Books

O.K. I am getting tired of me having to reformat or repair my Os all the time because I make changes that dont work with other changes that are completely incapable of operating with the existing changes...you get my meaning. Is there a definitive guide to Windows XP out there? I would rather have a hard copy book. I know I have heard about one in here, but cannot remember where. Any help/ideas would be appreciated.

Also, any good online courses that someone has taken and can verify would be nice to know about.

Thanks!

 

I have 2 books out at the moment 1 is called hardware in a nutshell it is very good and the other is operating system 5th editon that is very good too.

 

I have found the xp inside out book very useful.
It's not really a read through book, but when you
need to look up problems, it is pretty well organized.

 

Another reccomendation for Windows XP Inside Out. We were given free copies for reference when I did XP consulting support with techs. That is, before the company became cheap and stopped giving them to techs.

Little do they know, I never returned it when I quit

Acquired the XP Resource kit in the same manner

 

Just to add to this, in the end, none of these books are going to make it so you have to reformat less, yada, yada.

Experience is your teacher. You have two choices, really.

1. Play with the OS with the intention of learning how it works, and know that you will break it in the process. If you do break it, Google for assistance. As well, http://support.microsoft.com is an excellent resource. If you get a very specific error, (aside from stop errors, which visit the read only tips on this site for more info) there is an excellent chance that you will find the answer on the net. Also realize that what affects Windows XP, many times applies to Windows 2000 as well, an visa versa.

2. Consider getting your MCP in Windows XP. Although, option 1 is still far more valuable (and cheaper). I learned more than any MCP (I never got mine, I failed to see the point) just working with customers and being required to use my head to figure out the problem. My formal Windows XP training came in the form of how to use the OS, not how to fix it. Common sense, and a good working knowledge of the OS will go far. When I say working knowledge of the OS, I mean knowing how it functions. Live to learn the Windows registry. That will go far in troubleshooting.

The same applies to me now with OS X Tiger. I've broken more things I can count, just learning it. I've reinstalled it twice. I've never once called Apple support though, because I am learning enough about the OS to be able to fix it, or find the answer online on how to. Google is your friend. I used Google more than I ever used the internal Microsoft knowledge base which is FAR more expansive than the public one.

 

That was a nice 100.00 for two books. I went with XP for Dummies, because the title suits me, and windows xp inside and out. Thanks for the ideas all!

 

I spend an inordinate amount of time in Forums as it is. If I am on the computer, I am here. I have learned a great deal just reading on MG. That is what really prompted me to learn this stuff. I would like to be able to help people as much as this site has helped me.