NEW MEMBERS PLEASE READ FIRST

[GroundZero3]

I have been a member of Sysopt/Techimo since about late 1999. I know there has other members who have been here longer and there is a usual battle when trying to help other members. We understand that a lot of you are new to message boards so I would like to take this time to help you with your post. You see the more info you provide for us the likeliness of you getting a better responses is greater.

Please provide the info to help us help you;

1. Motherboards. the heart of the computer. Please provide us with the manufacture and model number.

2. What operating system are you using. Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Apple, Linux, Unix or whatever your flavor is.

3. What have you done to try to fix the problem. Everything you did to try to fix needs to be list so we don't waste our time or yours telling you to do something you have already tried.

4. Please tell us if anything is attached to the computer. Usb or other devices. Or the device that is not working tell us about it. What brand, are you running the newest updates?

5. Dont forget about the search feature, maybe your Question has already been addressed:
search

or if you look up top, right below the newest post you will see the search button

It takes two seconds....

6. It is extremely helpful if you come back and update the thread if you find the solution. that way other people who have the same problem can perform a search and know the results of the suggestions that have been made

7. A good title for the thread is really helpful. "I need help bad" may get looks from people with time on their hands, but "Corrupted .dll file in Quicken 2002" or "Can't get WinXP support for UMAX scanner" are more likely to attract the folks who know the specific answers

8. What does FAQ stand for and where can i find it?

You can find it here

9. What does YGPM mean?

You got Private message. go to the main page and scroll all the way to the bottom to check your messages. Alot of memebers do not like there private messages posted on the board. Hence the term Private message. please be respectful of there Private messages.

10. One more item that seems to come up. Language! Yes if you have read the FAQ's we do not allow certain words on the forum. As we do have younger folks who surf the forums. If they are words you would not say in front of your new girlfriends/boyfriends parents then don't use it! We understand you are having a problem and frustrated but please keep the cussing out. If you would like a list or not sure of the word please pm and ill be more than happy to send you a list of bad words

11. You be surprised on how many answers you can find by using these links: (put your error codes in the search box.)

Google

For Linux specific searches, try: <Linux> - Google Search

For Macintosh specific searches, try Google Software Downloads for the Mac


*Not to be picking on anyone, but this is the kind of threads that really bothers us WE ARE NOT MIND READERS!

Please take time to read this all the way thru!

Please note that the report this thread to a moderator button is only to be used to report threads that are breaking the forums rules. Not to ask us for help on how to fix a computer problem

And to all the new members, happy posting!

[thekingofpain]

And---dont forget about the search feature, maybe your Q has already been addressed:
http://www.techimo.com/forum/search.php?s=

[GroundZero3]

thank you for the input king!!!

please if any other members want to, feedback is wonderful!

[shahani]

Excellent initiative, GZee, saves a lot of unnecessary posts/inquiries.

"Ask a question well and you get a quick and accurate answer" or

"GIGO"

[Martoch]

Originally posted by GroundZero3

Not to be picking on anyone, but this is the kind of threads that really bothers us WE ARE NOT MIND READERS!




JaYsin

I hear ya GZ, sometimes I feel like making a Word document with all of the necessary questions in it so I can just copy/paste to those kinds of threads. Like you said, not to slam anyone, but it sure helps us out to have all of the necessary info without trying to drag it out of somebody.


Mike

[NeoStarO1]

Great informitive post GZ3! I think it should be a sticky as well. But where to stick the sticky? Which forum or all of them???

Needs to be one where the newbies tend to hit first.

Thanks for posting that GZ.

[Tomteriffic]

Good idea. I don't know how many times I've looked at a "Ohmygod, it's dead, help me NOW!!!" post, and scratched my head wondering what to suggest, simply because there wasn't enough information there to make a good guess.

As a result, when I put up an "Okay, I'm stumped" post like that, I probably put WAY too much info in there, but that's better than leaving somebody who's willing to help me out just shooting in the dark.

[zskillz]

as an important addendum to the above posted suggestions....

5. it is extremely helpful if you come back and update the thread if you find the solution. that way other people who have the same problem can perform a search and know the results of the suggestions that have been made

-Z

[Theophylact]

I second zskillz's comments. The absence of a reply doesn't necessarily mean that the advice didn't help; it may merely betoken a satisfied (but unmannerly) user. We need the feedback.

Even the Car Guys, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, have a "Stump the Chumps" feature, where they call people back several months later to find whether the advice they gave was any good.

[Theophylact]

Oh, also, a good title for the thread is really helpful. "I need help bad" may get looks from people with time on their hands, but "Corrupted .dll file in Quicken 2002" or "Can't get WinXP support for UMAX scanner" are more likely to attract the folks who know the specific answers.

[Redwolf]

Yes, the title makes all the diffrence

[Detritus]

I think this needs a ^bump^ IMHO

[Tazman]

Wow, GZ, Tom, and Z can read minds - I have thought the same for sooooo long now. Alot of times I'll read a thread and then re-read it and think HUH and not even respond 'cuz it doesn't make sense and would take way too long to go through a step by step diagnostic procedure .

5. it is extremely helpful if you come back and update the thread if you find the solution. that way other people who have the same problem can perform a search and know the results of the suggestions that have been made

I couldn't agree more. And as TKOP suggested, the search feature is AWESOME and has saved me from having to start a new thread and fixed my problems more times than I could count.

Mike

[GroundZero3]

thanks everyone for the input! the Search, title and updates are wonderful add-ons! in the list they go!

[Detritus]

Just thinking this needs another lil ol bump

[RustyGT]

Yep, Got one right now. [Newbie nil detail post]
What's an FAQ?

Persevere. R.

[Mike]

Good job GZ. Yes, the search feature is very important...

[MegalosSkylaki]

How do I turn on my Computer Serial number S/N 45-Z87690534987654-P ?

[Tazman]

How do I turn on my Computer Serial number S/N 45-Z87690534987654-P ?

Buy it a nice bottle of wine, play some romantic music, and be really nice to it .

Sorry Dooooooooog, couldn't resist .

Mike

[MegalosSkylaki]

Which verietal wine? What number lot? From which County? Which vat? Let's show some specificity here