有没有不烦人的操作系统？(operating system)从我第一次使用键盘打孔机为令人喘不过气的旧IBM 大型机(IBM mainframe)制作卡片的那一天起，通过 Commodores 使用的奇怪语法，通过CP/M的“你不必成为程序员就能得到这个，但它有帮助“命令结构，到目前为止，(command structure)微软(Microsoft)操作系统(operating system)的每一个版本都有一些让我烦恼的东西，我相信我并不孤单。幸运的是，现在我们有 O'Reilly Media的“烦恼”系列来帮助我们进行反击。
这里不烦人的烦恼
与其他 Annoyances 书籍一样，Windows 7 Annoyances可以按任何顺序阅读，读者可以轻松查找当前令他们烦恼的任何问题的解决方案。与以前的版本一样，如果您没有阅读整本书，您可能会错过您不知道自己需要的修复程序。话虽如此，但这本书绝对不适合新手。
从头开始，如果可以的话
Windows 7 Annoyances从 Windows (Windows 7 Annoyances)7(Windows 7)版本的描述开始，然后为没有Windows 7 Ultimate的用户提供有用的链接和提示，以添加许多其他版本中未包含的功能。然后开始安装。有一个有用的图表可以告诉您进行升级的可能性有多大——如果您有 Windows Vista。如果你还在用Windows XP，算了，没办法升级了。您必须擦除驱动器并重新开始(drive and start)。许多人会认为这是一种极端的烦恼，但微软(Microsoft)有充分的理由这样做，因为Windows 7 的烦恼(Windows 7 Annoyances)解释。接下来的内容无疑是我见过的最完整的安装解释。它涵盖了哪些是正确的，哪些可能是错误的，如果您没有启动盘(boot disk)怎么办，如果您不希望Windows 7创建额外的分区怎么办，以及可以做的所有其他事情以确保您最终会愉快地运行Windows 7 。本章以关于迁移到Windows 7的部分结束，我认为这应该放在首位。了解您当前的硬件是否兼容、是否需要新的驱动程序以及——尤其是如果您(Windows XP user)Windows 7进入。
她卖扭蛋壳？
下一章称为Shell Tweaks。（虽然作者在开头段落(opening paragraph)中解释了他的意思，但我不确定有多少非技术人员将Windows 资源管理器(Windows Explorer)、桌面和任务栏(desktop and taskbar)称为“外壳”。）我很欣赏如何获得经典的详细解释Windows 资源管理器界面(Windows Explorer interface)返回以及如何更有效地工作，包括以您想要的方式显示文件和文件夹。对于更高级的用户，有一个关于调整控制面板(Control Panel)的好部分。
每个版本的Windows都改变了开始菜单(Start Menu)，而Windows 7 是迄今为止最彻底的转变。由于我仍然需要练习所有新的安排和语法，我欢迎这本书对如何清理开始菜单并(Start Menu and work)更有效地使用它的彻底解释。下一部分处理常见文件/文件夹操作的键盘快捷键。我怀疑很多人会发现这个和下面关于使用多台显示器的部分非常有用。
注册表烦恼，不适合胆小的人
关于注册表的章节绝对(definitely)是为更有经验的用户准备的。虽然许多读者会欣赏对注册表(Registry)是什么、它如何工作以及如何调整它的详尽描述，但当人们在那里乱搞时，灾难的可能性总是迫在眉睫。本章非常正确地以严厉警告开始，如果注册表(Registry)不正确，可能会造成无法弥补的伤害，并敦促采取适当的预防措施和备份。我认为这个警告应该是粗体字(boldface type)，我认为描述备份注册表(Registry)的部分应该立即跟在警告后面，而不是放在本章的末尾。Windows 7 的烦恼(Windows 7 Annoyances)继续解释如何搜索和编辑并推荐一些第三方工具，这些工具比Windows 7内置的工具更好用。关于文件类型和关联以及如何调整内容以适应您的偏好，有一个长而详细的部分，并适当地警告您犯错时会发生什么。同样(Again)，我认为警告应该是粗体字(boldface type)。
看和听，你的方式
Windows 7 在视频方面比它的前辈要好得多，但在许多方面仍然存在不足。Windows 7 Annoyances解释了编解码器（以及为什么有必要自己去寻找它们）并描述了一些应该使这更容易的第三方工具。有一个关于修复无法播放的视频的部分，以及对Windows Media Player及其一些竞争对手的讨论，以及使Media Player按您希望的方式工作的有用技巧。显示如何从网页下载媒体文件的部分非常详细，应该使有时棘手的工作变得更加容易。Windows 7 还对其音频进行了重大更改，修复了以前版本中的许多持续烦恼，但这并不是没有代价的。Windows 7 的烦恼(Windows 7 Annoyances)直截了当：如果您跳过 Vista 并直接从 XP 升级，这就是您的声音无法正常工作的原因(If you skipped Vista and upgraded directly from XP, this is why your sound doesn't work)。如果您遇到的声音问题不是由不兼容的硬件引起的，您会喜欢这里的彻底、逐步的故障排除部分(troubleshooting section)。还有从视频中提取声音、将音频文件从一种格式转换为另一种格式以及标记音乐的说明，同样提供良好的第三方软件(third-party software)建议。
比鞋盒好，比电视机好
接下来，您将找到一个部分，其中详细介绍了处理照片的几种更有效的方法，包括调整缩略图缓存(thumbnail cache)和使用您自己的软件而不是Windows 照片库(Windows Photo Gallery)的说明。Windows 7 Annoyances然后继续编辑照片、对其进行排序和更改元数据，这对大型图像集有很大帮助。媒体中心部分(Media Center section)的大部分内容都与电视有关，但也有关于将DVD(DVDs)翻录到硬盘驱动器的简短讨论。我很惊讶没有出现复制保护问题。(copy protection)几乎(Almost)所有市售DVD(DVDs)受版权保护，因此不仅仅是翻录它们的问题。由于美国严格的反盗版法，可能没有讨论这个问题，(USA)但至少应该简要提及翻录DVD(DVDs)可能不是一个简单的过程。
需要速度
Windows 7 Annoyances的性能部分是本书最有价值的部分。在其中，您将找到几乎所有可能的调整、调整、设置、硬件推荐和全方位的清洁建议(housecleaning advice)，以使您的 Windows 7 计算机运行得更快更好。从Aero功能（以及您不需要的功能）的详细列表到视频优化、加速启动和关闭速度、释放磁盘空间以及更快地启动应用程序，Windows 7 烦恼(Windows 7 Annoyances)向您展示了如何控制您的软件。然后这本书继续讨论硬件——通过展示为什么你应该使用Glass并对其进行定制。有一些建议可以使您的显示正常工作(display work)更好（对于充分利用Windows 7来说是绝对必要的），提高笔记本电脑的电池寿命(battery life)，并超频您的处理器。硬盘(Hard)驱动器性能调整和碎片整理有自己的部分，本章以关于磁盘管理(disk housekeeping)、虚拟内存、缓存管理(cache administration)和高级硬盘管理(disk management)技术的合理建议作为结尾。本章对于想要的不仅仅是盒子里的东西的人来说是必读的。
哦，我们遇到了麻烦
故障排除一章(Troubleshooting chapter)逐步诊断和修复(diagnosis and repair)最常见的问题，从恶意软件开始（有很长的软件列表可以帮助摆脱它），然后解决启动问题、驱动器错误、崩溃、安装和卸载故障(installation and uninstallation glitches),绿丝带(Green Ribbon)死机(Death),蓝屏(Blue Screen)死机(Death),驱动程序和硬件, 坏内存, 电源问题和打印机问题。本章最后详细介绍了Windows 更新(Windows Update)问题、还原点、卷影副本、备份和恢复。如果您在这里找不到关于如何解决问题的好建议，那么您确实遇到了问题。我会把这一章放在书的最后。
网络和更多（更少的烦恼）
最后一章不是烦人的列表，而是关于网络、用户帐户和安全性的详细说明的教程，最后一章处理命令提示符和自动化(command prompt and automation)。这些对于想要超越默认设置和点击点击的人来说最有用。
结论
Windows 7 Annoyances对于那些对自己的技能有信心并愿意做一些额外工作来定制他们的计算机的人来说是一个极好的资源。我喜欢第三方软件推荐列表、指向有用信息的 Web 链接以及每个部分的分步说明。但我认为作者花了太多时间对Windows进行刻薄，而且在一本已经有近 700 页长的书中，少这样的题外话也无妨。
判决
Windows 7 Annoyances是前一本书Windows Annoyances的重要继承者，包含大量有用的信息。它的一些建议需要高级技能，但在大多数情况下，任何人都可以使用这些调整、技巧和建议，并且值得(anyone and worth)尝试（采取适当的预防措施）以使使用Windows 7变得更加愉快，而不是痛苦。
Book Review - Windows 7 Annoyances
Has there ever been an operating system that wasn't annoying? From the day I first used a keyрunch machine to make cards for a wheezy old IBM mainframe, through the bizarre syntax used by Commodorеs, through CP/M's "you don't have to be а prоgrammer to get this, but it helps" command structurе, through еvery single version of Microsoft's operаting systems so far--there's beеn somеthing in all of thеm that annoyed mе, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Fortunately, now we have O'Reilly Media's "Annoyanceѕ" series to help uѕ fight back.
Annoyances un-annoyed here
Like the other Annoyances books, Windows 7 Annoyances can be read in any order, and readers can easily look up the solution to whatever is irritating them at the moment. As with the previous editions, if you don't read the whole book, you may miss out on exactly the fix you didn't know you needed. That said, however, this book is definitely not for the novice.
Begin at the beginning, if you can
Windows 7 Annoyances begins with a description of the versions of Windows 7, and then offers helpful links and tips for those who don't have Windows 7 Ultimate, to add in a lot of the features that weren't included in other versions. Then it's on to installation. There's a helpful chart to show you what your chances are of making an upgrade work--if you have Windows Vista. If you're still using Windows XP, forget it, there is no way to upgrade, period. You have to wipe your drive and start over. Many people would consider that an extreme annoyance, but Microsoft had good reasons for doing it that way, as Windows 7 Annoyances explains. What follows is without a doubt the most complete explanation of installations I've ever seen. It covers what can go right, what can go wrong, what to do if you don't have a boot disk, what to do if you don't want Windows 7 creating extra partitions, and everything else that can be done to make sure you end up with Windows 7 running happily along. The chapter concludes with a section on migration to Windows 7, which I think should have come first. It's vital to know whether your current hardware is compatible, whether you'll need new drivers, and --especially if you're a current Windows XP user-- whether you can adapt your working style to accommodate all the changes that will be necessary once Windows 7 goes in.
She sells tweak shells?
The next chapter is called Shell Tweaks. (While the author explains what he means in the opening paragraph, I'm not sure how many non-techies refer to Windows Explorer, the desktop and taskbar as the "shell.") I appreciated the detailed explanation of how to get the classic Windows Explorer interface back and how to work more efficiently, including displaying files and folders the way you want. There's a good section on tweaking the Control Panel, for more advanced users.
Each version of Windows has changed the Start Menu, and Windows 7's is the most radical transformation yet. Since I still need to practice all the new arrangements and syntax, I welcomed the book's thorough explanation of how to clean up the Start Menu and work with it more efficiently. The next section deals with keyboard shortcuts for common file/folder actions. I suspect many people will find this and the following section on using multiple monitors very useful.
Registry annoyances, not for the faint of heart
The chapter on the Registry is definitely for more experienced users. While many readers will appreciate the thorough description of what the Registry is, how it works, and how to tweak it, the potential for disaster is always looming when people mess around in there. The chapter quite rightly starts out with a stern warning that irreparable harm can be done if the Registry isn't correct, and urges proper precautions and backups. I think this warning should have been in boldface type and I think the section that describes backing up the Registry should have immediately followed the warning instead of being placed toward the end of the chapter. Windows 7 Annoyances goes on to explain how to search and edit and suggests some third-party tools that work better than the tools built into Windows 7. There's a long and detailed section on file types and associations and how to tweak things to suit your preferences, with appropriate warnings about what will happen if you make mistakes. Again, I think the warnings should have been in boldface type.
See and hear, your way
Windows 7 is much better with video than its predecessors, but it still falls short in many ways. Windows 7 Annoyances explains codecs (and why it's necessary to go find them yourself) and describes some third-party tools that should make that easier. There's a section on repairing videos that won't play and a discussion of Windows Media Player and some of its competitors, with useful tips for making Media Player work the way you want it to. The section that shows how to download media files from web pages was nicely detailed and should make a sometimes tricky job much easier. Windows 7 also made major changes in its audio, fixing many of the persistent annoyances in previous versions, but this didn't come without a price. Windows 7 Annoyances lays it on the line: If you skipped Vista and upgraded directly from XP, this is why your sound doesn't work. If you've got sound problems that aren't caused by incompatible hardware, you'll appreciate the thorough, step-by-step troubleshooting section here. There are also instructions for extracting sounds from video, converting audio files from one format to another, and tagging music, again with good third-party software suggestions.
Better than a shoebox, better than a TV
Next you'll find a section that details several more efficient ways to deal with photos, including instructions for tweaking the thumbnail cache and using your own software instead of Windows Photo Gallery. Windows 7 Annoyances then moves on to editing photos, sorting them, and changing metadata, which is a big help with large image collections. Most of the Media Center section deals with TV, but there's also a brief discussion of ripping DVDs to your hard drive. I was surprised that the issue of copy protection didn't come up. Almost all commercially available DVDs are copy protected, so it's not just a matter of ripping them. It's possible this issue was not discussed because of the strict anti-piracy laws in the USA, but there should have been at least a brief mention that ripping DVDs might not be a straightforward process.
Need for speed
The Performance section of Windows 7 Annoyances is the book's most valuable. In it, you'll find just about every possible adjustment, tweak, setting, hardware recommendation and all-around housecleaning advice, to make your Windows 7 computer run faster and better. From a detailed list of Aero features (and which ones you don't need) through video tuneups, turbocharging boot and shutdown speed, freeing up disk space, and starting applications faster, Windows 7 Annoyances shows you how to take control of your software. And then the book moves on to hardware--by way of showing why you should use Glass and customize it. There are suggestions for making your display work better (absolutely necessary to display Windows 7 to full advantage), improving battery life on a laptop, and overclocking your processor. Hard drive performance adjustments and defragmentation get their own section and the chapter concludes with sound advice on disk housekeeping, virtual memory, cache administration and advanced hard disk management techniques. This chapter is a must-read for anyone who wants more than just what came in the box.
Oh, we got trouble
The Troubleshooting chapter works step by step through diagnosis and repair of the most common problems, starting with malware (with a lengthy list of software that can help get rid of it) and working through startup problems, drive errors, crashes, installation and uninstallation glitches, the Green Ribbon of Death, the Blue Screen of Death, drivers and hardware, bad memory, power issues and printer problems. The chapter concludes with a detailed description of Windows Update problems, restore points, shadow copies, backups and, recoveries. If you can't find good advice on how to fix your problem here, you've really got problems. I would have placed this chapter at the end of the book.
Networks and more (with fewer annoyances)
The final chapters are not so much lists of annoyances, but well-illustrated tutorials on networks, user accounts, and security, with a concluding chapter that deals with the command prompt and automation. These are most useful for people who want to move beyond the defaults and beyond point-and-click.
Conclusions
Windows 7 Annoyances is an excellent resource for people who are confident in their skills and willing to do a little extra work to customize their computers. I liked the lists of third-party software recommendations, the web links to useful information, and the step-by-step instructions in each section. But I think the author spent a little too much time being snarky about Windows, and in a book that's already nearly 700 pages long, fewer such digressions would have done no harm.
Verdict
Windows 7 Annoyances is a worthy successor to the previous Windows Annoyances book and contains a wealth of useful information. Some of its suggestions require advanced skills, but for the most part, the tweaks, hacks and recommendations are accessible to anyone and worth trying (with appropriate precautions) to make using Windows 7 more of a pleasure and less of a pain.
