The practical, portable guide to Windows® XP Professional!

Whether you support 50 desktops or 5000, this indispensable guide provides fast answers for the day-to-day administration of the Windows® XP Professional operating system. This pocket-sized resource zeroes in on essential desktop support issues and procedures-delivering critical details through quick-reference tables, step-by-step instructions, and lists. It's the precise information you need to solve problems and get the job done-whether you're at your desk or in the field!

Get fast facts to:

• Manage and troubleshoot system configuration
• Configure hardware and network devices
• Customize desktop settings and optimize the user workspace
• Control system access through user and group accounts
• Support laptops and mobile users
• Enable remote access-from dial-up to wireless
• Configure offline files and disk quotas
• Use Group Policy to customize Internet settings
• Schedule routine maintenance and backups
• Resolve system problems and optimize performance

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administrator's Pocket Consultant is the ideal concise, on-the-go reference that administrators and consultants will want to carry with them as they support and manage this state-of-the-art desktop operating system. Designed as a quick reference, this pocket guide is focused on what matters. You won't find hundreds of useless pages here-only what you need-making it the ideal quick-reference for those tasks you don't perform very often. This guide covers essential Windows XP Professional topics such as desktop customization, dial-up networking, and multi-language support; user, group, and profile administration; system and network administration; and optimization and recovery. With a convenient pocket trim size, hard-to bend rounded corners, and durable cover, it's also exceptionally easy to carry with you from desktop to desktop, so you don't have to lug around a 10-pound technical reference to get the job done.

Key Book Benefits:

• It's the fast answers, daily operations guide for busy administrators and consultants who manage and support the Windows XP Professional desktop operating system
• Includes quick-reference tables, lists, and step-by-step instructions-ideal for administrators and computer consultants on the go
• Provides essential information about key functionalities of Windows XP Professional, such as desktop customization, dial-up networking, and multi-language support

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Essentials

1: Introduction to Microsoft Windows XP Professional Administration

2: Configuring the Environment

3: Configuring Hardware Devices and Drivers

4: Customizing Menus, the Windows Taskbar, and Toolbars

5: Optimizing the Desktop and Screen Appearance

Part II: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Core Administration

6: Managing User Access and Global Settings

7: Managing Laptops and Traveling Users

8: Configuring User and Computer Policies

9: Configuring Folder Options, Offline Files, and Quotas

Part III: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Networking

10: Managing Internet Options

11: Configuring TCP/IP Networking, Security, and Authentication

12: Managing Mobile Networking and Remote Access

Part IV: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Optimization and Recovery

13: Optimizing Microsoft Windows XP Professional

14: Troubleshooting Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Index