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Thread ID: 46728 2004-07-03 08:28:00 FAQ. Draft for picking over/on. Murray P (44) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
249551 2004-07-04 12:44:00 > >Now, have happy and productive posting and stop
> hitting the poor machine it really is so silly, if
> you could see yourself now.
> Now call me a stick-in-the-mud, but I prefer FAQ's to
> be slightly more formal with the language and
> content, although a bit of humour never goes astray.
> Maybe stick to essential info only? :)
Reasonably formal is fine by me too. I do think though that MurrayP has injected a little humour which may not go amiss. I don't want people to go ask a question here on PressF1 and get scared off.

I don't think this should be part of the sign on at all.

I think there could be two FAQ's as mentioned before. We can have a sticky which will link to both FAQs maybe.
>
> All the above comments are only my opinion, feel free
> to ignore them - I won't be offended. :)
Not ignored. Read and understood.
> Jen 		Elephant (599)
249552 2004-07-05 00:36:00 I agree with Mike. A sticky is fine but it presumes it will be read. I visit the odd forum (some are very odd :D ) and never read the stickies.

A brief message on the "post" screen is the most likely way of getting the message across. 		Winston001 (3612)
249553 2004-07-05 00:49:00 I think it'd be a good idea to have something beside the "Origional post (below)" when posting a message that says "How to get results" or something similar... "How to post and get replies"...

Just a thought 		Chilling_Silence (9)
249554 2004-07-05 02:57:00 Chopped & Channeled Version for you perusal .

Sticky: How To Get Good Help on PF1 . (could also be a link in the Post New Topic dialogue}

Your Topic Title (the subject of discussion):

Try and make the topic of your post as specific to the problem or issue you want resolved as possible . If a particular programme or hardware device is causing you trouble or you want to know something about it put is in the topic . For example: <do we need examples people?> “Internet Explorer, Page Not Found” or “PC wont start, Invalid System Disk”

If you don’t know what is causing the issue try to get as close as you can in as few words as you can .

Help, Urgent, Please, etc, are not descriptions of your issue and will not get you any closer to resolving it .

The Question:

Again, be as specific as you can . Include any error messages you receive, pop up boxes or things that happen that are not what you expect or want to happen . Include the name, model and/or version of the software or hardware that is causing the problem, if you can . If you are unsure, ask .

What were you doing or attempting to do at the time or just before the problem occurred?

What operating system is installed on the computer?:

For example: Windows XX version XX . XXX Service Pack XX . If you don’t know all the information, say so, then ask .

What is your computer?:

Include, make, model and system specification if you know it . For example: Lemon’s Dodgy PC, Mack 0 . 01 Super Slow, Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, 20GB hard drive, 56K PCI modem, 24 x CDR drive . Give as much information as you can .

What if I don’t know what is causing the problem/my operating system/software/hardware?:

Don’t worry . Get as close as you can, Someone will be able to assist you in getting the required information as long as they have somewhere to start, but if you don’t tell and you don’t ask you will get a comparable reply, if any at all .

What Have You Tried?:

Tell us what you have tried to fix the problem or what you have done so far to find out what you want to know .

You Don’t Need To Write A Book .

If you can supply all of the above in succinct good English then you will get helpful replies . These things are often a progressive process of Q & A and a process of elimination . Unfortunately we can not see what you are seeing but, we have probably seen it before if you can describe it .


To help you find the information yourself and assist you to get the very best out of Press F1 click on [This Link] . There is also a very good Press F1 FAQ section at This Link ( . pcworld . co . nz/faq . jsp?forum=1" target="_blank">pressf1 . pcworld . co . nz) that has common computer problems, things you could try and How To’s .

Now got to it . We’re waiting to Help You .

I could probably make it a bit shorter yet but, I think it will start to lose some of the vitals . I'll also have another look at tiding up the previous version which I guess will be a FAQ, if accepted .

Cheers Murray P

PS . Error correction is broken at the mo, will fix any typo's, etc, when it is back on-line . 		Murray P (44)
249555 2004-07-05 03:08:00 Looks real good Murray. Needs to be a permanent "sticky thread" locked.

I am sure many new posters would welcome such guidelines, it would give them confidence.

Can we also ask for structured and spaced sentences, and not txt or l33t speek, or is that far too radical? 		godfather (25)
249556 2004-07-05 03:34:00 Thanks GF .

No it wouldn't, stronger guidance in that respect would not go amiss, In My Opinion :D I did make mention of the usage of such language in the original (FAQ) version (top of thread) and OT topic, I would like to see the sticky linked to it .

Cheers Murray P

PS . Got to go collect my daughter know, blimmin school hol's . Any suggestions will be gratefully received . 		Murray P (44)
249557 2004-07-05 04:44:00 How about:
Provide Relevant information:

If you're having troubles with Internet Explorer, give us your Internet Explorer version, IE 6 sp1, Ie 4.0

State that program versions can be found usually in Help --> About

Also there's no point me telling you I have a P4 2.8Ghz when I wanna know why my start page cant be changed is there..... 		Chilling_Silence (9)
249558 2004-07-05 04:51:00 >PS. Got to go collect my daughter know, blimmin school hol's. Any suggestions will be gratefully received.


Buy her a bicycle:D 		metla (154)
249559 2004-07-05 05:16:00 You're doing a great job of this Murray and I'm really pleased to see that you're a person who "put their money where their mouth is" instead of just talking about it . Stick with it . :-)

Being a super-critical perfectionist I have had to restrain myself from hacking it all to bits but the suggestions that I feel necessary to alter are as below, with the unedited bits removed for the sake of brevity .



> Sticky: How To Get Good Help on PF1 . (could also be a link in the Post New Topic dialogue}

You might like to include "Help us to help you" in the heading .


> Your Topic Title (the subject of discussion):

> For example: <do we need examples people?>

Yes, we do .


> Help, Urgent, Please, etc, are not descriptions of
> your issue and will not get you any closer to
> resolving it .

"Help", "Urgent", "Computer won't work", etc," will not attract the attention of people with the expertise to assist you (as most people do not have time to read every post on the forum and will bypass threads without an appropriate description <-- could prune this bit if too long) .


> What operating system is installed on the computer?:

> For example: Windows XX version XX . XXX Service Pack XX . If you don’t know all the information, say so, then ask .

I suggest:
For example: "Windows 98 SE" or "Windows XP Service Pack 1" . If you don’t know all the information, say so .


> What is your computer?:

> Include, make, model and system specification if you
> know it . For example: Lemon’s Dodgy PC, Mack 0 . 01
> Super Slow, Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, 20GB hard drive,
> 56K PCI modem, 24 x CDR drive . Give as much
> information as you can .

Inexperienced people might take you literally with that lot so I suggest real examples be used, eg Dell Dimension 2400 . . . . . .


> I could probably make it a bit shorter yet but, I
> think it will start to lose some of the vitals . I'll
> also have another look at tiding up the previous
> version which I guess will be a FAQ, if accepted .

The other one needs quite a prune as well, IMO . It's a drag having to wade through pages of waffle .

My suggestion would be to break that one up into separate posts like I did with the Spyware FAQ, with a list of the contents in the first post . That way people can skim over the contents and jump straight to the bits they require if they don't need to read the whole lot .

My last, but definitely not least, suggestion is to include something similar to this, in both the sticky and the FAQ version:

Please keep your questions related to your problem in the one 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 . Not every problem gets solved but people here do have a good crack at what they can .

Again, the above can be shortened for the sticky and possibly left as is, or how you wish, for the FAQ . 		Susan B (19)
249560 2004-07-05 06:57:00 Glad you picked up on that one met's the other dullards missed it . Can't see her taking to a bicycle tho not 30k's anyway . Even shank's pony for a couple of K's, apparently has a detrimental effect on hours of preening, I think it gives her a nice healthy glow but, I know sod all as you have no doubt noticed ;)

Chill,

> If you're having troubles with Internet Explorer, give us your Internet
> Explorer version, IE 6 sp1, Ie 4 . 0

> State that program versions can be found usually in Help --> About

> Also there's no point me telling you I have a P4 2 . 8Ghz when I wanna
> know why my start page cant be changed is there . . . . .

Yeah, I stripped that info out is the cause of brevity . Between a rock and a hard place . The overriding impression I got with the "FAQ" was that it was too long for quick reference doc, I agree . Will see what can be done, mod editing is always an options if it doesn't work to optimum .

Susan,

> You're doing a great job of this Murray and I'm
> really pleased to see that you're a person who "put
> their money where their mouth is" instead of just
> talking about it . Stick with it . :-)
>
> Being a super-critical perfectionist I have had to
> restrain myself from hacking it all to bits but the
> suggestions that I feel necessary to alter are as
> below, with the unedited bits removed for the sake of
> brevity .
>
>
>
> > Sticky: How To Get Good Help on PF1 . (could
> also be a link in the Post New Topic dialogue}
>
> You might like to include "Help us to help you" in
> the heading .

I was tossing up with something similar . Need to set an example though don't we, brevity wise . I would prefer something a bit snappier than "Good Help" though, bit dull isn't it .
>
> > Your Topic Title (the subject of
> discussion):
>
> > For example: <do we need examples people?>
>
> Yes, we do .

Agreed . Short ones .

> > Help, Urgent, Please, etc, are not descriptions of
> > your issue and will not get you any closer to
> > resolving it .
>
> "Help", "Urgent", "Computer won't work", etc," will
> not attract the attention of people with the
> expertise to assist you (as most people do not have
> time to read every post on the forum and will bypass
> threads without an appropriate description <-- could
> prune this bit if too long) .
>
See if it can be slipped in without addin a line .

> > What operating system is installed on the
> computer?:
>
> > For example: Windows XX version XX . XXX Service Pack
> XX . If you don’t know all the information, say
> so, then ask .
>
> I suggest:
> For example: "Windows 98 SE" or "Windows XP Service
> Pack 1" . If you don’t know all the information,
> say so .

See answer to Chill and original .
>
> > What is your computer?:
>
> > Include, make, model and system specification if
> you
> > know it . For example: Lemon’s Dodgy PC, Mack
> 0 . 01
> > Super Slow, Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, 20GB hard drive,
> > 56K PCI modem, 24 x CDR drive . Give as much
> > information as you can .
>
> Inexperienced people might take you literally with
> that lot so I suggest real examples be used, eg Dell
> Dimension 2400 . . . . . .

Wanted to stay away from trademarks and the suggestion of a "real" dodgy brand . If noon's don't know what a "Lemon's Dodgy PC" is it wont hurt them if they avoid buying one or the company . "Joe Blows" might give them a better idea though .

>
> > I could probably make it a bit shorter yet but, I
> > think it will start to lose some of the vitals .
> I'll
> > also have another look at tiding up the previous
> > version which I guess will be a FAQ, if accepted .
>
> The other one needs quite a prune as well, IMO . It's
> a drag having to wade through pages of waffle .

Pray point out the "waffle" woman . I have no idea what your on about, completely foreign term to me ;)

>
> My suggestion would be to break that one up into
> separate posts like I did with the Spyware FAQ, with
> a list of the contents in the first post . That way
> people can skim over the contents and jump straight
> to the bits they require if they don't need to read
> the whole lot .

That is the intention, 2 or 3 FAQ's with links from the sticky .

> My last, but definitely not least, suggestion is to
> include something similar to this, in both the sticky
> and the FAQ version:
>
> Please keep your questions related to your problem
> in the one 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 . Not every problem gets solved
> but people here do have a good crack at what they
> can .
>
> Again, the above can be shortened for the sticky and
> possibly left as is, or how you wish, for the FAQ .

There you go again, damn it, adding great big paragraphs . Good idea though ;)

Thanks guys .

I'll give it an hour or so to re-edit so, get in here you lot or keep for ever silent .

Cheers Murray P 		Murray P (44)
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