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Thread ID: 47771	2004-08-05 08:04:00	How To Get Effective Help on PF1. Help Us to Help You.	Murray P (44)	Press F1

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258416	2004-08-05 08:04:00	Sticky: How To Get Effective Help on PF1. Help Us to Help You. These notes are guidelines on the effective usage of Press F1, they are not rules, this document is intended to help you get the best out of Press F1 and its members. Please use the links provided as well as the Press F1 FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page and the Forum Search function, you may find your problem has already been discussed and resolved. Read On. 1) Your Topic Title (the subject of discussion): Please make the topic of your post as specific as possible to the problem or issue you want resolved. If a particular programme or hardware device is causing you trouble, or you want to know something about it, put its name and/or error message in the topic. For example: “Internet Explorer, Page not found”, “PC won’t start, Invalid System Disk”, or “File not found”. If you don’t know what is causing your problem, try to describe it as best you can in as few words as possible. Single word topics such as Help, Urgent, Please, etc, are not descriptions of your problem and will not get you any closer to resolving it. Threads (topics) that do not have an easy to understand description to attract the attention, interest, and more importantly, right expertise, are more likely to be bypassed in favour of those that do. 2) Your Question: Be as specific as you can. Include any error messages you receive, and describe anything that is not what you expect or want to happen. If you can, please include the name, model and/or version of the software or hardware that is causing the problem. If you are unsure, just ask, or follow this Link to FAQ 101 (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) for more detailed advice. 2.1) What were you doing (or attempting to do) at the time, or just before the problem occurred? Tell us what program you were using or trying to access, or what other computer function you were engaged in when you first realised you had a problem. You will find the version information for the program you have/had open by clicking “Help” at the top of the screen then choosing “About [program name]”. 2.2) What operating system (OS) is installed on the computer? For example: Windows 98SE version XX.XXX or Windows XP Service Pack 1. If you don’t know all the information, say so, then ask. 2.3) What type is your computer? Include the make, model and specification, if you know them. For example: HP Pavilion 714a, Pentium 4, 2.4Ghz. If you can, also include how much RAM you have installed, hard drive size, CD drive type etc. For Internet or email problems give us your ISP company name (Xtra, Ihug or Orcon etc), modem brand and connection type (56K dial-up, Jetstream, Woosh wireless, etc). Please supply as much information as you are able. 2.4) What if I don’t have any idea what is causing the problem with my operating system/software/hardware? Don’t worry, just do the best you can. Someone will be able to assist you in getting the required information as long as they have somewhere to start. However, if you don’t tell us anything and you don’t ask either, you will get a very short reply, if any at all. We recommend that you look at this Link to FAQ 101 (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) for tips on gathering information from your computer. 2.5) What have you tried so far? Explain what you have tried so far to fix the problem, or what you have done to find the information you need. Don’t forget to search on Google for any error message you are getting, you may find your answer straight away. 3) You don’t need to write a book, but: If you can supply all of the above in clear, succinct English, great, you will get helpful replies, but please do not worry if you cannot supply all the detail right now. Diagnosing computer problems is often a process of elimination through a series of Q & A. Unfortunately we cannot see what you have on your screen, but we may well recognise it if you can describe it to us. Let’s all speak the same language, it helps avoid confusion Please do not use txt, 1337 speak or other abbreviated/coded language. 4) Please try the services already available first: To help you find the some information yourself and assist you to get the very best out of Press F1, click on This Link to FAQ 101 (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz). There is also a very good Press F1 FAQ section at This Link (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) that has common computer problems, things you could try and a number of useful How-To’s. 5) Keep your questions all in one place: Please keep all questions related to your problem in the one topic thread. If you get no answers to your problem or it does not appear to be getting resolved DO NOT start a new thread on the same problem. Just add another post in your original thread to say that you still need help. Maybe you need to add or modify the information to help people understand your problem (See the above FAQ Link). Not every problem gets solved, but people here do have a good crack at what they can. Cheers, Murray P et al. With special thanks to Billy T, debugging and stress-testing department.	Murray P (44)
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