Chapter 1, "Making the Most of Windows 98," discusses not only some of the more common annoyances in the operating system, but many of the improvements in this version over its successor, Windows 95, as well as some of the problems that weren't fixed.

Chapter 2, "Customizing the Interface," starts by examining Windows' user interface and how to overcome its limitations. What follows is a discussion of the way you work with Windows and how to take advantage of some of its lesser-known tricks and customization features. This includes advanced tips on Explorer, file manipulation tricks, and undocumented interface tweaks.

Chapter 3, "The Registry," covers the structure of the Registry and the use of the Registry Editor. This is important, because most of the solutions hereafter make use of this knowledge. In addition to Registry basics, there are some advanced topics, such as effective searching techniques, finding the right Registry keys, and restoring a corrupted registry.

Chapter 4, "Tinkering Techniques," continues with customization and problem-solving topics that take advantage of the Registry techniques discussed earlier. There are solutions for reducing clutter, protecting your file types, and customizing Windows 98 beyond Microsoft's intentions; editing the Start Menu has a whole new meaning in this chapter.

Chapter 5, "Maximizing Performance," is often a neglected topic. The goal is to get the best possible performance from your system without spending a lot of money or time. If and when you decide to upgrade, you'll also find tips here to help make informed decisions.

Chapter 6, "Troubleshooting," starts with preventative maintenance; in addition to backing your system up effectively, there's extensive coverage of disaster recovery and emergency restoration. Special detail is given to error messages, as well as hardware and software conflicts. There's also a section on troubleshooting specific hardware components as well.

Chapter 7, "Networking," allows you to expand your desktop and your repertoire with setting up a local-area network and connecting to the Internet. More than just the basics, this chapter explores protocols, troubleshooting, and new technologies, such as virtual private networking and connecting a LAN to the Internet.

Chapter 8, "Taking Control of Web Integration," is an in-depth examination of the controversial, so-called integration of Microsoft's web browser, Internet Explorer, with the fundamental interface. This chapter explores the components that constitute Web Integration and how to configure them, including customizing the "Web View" and choosing a default web browser.

Chapter 9, "Scripting and Automation," rounds out the book with a discussion of simple programming using the Windows Scripting Host included with Windows 98, as well as DOS batch files, which have been around since the beginning of time, yet still are undocumented in Windows 98. In addition to a rapid introduction to both scripting platforms, you'll find advanced solutions, such as functions for registry access and file system access, and using scripts and batch files to solve a wide range of problems. The chapter is wrapped up with a look at the seemingly simply Scheduled Tasks feature, and how it can be used in conjunction with scripts for a truly automated environment.

Six appendixes are included as references; Appendix A is a comprehensive list of nearly every setting scattered throughout Windows 98, from folder options to removing tray icons. Appendix B covers DOS commands, which can be surprisingly useful in the Windows world. Appendix C documents the Msdos.sys file, which controls many aspects of the Windows 98 boot procedure. Appendix D is a listing of common Class IDs (special registry codes for system objects) used throughout the book. Appendix E examines the user interface of Windows 98, which will be of interest to beginners and experienced users alike; everything from the nomenclature of common interface elements to annoyances related to the changes in the taskbar and Start Menu. Finally, Appendix F is a launching point for obtaining additional information as well as the software mentioned in this book, primarily, but not exclusively, over the Internet.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How is this book different from the first one?

Windows 98 Annoyances is an entirely new book. Despite the superficial similarity between Windows 95 and Windows 98, there's a lot more under the hood in the new version. Not only is there substantial coverage of new technologies such as the Windows Scripting Host and Internet Integration, but there is exhaustive detail regarding troubleshooting, improving performance, the registry, and much more. What's more, is that the new book, which is longer (450 pages) than the first, and comes with a CD, is also less expensive.

Why buy the book when the website is free?

This website is only a sampling, a taste, if you will, of what is to be found in the book.

I'm not that annoyed with Windows - what's in it for me?

The book is not full of complaints about Windows - it's full of solutions. No matter how pro- or anti- Microsoft you may be, you can still make use of the variety of information in Windows 98 Annoyances.

What's this I hear about a CD?

Also new in this book is the included CD, which not only comes with all of the code samples used in the book, but an evaluation copy of O'Reilly Utilities - Solutions for Windows 98 Annoyances, the companion software to the book.

Note that some books from later printings are not shipping with a CD - learn more.

What if I have Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0?

This book will definitely be helpful, but you may prefer Windows Annoyances, which covers these operating systems specifically.

And what if I have Windows Me?

Windows Me Annoyances, the book, is available too!