# Windows Internals by Russinovich, Solomon and Ionescu

6 Hacker News commenters recommended Windows Internals by Russinovich, Solomon and Ionescu and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 4 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a deep guide to how Windows works inside, with general lessons in OS design. No caveat was raised.

## Why people recommend it

- Explains Windows internals and OS design (3 comments): "Windows Internals being about Windows teaches you generally good lessons in OS design" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48274184)) "Before Windows Internals book we all know" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47884134)) "Windows Internals will be your friend, if you want to know more." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46919609))
- Well-known standard reference for Windows (2 comments): "Windows Internals will be your friend, if you want to know more." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46919609)) "Before Windows Internals book we all know" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47884134))
- Series covers modern Windows editions (2 comments): "I recommend the book series of the same name by Pavel Yosifovich" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47022543)) "For more modern Windows, Windows Internals Parts 1 and 2" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47019016))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces by Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau and Andrea Arpaci-Dusseau](https://hackerapproved.com/p/operating-systems-three-easy-pieces.md): 11 recommend
- [Operating Systems: Design and Implementation by Andrew Tanenbaum](https://hackerapproved.com/p/operating-systems-design-and-implementation.md): 7 recommend
- [Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles by William Stallings](https://hackerapproved.com/p/operating-systems-internals-and-design-principles.md): 2 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0135462401?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780135462409) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Windows Internals by Russinovich, Solomon and Ionescu", https://hackerapproved.com/p/windows-internals/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).