Rating: 
Summary: Disillusioned
Review: Perhaps I expected too much from this book. I personally skimmed over it before I ordered it from Amazon.com and thought it would fit the bill explaining the registry and how it works.It did just that but on an advanced level. If you are like me, not advanced in XP or the registry, then you will be disappointed with this book. I did get much out of it but only after researching many topics like: scripts, INF files, and more. It's unfortunate for me that much of Windows XP Registry Guide will wither in the wind and I will have to purchase a similar book more on my level of expertise. My review is not to condemn this book but only point out it's for the more advanced computer addict. I hope this review will help someone.
Rating: 
Summary: Best computer book I read!
Review: This book is always by my side...
There is a reason why this book is keeping it's price. Look at the content and you will see what you are going to learn. Author explains almost everything in great simplicity. Be carefull though because some chapters would benefit from more detail explanation.
Although author claims this is a book for power users and administrators only administrators will take a full advantage of it...
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book .. EXCELLENT !!!
Review: This is a fantastic resource for the Windows XP registry. While there are many new registry settings that are Windows XP specific, there are also MANY registry settings that apply to many of the previous versions of Windows. This book is not for registry beginners, but is an excellent resource for those experienced in making registry modifications. The book discusses several different ways of making registry modifications including using the GUI registry tools, the command line REG.EXE and via INF files. I make registry modifications on a VERY regular basis as part of my job as a Network Consultant - this book is an excellent resource, I only wish that the book came with a CD-ROM that included an electronic version of the book so that I didn't have to travel with the book. If you already have some experience performing registry modifications and need to know what needs to be modified to do what you need to do, then this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: The only XP registry book you'll need!
Review: This is simply an outstanding book! Jerry does an excellent job of covering an introduction to the registry in Windows XP, and then jumps right in to instructions on how to safely modify the registry, how to customize the registry, and much, much more. I particularly enjoy the chapters that have to deal with remote deployment and solving the "real world" admin problems that IT admins deal with daily. This is a book you'll not only learn from as you read it, but you'll reinforce your expertise as you implement Jerry's teachings and as you refer back to it, as I do, frequently. Look no further...this book is excellent!!!
Rating: 
Summary: What's the heart of XP? WINDOWS XP REGISTRY GUIDE!
Review: We have all had to start somewhere at some time, either learning something new for the first time or just require a refresher. Whether you are a beginner, an Administrator or a Geek, or even an absolute know all, 'WINDOWS XP REGISTRY GUIDE' *is* *the* reference to all XP registry related books. It should not only be seen as an advanced reference, which it is, but also comfortably suitable for those who fear to tread the labyrinth of your very own ntuser.dat [the registry] through 'regedit' the registry editor. The book more than caters for all levels of PC literacy who look to get the most out of XP, and is the epitome of the control a user can apply to XP; the changes you can make are explained in great detail and with clinical focus and accuracy; the table of contents alone spans 12 pages as you would expect from such a complex component, such is the Registry. Each and every step describes what we the users want to know, how we can best to improve our own personal XP.
It took me a while deciding which XP registry book to buy, and one minute later my mind was made up, not just because it is 'simple' and easy to understand but also because it is extremely well structured and thorough. I thought I knew enough about the registry before embarking on this purchase; but no, what it has done for me is piece together, what now appear to be, those fragments of my own knowledge of the registry, into an actual 'Power User' of the registry. The author takes great care to remind us regularly throughout three chapters of the book just how important the backing up of the registry is when making any changes; but in essence this is not altogether necessary, because when you have the book in your possession you'll know exactly what you will be doing, why and for what purpose.
This book is not a promotional offering, it is, if you want it, an invaluable tool with which to define your own personalised XP in performance, functionality and in practice, but more importantly as *you* want it, and not necessarily how Microsoft have given it to you. It also offers information on other tools that enhance our understanding of how the registry works behind the scenes.
There are utilities that provide instant gratification for tweaking the registry that will cost you, in some cases, as much if not more money for a fraction of the tweaks and hacks contained within this book 'WINDOWS XP REGISTRY GUIDE'.
Sure, these turnkey utilities give the user instant but again limited ability to make changes, for better but also for worse in some cases; but these Tweaking utilities that you can download *do not* cut the mustard, they barely scratch the surface when it comes to hacking or tweaking the registry; in any event, there is *no substitute* for really knowing how these changes are made, critically important is why, what and where.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone wanting to enhance XP; just for the hacks/tweaks alone that it offers, you'll get your money's worth and then some.
So why only four stars you ask yourself; well, there will always be areas of improvement that can be applied to any book, but NOT in the case of this book, this book really does hit the spot; Just four stars will hopefully encourage Jerry Honeycutt to append to an already successful accomplishment more secrets of the registry, at least I hope so. It's got 5 stars *****
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