Windows 98 in a Nutshell | O'Reilly Media

BUY THIS BOOK

Print Book $44.99

Print Book £31.99

What is this?

Tell a friend

Windows 98 in a Nutshell

By Tim O'Reilly, Troy Mott, Walter Glenn
August 1999
Pages: 634
Series: In a Nutshell
ISBN 10: 1-56592-486-X | ISBN 13: 9781565924864
(Average of 3 Customer Reviews)

Description

From the authors of the bestselling Windows 95 in a Nutshell comes this easy-to-use quick reference for all serious users of Windows 98. It summarizes differences between Windows 95 and Windows 98, covers almost every Windows 98 command and utility available, gives advice for using the Registry, includes short-hand instructions on many important Win98 tasks, and much more.
Full Description

Windows 98 in a Nutshell is a comprehensive, compact reference that systematically unveils what serious users of Windows 98 will find interesting and useful. Little known details of the operating system, utility programs, and configuration settings are all captured in a consistent reference format. Based on the bestselling "In a Nutshell" approach, this book contains more information about using Windows 98 than any other book on the market. Guaranteed. Windows 98 in a Nutshell was coauthored by Tim O'Reilly, the publisher whose books have revolutionized computer book publishing with their commonsense approach, depth of detail, and focus on practical information that you can really use. If you can't remember which option on a dialog box controls a function, or if you just want to have a better handle on what's available in Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, this is the book you need. It contains:

Detailed information on almost every command and utility available with Windows 98, including Start Menu accessories, DOS commands, hidden system administration utilities such as the Registry Editor, Policy Editor, and TweakUI, as well as new utilities in Windows 98
Detailed advice and documentation on system configuration via the Control Panel, system startup files, and the Registry
A detailed treatment of Internet configuration and access via Dial-Up Networking
Hundreds of tips, gotchas, and clever ways to do familiar and not-so-familiar tasks
A focus on ways to integrate the command line into your work with Windows 98
Pointers to dozens of useful online sites that contain additional information
Information on how to use Win98's new Web integration features to build custom "Web applications" within folders or on your desktop
Detailed information on Windows Script Host (WSH), the feature that lets you use VBScript or other scripting languages to automate common tasks

This book follows the commonsense O'Reilly approach, cutting through the hype and giving practical details you can use every day. Any user who wants to make the most of Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition will love this book.

Featured customer reviews

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, February 28 2004

Rating:

Submitted by Marc [Respond | View]

I have this book for years, it covers almost every Windows 98 command and utility available, gives advice for using the Registry, includes short-hand instructions on many important Win98 tasks, and ... Nice book but now maybe quite old... Marc White

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, April 11 2003

Rating:

Submitted by Chuck Gimnich [Respond | View]

Gentlemen I was hoping for an e-mail address to ask questions and tell you what I thought but this will do just fine.

Through the past few years I've seen and skimmed quite a few computer "help" books,seems like all were written by and for a 5 or 6 year old or they were written by and for computer "geniuses",just way too far out there(complicated) for one of us "average" people. A friend had a computer(sold it just a couple of weeks ago) and several "windows help books",this was the only one that ever really helped him through his problems(most of 'em anyway). A friend, sapiet75839@yahoo.com asked me if I could and/or would help him with his new(to him) computer and teach him some of what he needs to know. I said yes,then went to see the guy about borrowing his "IN A NUTSHELL" book. I had already read and seen enough to know this book was going to be my best help for the job/s at hand,he said sure.

Gentlemen,the best way I can put this is in these words; "You guys couldn't have smoked too much dope or done many drugs in your younger days!"

Why?...Simple!...The book "WORKS",I'll admit I found a few things confusing. Like why aren't "all" of the abbreviations and "3-letter codes explained/written out long hand at least once,for us "igrunt folks",guys it would sure help out a little now and then,(at least give it some thought hunh?). There were a few other little things that I could bitch and gripe about if I just wanted to be petty about it but why in the hell should I when so much of the book is so much help and good information.

In short;(too late) thanks for writing/putting out such a really,trully "HELPFUL" computer book for us "above novice-below genius" type folks. In fact it's helped me so much with this guys computer,now I'll have to buy my own copy of your book.....Because last week my dad found one(computer) cheap enough,that now,at long last,I'll have my own computer. My e-mail box is still full right now but I'd appreciate hearing from you if you can get through ChuckGimnich@excite.com .Thanks again for all your work in putting together a very helpful book.

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, September 12 2000

Rating:

Submitted by Pete Nelson [Respond | View]

When I first looked through the contents of this book, I thought to myself 'I already know most of this'. But reading through the chapters, I found all kinds of tricks and information that you'll never find from Microsoft! From one-click shortcuts to open a specific property sheet in a Control Panel dialog, to writing windows scripts to automate tasks, to tuning the command prompt environment, it's all here. Here's just one more O'Reilly book I'll have dog-eared within a month! A great resource!

One omission from the book I'd like to see in the next printing is the 'subst' command. It's mentioned several times in the book, but there's no explaination. I tried 'subst /?' and found an incredibly useful command that I've been looking for! Thanks for mentioning it in the book (I wouldn't have found it otherwise), but I hope a new printing (or 'WinME in a Nutshell') contains a description of this command.

Read all reviews

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, March 22 2000
Submitted by Kerry Liles   [Respond | View]

I must confess that I would not ordinarily think of buying a windows nutshell book because I foolishly thought that I already knew a fair bit about Windows 9x and NT for that matter. However, after browsing through W98Nut in a Border Books, I discovered that this book thoroughly covered many aspect of Win9x in a very concise and readable fashion: networking, boot process, all (and I mean all) miscellaneous and utility programs.

Each aspect is covered very nicely - syntax, command options, the effects of the choices (*very important*) and something that I found neat...often there are URLs pointed to a Web reference for a piece of shareware or freeware that either replaces the Windows functionality or supplants it with a better idea.

This is thr type of book that I call a "commuter book" because you are unlikely to read it cover to cover at one sitting, but more likely to pick it up every spare moment and just cruise through it looking for a gem (and there are many tidbits).

In my case, I was on the commuter train thinking about how to automate an FTP file upload from a customer's machine to a Unix server on their network and I looked up the DOS mode ftp program and discovered the syntax to conduct an unattended ftp session! Marvelous.

I think if you run Windows 9x you have to have this reference book - forget all the other books that are phone book size (with a CD full of useless stuff that is out of date anyway) and get this compact and chock a block full guide.

(I already own Unix in a Nutshell, but I had bought that when I knew little about Unix - now I realize that you need these books more when you THINK you know what you are doing!).

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, November 22 1999
Submitted by Rob Boyd   [Respond | View]

From the moment I opened Windows 98 in a Nutshell, I was in love. This is
the way a book should be written. Every word counts. There is no wading
through unimportant information. Why aren't all technical books written like
this? I cannot say enough! Thank you.

I bought the book because of its title, and because it was not as thick as
all the rest, and because it didn't have a thousand pictures of windows and
screens inside. Whatever made me reach for it, I was very fortunate. Thanks
again.

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, September 30 1999
Submitted by Robin Trew   [Respond | View]

SOLUTION to the Address Bar problem
It turns out that to use the Win98 Address bar as a command line in the way that Tim suggests, you just have to remember a simple and highly mnemonic menu path in IE 5. Make sure that you uncheck the box under:Tools\Internet Options\Content\Personal Information\Auto-complete\Use_Autocomplete_for\Web_Addresses An excellent thing, a GUI. It trains the memory wonderfully ! Robin.

Windows 98 in a Nutshell Review, September 29 1999
Submitted by Robin Trew   [Respond | View]

Hi ! I'm afraid that the http://windows.oreilly.com/news/win98_tricks_0999.html article starts straight off with some errors and inadequate research ;-) (which alas, have also gone into the book ...) For example, item 1 gets excited about the address toolbar and invites users to type sndvol32 at an address toolbar on the taskbar. On my out of the box Win98, however, this just generates a "http://sndvol32/ not found" error Same problem for the book (p.103) where Tim states that "typing oreilly in the Address toolbar will launch your browser and start looking for www.oreilly.com" wrong again ! The result on my system is a failed search for http://oreilly/ Again the book (p. 81) proclaims that you can open a DOS window with Address --> command Actual result ? a search for http://command/ It seems that some undiscovered assumptions about Win98 setups have been made here. Perhaps the article, or at least Tims name, should be pulled until the missing research has been done :-) Robin.

Media reviews "A worthwhile investment."--Major Keary, PC Update, June 2002

"a wealth of how-to information."
--Major Keary, Book News, Sept 2001

"Up until now, my reference book for Windows 98 was the 'Windows 98 Bible' by Alan Simpson. It is over 1100 pages. I believe that 'Windows 98 in a Nutshell' is more concise in its presentation and has become a welcome addition to my bookshelf. I recommend it highly." --Harvey Zimberg, Winnepeg PC Users Group, Feb 2001

Read all reviews

See larger cover

Got a Question?