Microsoft Windows 98 will change the way people access information on the desktop and the Internet. Packed with information about what's new with the new version, this book provides concise help with Internet access, using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, and with using new features.

To help millions of users get up to speed quickly, ""Introducing Microsoft Windows 98"" provides a valuable overview of the features, benefits, and behavior of the newest version of Windows. The book gives readers a crisp, clear introduction to the ways they will use Windows 98, both on their own machine and online, through the Internet and Intranets. Cover Title

In a concise and clear format, O'Reilly and Mott deliver all the pertinent information that Windows 98 users will need to know. The readers get both the nitty-gritty details and the bigger context as they learn about the Active Desktop, file management, and basic communication features.

Fortunately, most of us don't need to fiddle with the Registry. But if it's your job, this book is the reference you'll want to have close by. The book-and-CD set provides an overview, starting from the baseline tools of the Registry that are directly accessible, like RegEdit and .INF files. Concepts and recurring features of the Registry are explained, so developers can ensure that their applications are well behaved in the many flavors of 32-bit Windows. They'll also be able to extend the functionality of the various Windows shells through proper modification of Registry files. It's a single comprehensive source of much-needed information and tools. "Inside The Microsoft Windows 98 Registry" topics include: - The basics - The Registry Editor and other Registry tools - Registering filename extensions - Customizing the desktop, Start Menu, and Control Panel - Customizing the Explorer menu and shell icon settings - Miscellaneous Registry settings - Programming issues

The authoritative technical guide required by system administrators and other MIS professionals responsible for the care and feeding of Microsoft Windows 98 within their organizations, this reference offers the most complete source of professional-level information on the new version available anywhere.

The new features in Windows 98 are geared towards enhancing system performance, enabling new hardware technologies and entertainment platforms, and improving integration with the Web. These pages focus on the core topics and tasks that average users need to know to use their operating system productively.

"Raymond Chen is the original raconteur of Windows." --Scott Hanselman, ComputerZen.com "Raymond has been at Microsoft for many years and has seen many nuances of Windows that others could only ever hope to get a glimpse of. With this book, Raymond shares his knowledge, experience, and anecdotal stories, allowing all of us to get a better understanding of the operating system that affects millions of people every day. This book has something for everyone, is a casual read, and I highly recommend it!" --Jeffrey Richter, Author/Consultant, Cofounder of Wintellect "Very interesting read. Raymond tells the inside story of why Windows is the way it is." --Eric Gunnerson, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation "Absolutely essential reading for understanding the history of Windows, its intricacies and quirks, and why they came about." --Matt Pietrek, MSDN Magazine's Under the Hood Columnist "Raymond Chen has become something of a legend in the software industry, and in this book you'll discover why. From his high-level reminiscences on the design of the Windows Start button to his low-level discussions of GlobalAlloc that only your inner-geek could love, The Old New Thing is a captivating collection of anecdotes that will help you to truly appreciate the difficulty inherent in designing and writing quality software." --Stephen Toub, Technical Editor, MSDN Magazine Why does Windows work the way it does? Why is Shut Down on the Start menu? (And why is there a Start button, anyway?) How can I tap into the dialog loop? Why does the GetWindowText function behave so strangely? Why are registry files called "hives"? Many of Windows' quirks have perfectly logical explanations, rooted in history. Understand them, and you'll be more productive and a lot less frustrated. Raymond Chen--who's spent more than a decade on Microsoft's Windows development team--reveals the "hidden Windows" you need to know. Chen's engaging style, deep insight, and thoughtful humor have made him one of the world's premier technology bloggers. Here he brings together behind-the-scenes explanations, invaluable technical advice, and illuminating anecdotes that bring Windows to life--and help you make the most of it. A few of the things you'll find inside: What vending machines can teach you about effective user interfaces A deeper understanding of window and dialog management Why performance optimization can be so counterintuitive A peek at the underbelly of COM objects and the Visual C++ compiler Key details about backwards compatibility--what Windows does and why Windows program security holes most developers don't know about How to make your program a better Windows citizen