Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Windows XP Professional is Microsoft's client operating system. This text provides information on technology using language with visual guidance. It covers CD burning, system restore, device driver rollback, and Internet connection firewall.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (p. xxviii)
• Essential Skills for Windows XP Professional (p. 1)
• Part 1 Windows XP Professional Basics (p. 97)
• Chapter 1 Introducing Windows XP Professional (p. 99)
• What Is Windows XP Professional? (p. 99)
• What's New in Windows XP Professional? (p. 101)
• Should You Upgrade to Windows XP Professional? (p. 116)
• How Is Windows XP Professional Different from Other Operating Systems? (p. 117)
• What Are the Features of Windows XP Professional Architecture? (p. 118)
• Summary (p. 122)
• Chapter 2 Installing Windows XP Professional (and Automating Installation) (p. 123)
• The Order of Business (p. 124)
• Will Your Computer Be Able to Run Windows XP Professional? (p. 124)
• Checking System Compatibility (p. 126)
• Choosing an Installation Method (p. 127)
• Preparing for Installation (p. 128)
• Upgrading to Windows XP (p. 132)
• Performing a New Installation of Windows XP (p. 135)
• Performing a Clean Install of Windows XP (p. 139)
• The Installation Paths Converge (p. 144)
• Applying Your Files and Settings (p. 147)
• Uninstalling Windows XP and Reverting to a Previous Version of Windows (p. 149)
• Removing Your Old Version of Windows (p. 149)
• Keeping Windows Updated (p. 149)
• Automating the Installation of Windows XP (p. 152)
• Summary (p. 157)
• Chapter 3 Using the Desktop and Getting Help (p. 159)
• Logging On and Logging Off (p. 160)
• Logging On to a Domain (p. 163)
• Using the Desktop and Start Menu (p. 163)
• Switching to Another User (p. 165)
• Locking the Computer (p. 165)
• Checking Which User Is Currently Active (p. 166)
• Seeing Who Else Is Logged On to the Computer (p. 166)
• Seeing Which Programs the Other Users Are Running (p. 166)
• Logging Another User Off (p. 169)
• Sending a Message to Another User (p. 170)
• Using the Winkey (p. 171)
• Shutting Down Windows (p. 172)
• Help and Support Center (p. 173)
• Using Remote Assistance (p. 183)
• Microsoft Online Support (Get Help from Microsoft) (p. 194)
• Windows Newsgroups (Go to a Windows Web Site Forum) (p. 194)
• Using the Troubleshooters (p. 194)
• Finding Help on the Internet and Web (p. 195)
• Summary (p. 196)
• Chapter 4 Customizing the Interface (p. 197)
• Working with the XP Control Panel (p. 197)
• Changing the Date and Time (p. 199)
• Adjusting Video Settings (p. 201)
• Customizing the Windows XP Display (p. 208)
• Customizing the Taskbar (p. 215)
• Setting Start Menu Options (p. 218)
• Adjusting the Keyboard and Mouse (p. 220)
• Choosing System Sounds (p. 222)
• Using Accessibility Options (p. 222)
• Summary (p. 229)
• Chapter 5 Installing, Running, and Managing Applications (p. 231)
• Multiuser Considerations (p. 232)
• Installing a Program (p. 235)
• Removing a Program (p. 237)
• Adding and Removing Windows Components (p. 240)
• Running Programs (p. 242)
• Dealing with Unresponsive Programs (p. 242)
• Program Compatibility Issues (p. 245)
• Exchanging Data Between Programs (p. 255)
• Organizing the Start Menu (p. 262)
• Summary (p. 264)
• Chapter 6 Managing Files and Folders (p. 265)
• Using Explorer (p. 266)
• Organizing Your Files and Folders (p. 272)
• Understanding the Multiuser Environment (p. 276)
• Customizing the Explorer Interface (p. 277)
• Setting File and Folder Properties (p. 280)
• Searching for Files and Folders (p. 281)
• Working with Compressed Files and Folders (p. 283)
• Using Encrypting File System (EFS) (p. 285)
• Working with Offline Files (p. 288)
• Setting File Associations (p. 291)
• Creating CDs (p. 293)
• Summary (p. 297)
• Chapter 7 Installing and Working with Printers and Fonts (p. 299)
• How Windows XP Handles Printing (p. 299)
• Installing Local Printers (p. 301)
• Installing Remote Printers (p. 309)
• Managing Installed Printers (p. 311)
• Managing the Printing Process (p. 315)
• Managing Fonts (p. 319)
• Summary (p. 325)
• Chapter 8 Installing and Configuring Hardware (p. 327)
• How Hardware Interacts with Windows XP (p. 327)
• Using Hot-Pluggable Devices (p. 331)
• Using the Hardware Wizards (p. 332)
• Disabling a Device (p. 338)
• Uninstalling a Device (p. 339)
• Working with Device Properties (p. 339)
• Using Multiple Monitors (p. 350)
• Configuring Windows to Use an Uninterruptible Power Supply (p. 352)
• Summary (p. 356)
• Chapter 9 Media Player and Movie Maker (p. 357)
• Getting Started with Windows Media Player (p. 357)
• Working with Audio and Video Clips (p. 359)
• Working with Audio CDs and DVD Movies (p. 364)
• Tuning into Internet Radio (p. 373)
• Applying Skins (p. 375)
• Choosing Visualizations (p. 376)
• Backing Up and Restoring Licenses (p. 377)
• Working with Portable Devices (p. 380)
• Setting Media Player Options (p. 382)
• Setting Output Volume and Recording Volume (p. 383)
• Recording Audio Files with Sound Recorder (p. 389)
• Using Windows Movie Maker (p. 391)
• Summary (p. 397)
• Chapter 10 Using Windows XP Professional on Notebook PCs (p. 399)
• How Notebook PCs are Physically Different (p. 399)
• Using Built-In and External Monitors (p. 400)
• Working with PC Cards (p. 401)
• Working with Hardware Profiles (p. 402)
• Monitoring and Optimizing Battery Usage (p. 404)
• Using Multiple Dialing Locations (p. 409)
• Synchronizing Files with Other PCs (p. 410)
• Troubleshooting Notebook PC Problems (p. 417)
• Summary (p. 420)
• Part 2 Communications and the Internet (p. 421)
• Chapter 11 Connecting to the Internet (p. 423)
• Types of Internet Connections (p. 424)
• Connecting to the Internet with an Analog Modem (p. 424)
• Connecting to the Internet with a Cable Modem (p. 428)
• Connecting to the Internet with DSL (p. 432)
• Connecting to the Internet with Satellite (p. 434)
• Protecting Your System (p. 435)
• Connecting to the Internet with ISDN (p. 436)
• Using the Network Setup Wizard to Share an Internet Connection (p. 439)
• Using a Shared Internet Connection (p. 455)
• Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity Problems (p. 455)
• Summary (p. 456)
• Chapter 12 Web Browsing with Internet Explorer (p. 457)
• Starting Internet Explorer (p. 457)
• Moving around the Web (p. 458)
• Working with the Links Bar (p. 460)
• Keeping Track of Your Favorite Sites (p. 460)
• Working with the History List (p. 463)
• Finding Exactly What You Want on the Internet (p. 470)
• Downloading Files (p. 473)
• Customizing Internet Explorer (p. 473)
• Customizing the Internet Explorer Toolbar (p. 482)
• Changing Text Size (p. 483)
• MSN Explorer (p. 484)
• Using Built-In Internet Utilities (p. 486)
• Summary (p. 491)
• Chapter 13 Using the Communications Programs (p. 493)
• Using the Windows XP Professional Fax Service (p. 493)
• Connecting with Hyper Terminal (p. 505)
• Communicating and Sharing with NetMeeting (p. 507)
• Using Windows Messenger (p. 512)
• Configuring Messenger (p. 513)
• Signing Out and Signing Back In (p. 520)
• Adding a Contact (p. 520)
• Removing a Contact from Your Contacts List (p. 522)
• Chatting (p. 522)
• Adding Voice to a Conversation (p. 524)
• Adding Video to a Conversation (p. 525)
• Blocking and Unblocking Users (p. 525)
• Changing Your Status (p. 526)
• Transferring Files (p. 526)
• Using Remote Desktop Connection (p. 528)
• Summary (p. 540)
• Chapter 14 Using Outlook Express for E-mail and News (p. 541)
• Using Outlook Express As Your Mail Reader (p. 541)
• Using Outlook Express As Your Newsreader (p. 556)
• Customizing Outlook Express (p. 559)
• Summary (p. 560)
• Part 3 Networking Windows XP Professional (p. 561)
• Chapter 15 Windows XP Professional Networking and Network Design Primer (p. 563)
• What is a Network? (p. 563)
• Networking Vocabulary (p. 568)
• A Little Theory (p. 569)
• Network Relationships (p. 578)
• The Look and Feel of a Network (p. 582)
• Building Your Own Network (p. 583)
• Summary (p. 590)
• Chapter 16 Setting Up and Configuring a Peer-to-Peer Network (p. 591)
• Setting Up a Network (p. 591)
• Connecting Your Ethernet Network (p. 593)
• Configuring Your Network (p. 594)
• Creating Shares (p. 604)
• Attaching to Network Resources (p. 607)
• Using Profiles (p. 610)
• Connecting to Non-Microsoft Networks (p. 615)
• Troubleshooting Windows XP Professional Networking (p. 618)
• Summary (p. 629)
• Chapter 17 Connecting to Domains (p. 631)
• Setting Up a Domain (p. 632)
• Requirements on the Domain Server (p. 633)
• Connecting to a Domain (p. 635)
• Attaching to Network Resources (p. 642)
• Using Profiles (p. 646)
• Troubleshooting Domains (p. 647)
• Summary (p. 649)
• Chapter 18 Living with Windows XP Professional Strict Security (p. 651)
• Understanding User Accounts in Windows XP Professional (p. 652)
• Setting Permissions (p. 659)
• Understanding Ownership (p. 668)
• Summary (p. 670)
• Chapter 19 Auditing Security (p. 671)
• Deciding What to Audit (p. 671)
• Setting up Auditing in Windows XP (p. 673)
• Monitoring Security (p. 677)
• Summary (p. 679)
• Chapter 20 Secure Telecommuting (p. 681)
• Telecommuting Overview: Risks and Rewards (p. 681)
• Protecting Against the Interception of Data (p. 682)
• Protecting Against the Impersonation of a User (p. 688)
• Protecting Against the Abduction of Data (p. 692)
• Summary (p. 694)
• Part 4 Diagnosing, Administering, Automating and Troubleshooting Windows XP (p. 695)
• Chapter 21 Administrative and Diagnostic Tools (p. 697)
• Running Disk Management (p. 697)
• Running Event Viewer (p. 704)
• Monitoring Performance (p. 708)
• Running Task Manager (p. 719)
• Summary (p. 722)
• Chapter 22 Understanding and Using the Registry (p. 723)
• What Is the Registry and What Does It Do? (p. 723)
• Why Work with the Registry? (p. 724)
• Preparing to Access the Registry (p. 725)
• Running Registry Editor (p. 725)
• Working in the Registry (p. 727)
• An Example: Changing Your Windows Name and Organization (p. 734)
• Using Registry Favorites to Quickly Access Keys (p. 735)
• Summary (p. 735)
• Chapter 23 Using Scripts to Automate Windows XP (p. 737)
• What Is Scripting? (p. 737)
• Shell Scripting with BAT and CMD Files (p. 738)
• Introduction to the Windows Script Host (p. 744)
• Advanced Concepts (p. 750)
• Scripts for Common Administrative Chores (p. 751)
• Summary (p. 756)
• Chapter 24 Disaster Prevention And Recovery (p. 757)
• Avoiding Windows XP Professional Crashes (p. 758)
• An Ounce of Prevention (p. 761)
• Restoring a Configuration (p. 764)
• The Recovery Console (p. 770)
• The Driver Verifier--a Babysitter for Your Drivers (p. 777)
• System File Checker (p. 779)
• The Registry Entry That Lets You Force a Blue Screen (Core Dump) (p. 780)
• Backing Up and Restoring (p. 781)
• Summary (p. 786)
• Chapter 25 Advanced Troubleshooting Methodology (p. 787)
• The Tao of Troubleshooting (p. 787)
• Troubleshooting Printing (p. 790)
• Troubleshooting Windows XP Professional Setup (p. 794)
• Troubleshooting Stop Errors (p. 799)
• Boot Process Troubleshooting (p. 803)
• Summary (p. 804)
• Part 5 Advanced Topics (p. 805)
• Chapter 26 The Microsoft Management Console (p. 807)
• The Basic Features of MMC (p. 807)
• MMC Terms to Know (p. 808)
• The MMC Console (p. 809)
• The Computer Management Console (p. 817)
• Additional Customization Options (p. 819)
• Summary (p. 824)
• Chapter 27 Manage Windows XP Professional Services (p. 825)
• The Purpose of a Service (p. 825)
• The Service Management Console (p. 826)
• Windows XP Professional Services (p. 827)
• Configuring Services (p. 833)
• Troubleshooting Service Issues (p. 839)
• Summary (p. 839)
• Chapter 28 Hosting Web/FTP Servers (p. 841)
• Installing Internet Information Server (p. 841)
• Windows XP Professional Limits on IIS (p. 844)
• The Internet Information Service Console (p. 844)
• Configuring the Web Server (p. 846)
• Configuring the FTP Server (p. 862)
• Configuring the SMTP Server (p. 867)
• Troubleshooting IIS (p. 873)
• Summary (p. 874)
• Appendix A Web Publishing with Windows XP Professional (p. 875)
• What Will You Publish? (p. 875)
• Where Will You Publish Your Content? (p. 878)
• How Will You Publish Your Content? (p. 878)
• Summary (p. 884)
• Appendix B Connecting to Novell NetWare Networks (p. 885)
• CSNW Features (p. 885)
• Novell Directory Services Versus Bindery-Based Servers (p. 886)
• Using Novell Administration Utilities (p. 887)
• Running NetWare and Windows Networking Together (p. 891)
• Printing to Novell Printers (p. 894)
• Enabling Long Filename Support on the Novell Server (p. 896)
• Choosing a Novell Client Solution (p. 896)
• Installing the Novell Client (p. 897)
• Configuring the Novell Client (p. 898)
• Summary (p. 899)
• Appendix C Active Directory Essentials (p. 901)
• Security: Keeping Track of Who's Allowed to Use the Network and Who Isn't (p. 902)
• Searching: Finding Things on the Network (p. 905)
• Creating New Types of Subadministrators (p. 906)
• Delegation: Subdividing Control over a Domain (p. 907)
• Satisfying Political Needs (p. 908)
• Connectivity and Replication Issues (p. 909)
• Scalability: Building Big Networks (p. 910)
• Simplifying Computer Names or Unifying the Namespace (p. 910)
• Satisfying the Lust for Power and Control (p. 912)
• Connecting a Windows XP Professional Machine to an AD Domain (p. 912)
• Summary (p. 915)
• Index (p. 917)