Getting the Most Out of This Book

This book is arranged to be used as a learning tool, as well as a reference. More than just a bag of tricks, it covers a wide range of topics, some informational and some instructional. Although you certainly don't need to read the chapters in order, it is structured so that you can progress easily from one topic to the next, expanding your knowledge and experience as you go. You should be able to jump to any topic as needed; if you find that you don't have the proficiency required by a particular solution, such as knowledge of the Registry, you should be able to learn about it elsewhere in the book (Chapter 3, in the case of the Registry). For additional software and corrections, check out the Annoyances.org web site at http://www.annoyances.org/.

Most topics are presented as problems or annoyances with corresponding solutions. Topics usually begin with a few introductory paragraphs explaining something you don't often find in other references: why you'd want to complete the particular solution (and sometimes, why you wouldn't). In some cases, you may want to skip ahead to the actual solution procedure, easily identifiable by bullets or numbered steps.