This is giving me flashbacks to the times when I had to implement systems based on big, verbose specification documents like this. Horrible.

If you really want to understand Windows, skip this and check out Windows 2000 Internals by Solomon and Russinovich (Win2k is a good middle-ground where Windows had matured a bit).

For more modern Windows, Windows Internals Parts 1 and 2[1][2], and Windows 10 System Programming Parts 1 and 2. Basically anything by Yosifovich, Russinovich, Ionescu et al.

[1]: https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/store/windows-internals-...

[2]: https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/store/windows-internals-...

[3]: https://leanpub.com/b/windows10systemprogrammingP1and2

Yeah this is definitely a hell of read which probably has more historical values than real ones. The book "Inside Windows NT" also gives a good overview about Windows NT 3.1. There is another one called "Understanding Windows NT File System" which talks about the fs I think.

The biggest problem is NT is not open-source, and while there are leaked copies posted online, there is no "official" build guide so people have to try their luck.

It's giving me flashbacks to a few months ago.

(*cries in X12 270/271*)