of Windows 98, complete with plenty of screen shots and instructions for getting the best out of your PC.

If you're running a network or want to get a better understanding of Windows 98 systems, you'll find the third section of the book most useful. It covers in depth the tools you need to run Windows, from the Registry to building and running batch files. However, where it really excels is in its coverage of one of Microsoft's hidden secrets--the Windows Scripting Host. Using this and the reference to the available functions in the book, you can create simple scripts to control and add extra functions to your Windows systems.

Because Windows 98 is so poorly documented, this book is the ideal desktop aid for both the beginner and the power user. Windows 98 in a Nutshell is the manual Microsoft left out of the Windows 98 box. --Simon Bisson, amazon.co.uk