Guidelines: Asking for and Offering Help, Return to the forum

Welcome to What the Tech!

* If you are Asking for Technical Help:

Give as much specific information as possible.

• Details of your machine Brand-name and model, desktop or laptop, CPU, RAM, age of machine.
• Details of your Operating System (Windows Vista(version), XP (pro or home), Win2000, Win ME/98/95, Linux, dual boot)
• Details of the Application(s) running when the problem occurred: (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Office, online game, etc)

Explain the problem you are experiencing (what’s not working).

When I try to do (a "computer activity") .... something else happens, or (the "computer activity") doesn't work

Put the problem “in context”.

• What were you doing at the time or just before the problem occurred?
• What recent changes to the machine have you made? (New Hardware/New Software/Updates)
• If Error Messages were displayed, post the “entire” exact text of the Error.

When you post your "Topic Description" -- include a word(s) that describes the problem.

• Example: “Please Help! Desperate!” - doesn’t describe the problem
• Example: “Problem with Hard Drive”, “Won’t run Office applications”, “Lags during game play”, “Can’t Defrag”- begins the description

What have you already done to try to fix the problem?

I already tried... etc.
Be polite and patient.
If someone has the answer they will post it.
Responses may take time to research. Often you'll have a reply in minutes, and usually at least in the same day.

When you receive a reply that solves your problem, or if you figure out a solution yourself, -- please let us know.
We are always learning, too. It helps us to know, with your confirmation, what helped!
And.... These Forums are read by hundreds of people, who might also learn from your experience.

* If you are Posting a Helpful Reply:

"Do you know the answer? Take the time to teach!"

• Post Help instructions only in Forum Threads. Do not provide assistance via PM or Email.
• Be Friendly, calming and welcoming to the OP (original poster) who may be quite frustrated with their computer problem.
• Be Accurate: Fully describe or document the process so that the OP and all Future Readers understand the risks, precautions, process, what is happening, and why it is needed.
• Be Safe: Before launching help instructions the OP should be shown how to backup their system in case mistakes are made.
  Consider recommending:
  

  System Restore to Undo Changes if Problems Occur
  Registry Backup and Restore for Windows NT/2000/2003/XP/Vista

  
  
• Registry Fixes (.reg) and Batch Files (.bat) must be approved by a Tech Team Member before posting.
• No malware removal advice from anyone other than Malware Team. We do not analyze HJT Logs in Tech Forums.
• Read and abide by Terms of Use
• Report problems and abuses to Tech Team Member, Moderators or Administrators.

Thanks -- from the Tech Team, Tech Helpers and Regularly responding Members of this Forum.