I was going to migrate from WinNT4 to Windows 2000 at work so the latest machine I purchased had that installed. It looked a lot like WinME but had an entirely different feel. I was intimidated by the security and account management. I acquired this "Missing Manual" with the hope it would provide the knowledge I needed.

When I first got the manual, I was not impressed. When I looked through the table of contents, it appeared that only the last 50 pages covered the information I was seeking, or so I thought. I decided to do a book review, and I started reading from the first page.

The Introduction forced me to come to grips with a misconception of mine. Books on operating systems no longer describe the ins and outs of the ones and zeros and how they actually make the hardware work. PC operating systems are a "...launching pad for programs - the actual applications you use in your everyday work...." Understanding this allows the user to take control. The outline is intended to do just that. You do not have to be a "Super Nerd." The material is presented in a sequence that allows readers to take charge of their computers.

The first three parts (12 chapters) cover the detailed basics of the Windows2000 interface utilities. Those utilities are covered in enough detail that the reader can actually understand why they are there. These chapters give a very detailed overview of the Microsoft philosophy and the explanation of how to use it to your advantage.

The last three parts (seven chapters, two appendices) cover networking, hardware installation, accounts and administration. The presentation is not as detailed as the previous parts. It is pointed out that a single subject here is often the topic of an entire book. The information I needed was there. These are advanced topics. The presentation was done in such a way that the intermediate PC user, which I consider myself, could find the information needed without wading through several books. Even though the information was not as detailed, it was presented clearly and logically. I do wish the account administration section had been more detailed. I run 98, ME, 2000, and XP (at least, when I can keep the computers running), and I have not been able to have the 98 computer access the shared drive on the 2000 machine.

Part One: Getting Started: This is the first six chapters of the book. It is basically a menu by menu view and explanation of logging on and off the Start menu, navigation of files, customizing the desktop and toolbars, understanding icons, and getting help. This section tells where everything is and how to use it. Many of the concepts are compatible with WinMe and Win98. I found the explanation of the search function particularly useful. I thought "Oh no, Find has been messed up." To the contrary, Search is very, very powerful.

Part Two: The Components of Windows 2000: This covers in detail running applications, the Control Panel (icon by icon), and the Programs in the Start menu. This covers the command prompt through the system tools. Windows Media Player is covered in detail.

Part Three: Windows Online: The Web from "Getting an Account" through "Customizing and Security" is explained. The features and properties of IE are covered in detail. An entire chapter is devoted to Outlook Express. This section answers 99.99% of every question I have asked or heard asked.

Part Four: Network Survival: Windows2000 has been designed for use in networked environments. The section covers navigating the work network, setting up your own peer-to-peer network, connecting to your computer from the road, and sharing an Internet connection. The recipes work.

Part Five: Managing Your Computer: This section "... guides you through troubleshooting, upgrading, maintaining, and administering the user accounts on your machine." Here is where the fun begins. Setting up the default profile then user profiles. Is the user going to be an administrator, power user, or guest? What about security settings and environmental settings? Easy to get confused, but the material is presented logically and with suitable warnings.

The Appendices: This covers Windows2000 installation and an item-by-item explanation of the standard menu bar in every Windows application.

This book covers an incredible amount of information. It does so in an extremely clear and concise manner. This is a book that will become dog-eared. Beginner through advanced users will find useful information within the covers.

Windows 2000 Pro: The Missing Manual
2000, O'Reilly & Associates
450 pages, $19.95 U.S.
ISBN: 0-596-00010-3