Both the C# book and ( even more so ) the C++ book, show you how to do things the hard way. Lots of interesting info, but you'll end up doing stuff differently if you want to be productive. What language are you using ? If C#, inside C# by Tom Archer is the best book out there for language stuff. If C++, the Stroustrup book is best. Either way, all the stuff you're talking about is to do with interacting with the OS, and this site and MSDN are your best sources of info there. Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++