Although this book has a brand new title, it is really an updated and revised second edition to Windows XP: Under The Hood.The first edition’s automotive-themed title came about because of a certain nostalgia that I felt and I know many people share: Don’t you long for the good-old days when you could pop the hood of your car and recognize what was underneath? When you could take a wrench and fix just about anything yourself? Cars aren’t like that anymore; they’ve gotten so complex and intimidating that it’s hard to imagine digging into one now.

Many of us have come to feel the same way about Windows.Windows has grown into a huge operating system with thousands of complex parts masked behind a slick but seemingly impenetrable graphical user interface (GUI).

This book is an attempt to reclaim those days when we could dig into our machines with confidence and satisfaction.Windows comes with powerful tools and interfaces that let you take control of every detail, if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and dive in.

Whether you’re a Windows system administrator or a “power user” who’s always on the lookout for more effective ways to use your computer, you’re probably familiar with batch files, scripts, and command-line programs. Although they might seem unglamorous, they’ve been around longer than the PC itself, and sooner or later everyone who uses a computer for serious work runs into them.They might seem like something out of the past, but they’ve continued to evolve along with Windows.The automation tools provided with Windows are incredibly powerful and useful.