Windows sysinternals

Introduction xxv
Many people suggested that a book on the tools would be valuable, but it wasn’t until David
Solomon suggested that one was way overdue that I started the project. My responsibilities
at Microsoft did not permit me to devote the time necessary to write another book, but
David pointed out that I could find someone to help. I was pleased that Aaron Margosis
agreed to partner with me. Aaron is a Principal Consultant with Microsoft Public Sector
Services who is known for his deep understanding of Windows security and application
compatibility. I have known Aaron for many years and his excellent writing skills, familiarity
with Windows internals, and proficiency with the Sysinternals tools made him an ideal
coauthor.
Who Should Read This Book
This book exists for Windows IT professionals and power users who want to make the most
of the Sysinternals tools. Regardless of your experience with the tools, and whether you
manage the systems of a large enterprise, a small business, or the PCs of your family and
friends, you’re sure to discover new tools, pick up tips, and learn techniques that will help you
more effectively troubleshoot the toughest Windows problems and simplify your systemmanagement
operations and monitoring.
Assumptions
This book expects that you have familiarity with the Windows operating system. Basic
familiarity with concepts such as processes, threads, virtual memory, and the Windows
command prompt, is helpful, though some of these concepts are discussed in Chapter 2,
“Windows Core Concepts”.
Organization of This Book
The book is divided into three parts. Part I, “Getting Started,” provides an overview of the
Sysinternals utilities and the Sysinternals Web site, describes features common to all of the
utilities, tells you where to go for help, and discusses some Windows core concepts that will
help you better understand the platform and the information reported by the utilities.
Part II, “Usage Guide,” is a detailed reference guide covering all of the Sysinternals utilities’
features, command-line options, system requirements, and caveats. With plentiful screen
shots and usage examples, this section should answer just about any question you have
about the utilities. Major utilities such as Process Explorer and Process Monitor each get their
own chapter; subsequent chapters cover utilities by category, such as security utilities, Active
Directory utilities, and file utilities.
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