Advice to posters

[KingTermite]

I just wanted to lay a couple of basic common-sense guidlines for posting. The intent is to help the posters get repsonses more quickly and accurately when they are posting due to a problem.

1.) Make your subject line of your post summarize your problem. Generic subjects like Help! or Problem -- urgent! convey no information and people are less likely to rush to help them. It's just common sense.

2.) Either put your system profile in the post, or make sure it is filled in when you register so it can be easily viewed.

3.) Do not get offended when somebody asks a simple question or offers the simple solution. Even the best of us forget the simple stuff (like making sure its plugged in all the way) sometimes.

4.) This is an official ABXzone rule too. Do not post the same question/post to more than one forum.

5.) If it is not answered in 5 minutes, don't get annoyed and leave. Many times there are areas that some people are good with and you just need to bump the post at different times to help the right people see them. That does not mean bumping the post every 5 minutes though.

Others -- feel free to add to the list.

[grsamf]

I would add:

1A. Be specific in defining the problem, including steps taken to resolve it. I find the more specific I am, the quicker I get solutions.

6. Use the search option before posting. Chances are others have had the same problem. That has saved me a lot of time and it avoids cluttering the board with repetitious posts dealing with the same issue.

Re 3: Good point. And don't be afraid you'll look foolish. Example: I am not in the category of one of "the best of us" but did have a problem with sound recently, i.e., not getting any. I fiddled with drivers, settings, etc., for quite some time before I remembered I had plugged my speakers into the onboard sound (which is disabled) while playing around with the cold boot problem. Plugged into sound card and the problem was miraculously solved.

Query: Number 5 does not apply to me, does it?

[Monkey Hanger]

Can I also add, please do NOT use the kind of spelling that is better kept to messaging on a mobile phone.
There are a lot of people here whose first language is not English. Posting in this SMS shorthand is only risking confusion and misunderstanding. It is also very bad-mannered.
The kind of shorthand I am referring to is e.g. i =I; m8 = mate; b4 = before etc.
Please, think about the readers.

[Cogar]

Here are a few others worth considering:

8. Use a spell checker if you have one.
9. Relax before you write. More than a few of us will not respond to posts that appear more like a soapbox rant than an actual question.
10. Keep things as brief as possible consistent with fully describing the problem and the steps you have taken so far to solve it. Although some of us may have the time, not everyone will invest 5 minutes to read through a long-winded post.
11. Use the "Preview Reply" button before posting.

[grsamf]

Using a spell checker is a good idea. One that I found mentioned in other forums is ieSpell. It's free for personal use and easy to use. Checks spelling in forum posts, forms, etc. Once installed it shows up in the tool menu and you can add an icon to the toolbar. It is available for download at http://www.iespell.com./.

[RoadHazard]

Originally posted by Cogar

11. Use the "Preview Reply" button before posting.

I didn't notice we have that button. :o

[phead]

I'm new around here, but I would add use the SEARCH button. More than a few of my questions/problems have been fixed by a quick search.

[SKI]

Worthy of a BUMP...

[Monkey Hanger]

Nice one Ski.

[FB]

what about::

HAVE FUN

[c_white_wolf]

Originally posted by grsamf
Query: Number 5 does not apply to me, does it?

I think KingTermite wrote rule 5 especially for you grsamf. I know he woould never think to write such a rule for me.

Your equipment/software profile can help us formulate questions to ask you about your specific problem.

A computer which reboots consistantly could be due to an incompatable driver signified by the crashing of a totally unrelated program. PC-cillion would crash on me on a regular basis so I thought the problem was related to PC-cillion. Turns out it was a Logitech webcam driver conflicting with MS media player. Got an updated driver for the webcam and the reboot problem disappeared.

Don't be afraid to find out it is something simple and well overlooked.

It might be something as simple as rotating a balance control for the SB Audigy. I spent a few hours myself unloading and reloading software before I realized someone had moved the dial the speaker balance dial which eliminated the sound from my rear speakers.

Don't rush to write about the problems and symptoms you are having. Each step you mention can lead to a number of possible solutions. If you do not understand a persons response and or instructions instructions ask for further help.

If you find your hair is turning white while your face is turning red, take a break, count to 100 and have another drink.

The drink may not help, but it might give someone here a chance to come up with a solution for you.



Some oldtimers forget that computer and software intructions are a different language to new users. A new user can be someone new to a new software program, or a new piece of hardware.

Lastly, have patience so you will not become a patient.

[FB]

It might be something as simple as rotating a balance control for the SB Audigy. I spent a few hours myself unloading and reloading software before I realized someone had moved the dial the speaker balance dial which eliminated the sound from my rear speakers.

i did that once :o

[Monkey Hanger]

Originally posted by flyboy -|-+
i did that once :o

Yeah, some muppet once turned down the volume control on my speakers. Took me a day of reinstalling sound card drivers and tweaking before I noticed it.

Then there was the time the power plug came loose in my SideWinder ...................

Doh .........

[Aggemam]

Ah, good post. I've noticed the increasing amount of "help" and "problem" -like subjects. It's really annoying.

[c_white_wolf]

Originally posted by Aggemam
Ah, good post. I've noticed the increasing amount of "help" and "problem" -like subjects. It's really annoying.

For the audio problems mentioned in the previous posts, a title such as:

My Audigy rear speakers don't work!

I have the SB Audigy Platinum in my P4PE. I have uninstalled and reinstalled my drivers and I cannot get the rear speakers to work. I think I have tried everything but I am not sure. Can someone here help me?

would get three very quick responses. The title is clear, the description is simple but effective. The first questions might be:

Have you checked the balance dials on the controller?
No: Check the dials.
Problem solved?
Yes: End of problem
No: Do you have the latest drivers?
- Try downloading and installing the latest drivers.
Problem solved?
Yes: End of problem.
No: Have you disabled the onboard Audio?
- Go into your BIOS and disable the onboard Audio.
Problem solved?
Yes: End of problem.
etc.

The more explicit the title and description, the more likely someone will be able to help. If more information is needed and questions are asked find the answers for the questions.

It can be difficult to answer a question when you cannot physically see and touch the computer in question. Sometimes the problem can be solved with a simple touch of a button.