Introduction. I. WINDOWS XP OVERVIEW. 1. Introducing Windows XP. Windows XP History and Description. Windows XP Architecture. Differences Between Windows XP Professional, XP Home Edition, and XP 64-bit Edition.

The Many Advantages of Windows XP. Upgrading to Windows XP. For More Information. 2. Common Windows XP Administrative Utilities. What Administration Really Means. Administering a Windows XP System. The Control Panel and Administrative Tools.

The Microsoft Management Console: Where Management Begins. Computer Management. System Information. Backup. Third-Party Administrative Utilities. For More Information. 3. The Windows XP Layout.

Windows XP Directory Structures. Key Windows XP Executables. The Windows XP Distribution CD. Living with Service Packs and Hotfixes. For More Information. II. NUTS AND BOLTS OF WINDOWS XP. 4.

Windows XP and Hardware. Plug and Play in Windows XP. Universal Plug and Play. Documenting a Current Hardware Configuration. Windows XP on a Laptop. Multiple CPUs and Windows XP. Troubleshooting Hardware Problems on Windows XP. Third-Party Hardware Troubleshooting Utilities.

For More Information. 5. Keeping Windows XP Current. What Happens When You Install a Program? Building Windows XP Systems with Room to Grow. Windows Update. Keeping Up with Changing Hardware, Software, and More. Advanced Device Driver, DLL, and System File Management. For More Information.

6. Windows XP Installation and Upgrade Secrets. Maintaining User Profiles and Configurations. Windows Activation. Dos and Don'ts of Upgrading. Performing a Smooth Migration. Automating Windows XP Installation. Troubleshooting Installations.

For More Information. 7. Booting Windows XP. System and Boot Partitions. The Windows XP Boot Sequence. Building Boot Disks. Multi-Boot System Implementation. Troubleshooting Boot Problems.

Third-Party Troubleshooting Tools. Turn Off, Restart, Hibernate, Standby. Logging Off and Fast User Switching. For More Information. 8. Windows XP Control Panel Utilities. The History of the Registry. A New Way to View Control Panel.

The Control Panel Applets. For More Information. 9. Introducing the Windows XP Registry. Registry Overview. Windows XP Registry Hives. Windows XP Registry Files and Structures. Security Information in the Registry.

How Programs Interact with the Registry. Group Policies. For More Information. 10. Editing the Windows XP Registry. Backing Up the Registry. Editing the Registry. Working with Existing Keys and Values.

Data Formats of the Registry. Importing and Exporting Registry Data. Avoiding Registry Problems. Troubleshooting the Registry. Uninstalling Applications. Third-Party Registry Editing and Management Utilities. For More Information. 11.

Important Registry Keys and Values. Basic Console Operations. Important Registry Miscellany. Shareware and Freeware Tools. For More Information. III. NETWORKING WINDOWS XP. 12.

Windows XP Networking Explored and Explained. The Redirector. The Workstation Service. The Server Service. Protocol Stacks. Multiple Universal Naming Convention Provider. Multi-Protocol Router. Administrative Shares.

For More Information. 13. Windows XP Networking Models. Workgroup Networks. Domain-Based Networks. Understanding Groups. Understanding the Security ID. Troubleshooting Techniques for Networks.

For More Information. 14. Windows XP and TCP/IP. TCP/IP Explored and Explained. Understanding IP Addressing, Subnet Masks, and Domain Names. Routers, Proxies, and Firewalls. DNS, WINS, Active Directory, and Other IP Matters. Using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Installing and Configuring TCP/IP. Managing Internet Connections. Managing IP Information Services. Troubleshooting IP. For More Information. 15. Windows XP and Legacy Protocols. NetBEUI and Windows XP.

Integrating Windows XP with Older Versions of NetWare. Windows Services for NetWare Version 5. The Realities of Integrating NetWare and Windows 2000. Troubleshooting NetWare-to-Windows XP Connections (and Vice Versa). Performance Tuning When Using Multiple Protocols. For More Information. 16. Windows XP Meets Unix.

Windows XP Strengths and Weaknesses. Unix Strengths and Weaknesses. Hybrid Environments. Windows 2000 Server and Unix Integration. The Domain Name System. For More Information. 17. Remote Access.

Connecting to Remote Systems. Working with Modems, ISDN, Cable Modems, and More. Connecting Broadband to Your Computer. Remote Access Versus Remote Control. Remote Desktop. Remote Assistance. Working Across Virtual Private Networks. Third-Party DUN, RAS, and VPN Utilities and Hardware.

For More Information. 18. Windows XP and Terminal Services. Terminal Services History and Overview. Working with Terminal Services. Using Windows XP as a Terminal Services Client. Troubleshooting Terminal Services. Third-Party Terminal Services and Related Utilities.

For More Information. IV. MANAGING YOUR WINDOWS XP SYSTEM(S). 19. Windows XP and Storage. FAT and NTFS. Installing, Configuring, and Partitioning Disks. File Management Utilities.

Data Management. Encrypting File System (EFS). Third-Party Storage Management Utilities. Troubleshooting Disk Drives/Storage Subsystems. For More Information. 20. Windows XP Backup and More. The Windows XP Built-in Backup Utility.

Other Backup Alternatives. Choosing an Appropriate Backup Device. Rules for Backing Up. Managing Backup Media. Benefits of Offsite Storage. Third-Party Backup Tools and Utilities. Troubleshooting Backup Problems. For More Information.

21. Scripting and Automation. The Computer Can Take Care of Itself. Windows Batch Files and Commands. Windows Script Host. AT and the Scheduled Tasks Service. Scripting and Automation Scenarios. Windows Remote Installation Service (RIS).

Troubleshooting Scripting and Automation. Third-Party Scripting and Automation Alternatives. For More Information. 22. Tuning and Optimizing Windows XP. Establishing a Baseline. Working with System Monitor. Characterizing System Performance.

Key Objects and Counters. Identifying Bottlenecks. Troubleshooting System Monitor Problems. Other Windows XP Performance Tools. Third-Party Performance Monitoring Tools. Monitoring Tools. Third-Party Network Monitoring Tools. For More Information.

23. Managing Applications. Understanding Foreground Priority. Managing Ap.