Windows C++ book

Hey, i'm currently trying to learn C++ for windows, and windows APIs with c++

i'm currently reading:

for basic C++ knowhow... very basic.. no windows programming i think... just basic command prompt stuff
"Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 24 hours"

For Windows API's:
"Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 hours"

first book is pretty easy to understand, but its not what i'm looking for: Window API EXEs ect.. (like what b3d makes)

the second book is focused on what i want i think, but its a bit advanced, even a the beginning it says it requires basic under standing of Window API creation with C++..

So my question is, do you know any good books for window API EXEs , or windows programming in general with c++? thats easy for a newb C++ person to understand?

MSDN? Thats just what I use when looking up Win API, I think there is some tutorials too not that I've looked much.

Charles Petzold, Programming Windows. -- The -- standard book on the subject. However, Petzold was using plain C in the older editions of the book, and in the current editions he is using C#.

Winni, no book by the name/ author you specifed... any others? i'm looking for a beginners book for windows programming with C++

The second book only really looks at making a simple window, then drawing on it with GDI. Its not a Win32 reference type book (Though it does explain the odd WinAPI function), its a game programming book in C++, totally different from what I think you want.

I just used MSDN, google, and played about with Win32 writing userlibs for Blitz+... So see if you can find any free stuff, and just play around with it before splashing out.

This took me three seconds to find on Google:-

http://www.functionx.com/win32/index.htm

Dabz

Were exactly did you look Yahfree, the Petzold book which I also recommend can be found at both the U.S. and UK amazon.coms.

UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Programming-Windows-Microsoft-Charles-Petzold/dp/157231995X/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-4453778-6685529?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180813054&sr=1-1

US http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Windows-Fifth-Charles-Petzold/dp/157231995X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-3726008-1703367?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180812868&sr=1-3

Maybe an easier to understand book for a newb would be 'Schildt's Windows 95 Programming in C and C++'.

You can buy it used at Amazon.com. It covers all the same stuff as the website Dabz posted above but in a more relaxed pace.