PC Annoyances, Second Edition

Book Description

In every PC user's life, there's a point when desperate measures must be taken. Some push their PC off a pier or chuck it into a landfill. Others turn their former computing ally into a planter box. But don't give up on your PC yet--help is at hand. This easy to read, accessible book from PC World expert Steve Bass covers the waterfront of PC gripes and gremlins, with fixes for everything from Windows glitches to browsers that won't browse. Each fix is served up in bite-sized portions for quick reading--and even quicker fixing. A revised version of its best-selling predecessor, the 2nd edition offers 50 additional pages and over 120 new fixed annoyances. This reader-friendly book tackles problems related to a wide-ranging number of topics:

Windows--King of Annoyances! learn how to kick Windows in the rear, overcome glitches, take charge of the interface, live with the dreaded Service Pack 2
Hardware--wake up your DSL, tame your notebook, silence your PC's fan, work wonders with your scanner, and save paper
Email--from Outlook to Eudora! Defeat spam, avoid mailing list hassles, send big files, manage folders
Microsoft Office--learn workarounds for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that help you back up the unbackable and automate data entry
Internet--shake up IE, stop Flash, outsmart defaults, control Favorites, add the Google toolbar to Netscape

Plus, you get access to more than one hundred utilities that will help you squash bugs, enhance your email, untangle a system snarl, and much more. If your PC has ever annoyed you (do we see several billion raised hands?), PC Annoyances is for you. With the flip of a page or two, you can fix that faux pas and have your PC purring again.

Customer Reviews:

Worth the money.......2007-02-25

I was so impressed by this book when I checked it out from the library I realized I had to have a copy of my own for those times when problems crop up that drive me toward the deep end. This book does what it claims. Though it won't answer all of your problems (what book would), it's easy to understand and can provide simple solutions to what seem like complex problems. It also gives the reader various references and free helpful programs on-line. I highly recommend it.

Not a technical manual.......2007-02-03

OK for the nontechnical XP users. Most of these hints have been published elsewhere but it is a nice collection.

Would recommend this book.......2006-08-15

I love the format Steve Bass uses while writing
about computer annoyances. Many of the tips and solutions
can save you frustrations that are always there even in
a minor way because you may not know how to fix them.

Very Practical,Funny,To the Point........2006-07-17

After slogging through books on W2KPro/XPPro that are painful to read and no help unless your running 100+ PC's this book was a welcome relief in it's smarts,humor,and direct approach to fixing many of the challenges presented by the above mentioned OS's. Having one of my usual sleepless nights I started tallying up all the money I spent trying to keep MS software running,protected from hackers,bots,spyware,virii worms and it's own predisposition to fail and I realize that with an entire industry built around sloppy software as the norm and a gov't asleep at the antitrust wheel we're not likely to see a real improvement any time soon. When you hear words like regulation stifles innovation reach down and make sure you still have your wallet because it's about to be plundered. It's always about the money. If I had to spend another $25 to have this book included in the box that MS/OS came in then I would've saved hundreds on books that did'nt meet my needs and priceless amounts of lost time.

PC Annoyances.......2006-02-28

This is not the usual boring computer book. Just the opposite.
I'm reading it the second time with a felt tip marker. After reading a chapter I go to my computer, explore, and make changes. I've learned more reading this book than any other computer book I've purchased. And it's written so the average computer user like me can understand.

Average customer rating:

Fixing Windows XP Annoyances
Lots of great tips all in one place
IF IT'S ANNOYING, FIX IT!
At Last, Some Help for Those Nagging Problems
Useful Addition to PC Annoyances 2nd Ed

Fixing Windows XP Annoyances
David A. Karp
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596100531

Amazon.com

Microsoft Windows XP may be the latest in a popular family of operating systems, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. However, the designers of Windows XP have built enough flexibility into their product and provided users with a sufficiently large toolkit to overcome most shortcomings. In Windows XP Annoyances David Karp reveals his ideas about how to use Windows XP most effectively, for maximum fun and productivity and as little aggravation as possible. If you're comfortable working with Windows XP (or any of its recent predecessors) but find certain aspects of it, well, annoying, you'll find this book to your liking. Karp guides his readers through potentially risky procedures, such as editing the Registry and adjusting hardware device drivers, with skill and precision.

The author's tone is to the point and professional without being dry, without any of the phony, forced humor that appears in a lot of operating-system books. Though he inexplicably ignores the Windows XP Power Toys--some very handy utilities you can get from Microsoft's Web site--he does a great job of handling important questions. Case in point, the important issue of which files can be deleted to free up disk space, and which you shouldn't touch even though they look like pointless garbage. Similarly useful attention goes to the question of which background processes can be safely halted, and which are important. There's fine coverage of scripting with the Windows Script Host (WSH), as well. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to get the most out of Windows XP, even when it appears that the operating system is working against you. Troubleshooting techniques, hardware advice, Registry hacking, interface customization, and advanced networking subjects all find a place in this book.

Book Description

Windows XP is the most popular operating system on the planet--and the most annoying. From incomprehensible error messages to inexplicable crashes, from wonky wireless setups to just finding a file, Windows can make your computing life a nightmare. But thanks to Fixing Windows XP Annoyances, you can banish the bugs, speed up operations, and just make Windows work right.

Inspired by author David Karp's Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, this all-new tome pulls together tips, tricks, insider workarounds, and fixes for PC novices and pros, in a handy, accessible Q&A format that lets you find the solutions in a flash. Fixing Windows XP Annoyances will not only increase your productivity but lower your blood pressure. Karp's new book covers:

Setup and Hardware-Update Windows, reinstall Windows safely, speed up start up, resolve driver-hardware conflicts, and more.
Windows Interface-Navigate quickly, fix screen resolution problems, customize the desktop, and switch applications more quickly.
Windows Explorer-Force XP's file & folder management application to remember your view settings, save your default application choices, and get XP's Search tool to behave.
Multimedia-Having a problem playing a video or burning a CD? Want to do more with your digital photo collection? We have the answers.
Web and Email-Get a handle on spyware, spam and pop-ups; protect your privacy online; learn how to improve your online experience.
Wireless and Home Networking-Connect all your PCs; share Internet connections; share files and drives securely; make your wireless network purr; share network printers; and more.

If you're having a problem, just look through the Table of Contents for the annoyance that most closely matches your problem, or feel free to start thumbing through the pages. You'll likely find a fix to a problem you didn't even know could be solved.

Customer Reviews:

Fixing Windows XP Annoyances.......2007-09-30

Purchasing this book was a mistake. I expected something similar to
"Windows 98 Annoyances" by the same author. There was no chapter on the Registry, and little or no information about the Registry.

Lots of great tips all in one place.......2006-12-04

Why buy a book on Windows XP with VISTA coming soon? Unless forced to, I am sticking with XP and not going to VISTA. After several years of use, I finally have XP working the way I want. I have spent many hours tweaking my system for improved security and efficiency. Even so, this book which I bought in November 2006 has hundreds of tips I would not have discovered on my own. Nearly all of the tips are useful to the power user. The advice is solid and much easier to access than the Windows Knowledge Base or even searching the net. Plus the book is not biased by the MS party line. The book should be titled "How to get the most out of Windows XP". Based on my experience, this book is definitely a best-buy recommendation.

While I am ranting, I should add that I bought this book after the napster cat appeared in my version of Windows Media Player. It was either there all along, and I never noticed it, or it showed up after one of the ubiquitous MS updates. I am a business user and not interested in outline content stores. In fact, the cat is embarassing to me when I use media player in presentations. I resent the fact that MS would build this commercialism into Media Player without an easy option to eliminate it for those of us who do not wish to be solicited. I also resent the fact that MS uses OS updates to change my settings in favor of their own products.

IF IT'S ANNOYING, FIX IT!.......2006-10-12

Is Windows making your computing life a nightmare? If it is, then this book is for you. Author David A. Karp, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that shows you how to fix Windows.

Karp, begins by showing you how to deal with interface quirks that plague Windows and most of the applications that you run on your PC. Then, the author covers Windows Explorer in all of its forms, including tips on how to do things like force it to remember your view settings, save your default application choices, tame FileàOpen and FileàSave As dialog boxes, and get XP's Search tool to behave. The author then covers Multimedia and more. Next, he shows you how to get a handle on Internet Explorer's role, and what you can do to improve your online experience. The author also shows you how to make everything work without ever compromising your security. Finally, he shows you how to reinstall Windows, update it safely, get it to start up more quickly and shut down without complaining, and finally, make it work with all your hardware.

Several techniques are used in this most excellent book to help you better understand and retain the information you need to fix Windows. More importantly, the preceding approach is what makes this book a more effective learning tool than other books on the shelf.

At Last, Some Help for Those Nagging Problems.......2006-07-18

A computer whiz tipped me off to this book and I'm so glad she did. It has the fixes for some frustrating issues on Windows XP. The book is straight forward and easy-to-use.
It covers problems in these areas:
Windows Interface
Windows Explorer
Multimedia
The Web and Email
Wireless and Networking
Setup and Hardware
Give this book a try to improve your computing experience.

Useful Addition to PC Annoyances 2nd Ed.......2006-07-17

See review for PC Annoyances as it applies to both books which are
very good.

Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, 2nd Edition

Average customer rating:

Very useful book to configure and fine tune your PC
Great Book!
good stuff
An absolute must for anyone living with/supporting/rolling out Windows XP
Gives you a less annoying XP

Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, 2nd Edition
David A. Karp
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596008767

Book Description

In an ideal world, an operating system would do its job in the background, while you did yours in the foreground. In reality, though, operating systems often get in the way, fouling up the process at the most inopportune times. And Windows XP is no exception. O'Reilly's popular series for customizing and troubleshooting Windows once again comes to the rescue with Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks. Offering dozens of on-target tips, workarounds, and warnings, Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks allows users to improve their overall experience with the Windows XP operating system in every way possible. You'll learn how to use the Registry Editor; how to customize the interface beyond Microsoft's own intentions; and how to master Windows' built-in networking capabilities, including advanced technologies such as Internet Connection sharing, Remote Desktop sharing, and virtual private networking. And now, with this updated edition, you can also expect detailed coverage of the newly released Service Pack 2 (SP2) technology. SP2 is designed to make your work with the Windows XP operating system even easier and safer by providing superior protection against viruses, hackers, and worms. Among the core SP2 components covered in Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks are Windows Firewall, Pop-up Blocker for Internet Explorer, and the new Windows Security Center. David Karp, veteran author of several titles in the Windows Annoyances series, is behind the wheel of this comprehensive guide, as well. Karp points out numerous SP2-related quirks and unaccountable behaviors that are guaranteed to increase your level of perplexity and frustration. By recognizing these shortcomings, Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks arms you with the knowledge to overcome them. Karp leaves no stone unturned in providing the ultimate resource for the ever-expanding Windows XP market. As a result, you'll be able to seize complete control of the Windows XP operating system--instead of the other way around.

Customer Reviews:

Very useful book to configure and fine tune your PC.......2007-06-11

I came across this book looking in the college library for a book to help me solve many problems I had with my PC that accumulated over the years. I decided to own the book as an inexpensive consultant to make my PC work to its utmost performance. I was so excited to find it at Amazon that I inadvertently purchased two copies. The strange thing, one purchase was quite a bit less expensive than the other which I returned to Amazon without any problems for a refund. Amazon even paid for the return postage.That's good business.

Great Book!.......2006-11-06

Lots of good stuff here for getting the most out of your system. Highly recommended for tech types. (I have been using, building and programming computers since 1983.)

good stuff.......2006-06-26

good stuff. could have been more advanced. questionable organization (much like windows itself.) still, the tips and tricks picked up more than paid for the volume.

An absolute must for anyone living with/supporting/rolling out Windows XP.......2006-06-07

Windows XP is a fact of life for most of us. The sad fact of the matter is that Windows is bloated and sick - loaded with performance/security/stability robbing settings and "extras". Karp's excellent volume - simple enough for the layman but deeply valuable even for the experienced lays out how to pare down XP to fighting form. You can't change XP's basic nature - but you can improve matters significantly. Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks is well organized (like all O'Reilly books) and full of practical, real-world tips. If you must support or roll out XP in a corporate environment, then this book becomes essential to your survival (or at least your sanity). Is it the last word? Probably not - but you will not actually read or use much more than you get here. Highly recommended.

Gives you a less annoying XP.......2004-12-12

Isn't that a neat picture on the cover? Certainly grabs one's attention.

Possibly the most complaints about Microsoft Windows XP come not from Mac or linux users, but from some long suffering Microsoft users themselves. Karp hopes to alleviate some of these complaints in this updated book.

Perhaps the greatest irony of the book is the space devoted to dealing with Service Pack 2 issues. Remember that SP2 is meant to fix many bugs. And indeed it does. But in the process, it changed various system settings so that, for example, some of your network applications might now seemingly break. Karp explains that it was because SP2 was doing its job and tightened up the Microsoft Windows Firewall. So he shows how to tweak the latter to re-enable your applications.

Overall, the book is very detailed. But this can be a great help if you apply one of his fixes. Since the steps he gives are explicit enough to easily follow. Realistically, this second edition is unlikely to be the last. The next version of XP is bound to generate annoyances of its own.

Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks

Average customer rating:

Windows Vista Annoyances: Tips, Secrets, and Hacks
David A. Karp
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0596527624

Book Description

Windows Vista may be the next big thing, but it still contains enough quirks and unaccountable behaviors to vex anyone. This unique guide not only discusses the most irritating features of the latest Microsoft operating system and how to get around them, but also explains how to improve Windows and do more with the software than Microsoft intended. You'll find information on setup, installation, upgrade from other Windows versions, the revamped interface, new security features, user accounts, troubleshooting, and the markedly improved Internet Explorer 7. Other chapters cover a wide range of key topics:

Media Center - tips on photos, videos, music, TV tuners, HD, and the media center engine
The Registry - explains the background and tools for working with Windows' database of settings
Tinkering Techniques - offers hacking-style customization and problem-solving topics
Networking and Wireless - includes LAN setup, WiFi sniffers and access points, connection sharing, firewalls, routers, and FTP
Scripting and Automation - introduces simple programming using the Windows Scripting Host for automating repetitive tasks

No other book takes our patented cranky, solutions-oriented approach. Our collection of tips, tools and techniques will improve your experience with Windows Vista, so you can control the OS -- rather than the other way around.

Average customer rating:

Maldita PC!
Steve Bass
Manufacturer: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

In every PC user's life, there's a point when desperate measures must be taken. Some push their PC off a pier or chuck it into a landfill. Others turn their former computing ally into a planter box. But don't give up on your PC yet--help is at hand. This easy to read, accessible book from PC World expert Steve Bass covers the waterfront of PC gripes and gremlins, with fixes for everything from Windows glitches to browsers that won't browse. These tips and tricks are served up in bite-sized portions for quick reading and even quicker fixing. Among the topics covered:

Windows--King of Annoyances! You'll learn how to kick Windows in the rear, get past glitches, take charge of the interface, live with the dreaded activation, and more.
Conquer your email, from Outlook to Eudora! Beat back spam, get inside info, avoid mailing lists, send big files, manage folders, and more, for a half dozen email programs.
Master Microsoft Office. From little-known right-click wonders to backing up the unbackable to automating data entry, you'll find workarounds for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Wrassle with hardware--and win! Learn to wake up your DSL, tame your notebook, shut up your PC's fan, save your data, and save paper.
Internet knots untied! Shake up IE, stop Flash, outsmart defaults, control Favorites, add the Google toolbar to Netscape, and more.

Average customer rating:

Great Info

Did the best with what they got

Too Superficial to be beneficial

How Much Can I Make? 2006: Actual Sales, Expenses, and/or Profits on 112 Franchise Opportunities (How Much Can I Make?)
Robert E. Bond
Manufacturer: Source Book Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Bond's Franchise Guide, 2007 (Bond's Franchise Guide)

Tips and Traps When Buying a Franchise: Complete Revised and Updated

Bond's Top 100 Franchises, 2006: An In-Depth Analysis of Today's Top Franchise Opportunities (Bond's Top 100 Franchises)

The Franchise Ratings Guide: 3000 Franchisees Expose the Best & Worst Franchise Opportunities

What No One Ever Tells You About Franchising: Real-Life Franchising Advice from 101 Successful Franchisors and Franchisees (What No One Ever Tells You About...)

ASIN: 1887137521

Book Description

The most important task for a prospective franchisee is to prepare a realistic cash flow statement that accurately reflects the business’s economic potential. This insider’s guide provides hard-to-find historical sales, expense, and/or profit data from 116 franchise concepts in 45 categories. The book also features in-depth profiles of each franchisor, detailed worksheets, and the author’s own insights into making meaningful financial projections. Armed with the information in this book, entrepreneurs can make smart decisions about potential investments.

Customer Reviews:

Great Info.......2004-12-05

This book is well written and is a great start for someone looking into starting a business

Did the best with what they got.......2001-12-06

Basically youll get very little information about owning a franchise. Some decent figures are in there (but I am sure could be found elsewhere on the internet).

What you will get is some type of financial statements for franchises that provide them. There is nothing special in this book! Most franchises do not provide financial information, so most of the franchises in here are no name franchises you probably haven't heard of (some are recognizable though).

Also they do not all follow the same format. Looks like the author took the information the franchiser sent and just reprinted it. You will not necessarly find cash flow in all of them. Some may just show expenses, etc.

Overall I was disappointed. All the information in this book could be obtained directly from the franchiser. For example if your interested in buying a dairy queen and dairy queen wont give you any financial information, dont expect this book to have it.

I found the "How to buy a good business at a great price" book (...) much more valuable. (...)

Too Superficial to be beneficial.......2001-07-17

This book can either be good or very bad depending upon what you want out of it.

If you are looking for a book to help you strategically help you decide upon which franchise that would be most suitable and profitable for you, then skip this one.

This book will best serve those people who are at the very beginning of thinking about openning up a franchise. In fact, those people may even be disappointed as well.

This book gives a very quick synopsis on the different franchises available. There is very little differentiation between the different franchising, with the exception of product type. For example, you can examine the different pizza franchises, but don't get enough information about which franchises are best.

So, if you are looking for just a few thumbnail sketches at the highest level, then you will probably enjoy this book. If you are looking for something more, then keep looking.

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