Windows 2000 Pro combines the friendly interface of Windows 98 with the famous stability of Windows NT. Windows 2000, the successor to NT, introduces many technologies that weren't available in NT, including Plug-and-Play, support for USB devices, power management features, and more. It's 25% faster than Windows 98 and three times as stable. Unfortunately, despite all the enhancements, Microsoft forgot to address one of NT's most glaring omissions: Windows 2000 doesn't include a printed user's manual. In Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual, bestselling Windows NT author Sharon Crawford provides the ideal (and desperately needed) user's guide for the world's most popular corporate operating system. The book covers:

• Getting started. The early chapters cover using menus, finding lost files, reducing window clutter, and taming the wild Start menu.

• What's what. A complete guide, this book explains the purpose of every Control Panel item, accessory program, and maintenance tool.

• Mastering the network. Special chapters help you navigate the corporate network, dial in from the road, and even set up your own small-office (peer-to-peer) network, step by step.

• Understanding security. User accounts, file encryption, and the NTFS file system keep your private files private, while still offering network access to coworkers you specify.

• Flying the Net. This book demystifies the rich Internet suite of Windows 2000 Pro: its email, newsgroup, Web-browsing, and video conferencing programs.

Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual isn't for system administrators or OS theory geeks; it's for the novice or budding power user who wants to master the machine and get down to work. Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual is the crystal-clear, jargon-free book that should have been in the box.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 10 Ratings

As advertised - no more, no less - 2002-02-11
Reviewer Rating:
Windows changes with each version - e.g. "Network neighborhood" becomes "My network places", etc. Even experienced users can get lost in the often non-intuitive cascade of menus if the features aren't where you expect them to be.

This book is exactly what it says - the missing complete user's manual. It doesn't claim to be overly technical, but it gets you past all of the essentials. It's well-written and well-organized with useful illustrations, so finding anything is a snap.

After using Win2k at work for years, I recently upgraded my primary home system to it. Rather than hunt my way through the menus, I picked up this book and had both my new system and home network set up in almost no time.

This is the sort of book I may only need to refer to once or twice in my life, but the time it has saved me so far more than compensates for the small investment. If your time costs less than mine or you're looking for something more technical, it might not be for you, but for me it was perfect.

This book sets on my desk - 2003-05-08
Reviewer Rating:
Im just a home user of Windows 2000 Pro. I switched to Win2K because everyone said it was far more stable than other Windows operating systems. After using the other operationg systems Win2k had a somewhat familiar look and feel, but I needed some reference. I rapidly grew tired of trying to find answers on the internet.
Then I bought this book. It has been a great reference for me. I easily found what I was looking for in it. I learned a few things I wasnt looking for.
My advice, if your like me just a home user this book will serve you well. It now sets on my desk within easy reach.

A good fit for me - 2002-10-05
Reviewer Rating:
As a long-time mac user, making the switch to Windows has been a bit of a struggle. I've figured out much on my own, but some things have remained a mystery. Windows 2000 Professional by Mark Minasi assumed I was familiar with way too much vocabulary. This book by Sharon Crawford takes the mystery out of a lot of little things. It scratches where I itch. Maybe after I master this material, I'll take another shot at Minasi or Pogue.

It was especially gratifying to read on last page of the book (the colophon), "The book was designed and laid out ... on a Power Mac 8500 and Power Mac G3. Ah, memories of home.

AN EXPRESS TRAIN HEADING FOR WINDOWS 2000 - 2003-02-23
Reviewer Rating:
With valuable touches that pertained to Windows 2000 Server, Sharon Crawford spiced this textbook well.
"Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual" left no doubt in providing all the analyses that users of the operating system would ask for. In addition to all the basics (and fundamentals), this text covered every communications tools which came with the OS, including: system maintainance, utilities, troubleshooting, and general networking. The manual even delved into the component interface of the operating system: with its analysis on how Windows 2000 Professional builds upon the interface kernel in Windows NT 4. All the security features, as well as all the factors which contributed to the performance and stability of the OS were detailed.
This 'missing manual' is desirably analytical, without being too technical. It is a very straightforward book, which gives all the details, while at the same time maintaining its concise outlook. Both beginners and expert users of Windows 2000 Professional would be delighted by its dynamic analyses.

Not quite what I was expecting - 2003-11-16
Reviewer Rating:
The little red ribbon graphic on the cover of the book says, "Mastering the Corporate PC". Since Windows 2000 is targeted at business users (Microsoft's offering targeted to home users at the time was Windows ME), I had expected more of an emphasis on the likely concerns of business users (i.e. networking, security, etc.) rather than how to use programs like Paint, Wordpad and Media Player. After purchasing the book, I discovered that most of the same information was available, organized in much the same way, on the TechNet section of Microsoft's web site. If Windows 2000 is your first exposure to any form of the Windows operating system, this would probably be an appropriate selection. If you have experience with Windows and are upgrading, I suggest you look for another book.

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