[FONT="]So here's the new official guidelines to asking questions/answering questions. I thank Brink for making this a sticky!
Index:
For Question Asking People - T1
For Question Answering People - T2
Ranking Up - T3
Two Great Sites From Sasso - Just Go To The Bottom[/FONT]
Index:
For Question Asking People - T1
For Question Answering People - T2
Ranking Up - T3
Two Great Sites From Sasso - Just Go To The Bottom[/FONT]
[FONT="]T1 - For Question Asking People:[/FONT]
[FONT="]Post Your System Specs:[/FONT][FONT="]
When making a post, post your System's Specs, this can be found in Start Menu>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information highlight all your information, once done that copy it by clicking Ctrl-C than paste it to your post with Ctrl-V. Also, if you want to make it easier for yourself, go to User CP>Edit System Specs and fill that out with your information, remember to save it (save changes).[/FONT]
When making a post, post your System's Specs, this can be found in Start Menu>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information highlight all your information, once done that copy it by clicking Ctrl-C than paste it to your post with Ctrl-V. Also, if you want to make it easier for yourself, go to User CP>Edit System Specs and fill that out with your information, remember to save it (save changes).[/FONT]
[FONT="]State Your Problem Clearly:[/FONT][FONT="]
Please, for the sake of everyone on this forum rather than typing "My computer is not working, how do I fix it?" state the problem correctly, I have read a couple of topics like this and I think if they had stated it more clearly, it would have had more answers.[/FONT]
Please, for the sake of everyone on this forum rather than typing "My computer is not working, how do I fix it?" state the problem correctly, I have read a couple of topics like this and I think if they had stated it more clearly, it would have had more answers.[/FONT]
[FONT="]State What You Have Tried:[/FONT][FONT="]
It will help you massively since when you make a topic without stating what you tried, people ask what you tried which takes up time.
Example of a well stated problem:
"My computer is not working correctly, it has been freezing often and also crashing often, what can I do?" see how it states the problem which is freezing often and crashing often. Also make an attempt to tell if you had done anything new to the computer before the problem started occurring.
Make Topic Titles Clear:
Lets say your problem was crashing, well if your topic was "Help!" not many people will help since it is not very clear what the problem is, it does not have to be in depth like the topic itself, but it has to state what it is, so rather than "Help!" it would be like "Crashing Problem, Need Help Immediately".
Do Not Bad Mouth To People Trying To Help You:
If someone is trying to help you, don't tell them to screw off, their trying to help! Think about it, they want to help you fix the problem, and your just making them angry at you, so what do you think is going to happen? Their not going to help.
Google Comes First And So Does The Search Button:
Please, use Google before asking a question, it will get you many places. Remember Google is your friend. Also, search the forums for the question your about to ask before asking it. If you really are lazy and don't want to search, don't ask a question. If you forget to search though, its alright.
If Your Problem Is Fixed Add The Prefix Solved To Your Title:
This can help people searching for the answer to their question find it if Solved is there since they will know, that the problem has been solved and can use this topic to fix their problem. It will also help people about to answer your question not since they know it's solved, but they could always read the final post.
Need Help But Not Getting Any?:
At the bottom of the page it will display topics similar to the topic your reading, which will probably be the topic you asked the question on. Read the topics on that list, they might help.
Lastly, Don't Ask About Warez, Etc:
Please don't as this is not a Warez forum it is a computer help forum.[/FONT]
It will help you massively since when you make a topic without stating what you tried, people ask what you tried which takes up time.
Example of a well stated problem:
"My computer is not working correctly, it has been freezing often and also crashing often, what can I do?" see how it states the problem which is freezing often and crashing often. Also make an attempt to tell if you had done anything new to the computer before the problem started occurring.
Make Topic Titles Clear:
Lets say your problem was crashing, well if your topic was "Help!" not many people will help since it is not very clear what the problem is, it does not have to be in depth like the topic itself, but it has to state what it is, so rather than "Help!" it would be like "Crashing Problem, Need Help Immediately".
Do Not Bad Mouth To People Trying To Help You:
If someone is trying to help you, don't tell them to screw off, their trying to help! Think about it, they want to help you fix the problem, and your just making them angry at you, so what do you think is going to happen? Their not going to help.
Google Comes First And So Does The Search Button:
Please, use Google before asking a question, it will get you many places. Remember Google is your friend. Also, search the forums for the question your about to ask before asking it. If you really are lazy and don't want to search, don't ask a question. If you forget to search though, its alright.
If Your Problem Is Fixed Add The Prefix Solved To Your Title:
This can help people searching for the answer to their question find it if Solved is there since they will know, that the problem has been solved and can use this topic to fix their problem. It will also help people about to answer your question not since they know it's solved, but they could always read the final post.
Need Help But Not Getting Any?:
At the bottom of the page it will display topics similar to the topic your reading, which will probably be the topic you asked the question on. Read the topics on that list, they might help.
Lastly, Don't Ask About Warez, Etc:
Please don't as this is not a Warez forum it is a computer help forum.[/FONT]
[FONT="]An addition from lordbob75,[/FONT][FONT="]
Make Your Post Readable:
Make your post both readable, and grammatically correct (to the best of your abilities). This is important, as it is very difficult to read a post that is all one paragraph with little punctuation and no capitalization. We can understand if you do not know or have a hard time with English (try Google translator, it may not be 100% correct, but we can get the gist of it). I have seen a few posts like that, and I usually just want to walk away and leave the problem until it is readable. Once again, do try with this, and use full works, not IM speak or 1337 speak. This makes it easier for us to help you out.
[/FONT]
Make Your Post Readable:
Make your post both readable, and grammatically correct (to the best of your abilities). This is important, as it is very difficult to read a post that is all one paragraph with little punctuation and no capitalization. We can understand if you do not know or have a hard time with English (try Google translator, it may not be 100% correct, but we can get the gist of it). I have seen a few posts like that, and I usually just want to walk away and leave the problem until it is readable. Once again, do try with this, and use full works, not IM speak or 1337 speak. This makes it easier for us to help you out.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]T2 - For Question Answering People:[/FONT]
[FONT="]Don’t Complicate Things:[/FONT][FONT="]
Things aren’t meant to be complicated, so try not to complicate things, people are asking questions so their computer can be fixed, they don’t want to read some complicated piece of text, because it will make them ask a ton of questions about what you said, which will get annoying.
No Links To Download Sites With Potential Dangers:
If telling someone to download something from a site such as MemTest, lead them to the real MemTest website rather than a different website which had the download of MemTest, we wouldn’t want the members getting viruses and we wouldn’t want to accidently give a link to Warez, because many sites hosting downloads such as MemTest that aren’t the official site contain Warez and unfortunately also contain hazardous viruses.
If You Find The Answer To Their Question On Google...:
Don’t just say “Go search Google!” answer their question using the information you got from Google, it’s really annoying for the person to have to search Google for it, because you might have found it on a very high page such as 64 or they might not like searching Google. Most people who ask questions forget to search Google or the forums, yes they should but they just don’t it’s somewhat a habit. I even sometimes don’t search Google or the forums. And if you are one of these people who do search, kudos to you!
Try Answering Without Being A Snob:
I hate people who answer a question in a way that makes the question asker feel stupid like think, how would you feel if you asked a question and someone came out of the blue saying “Wow, your so stupid, it’s so obvious just bring your computer into the shop.”, like really think about it. If you follow this, they will appreciate you more for helping them with their question.
Don’t Overuse Sentences:
It’s annoying when you pretty much say the same thing twice but word it differently, so try not to do this for the sake of the question asker.
If You Don’t Know The Answer, Don’t Answer:
It will help you a lot on these forums, because it can be considered as spam, since you aren’t doing anything to help the person, your making a worthless post, it’s pretty annoying for the question asker to see this since he needs help not a random post.
Don’t Take Advantage Of Them Because They Know Less:
This involves trickery, such as re-directing them to unsafe sites, telling them info that will mess up their system, making fun of them. If you do the worst types of trickery, you have a great chance of being banned.
Lastly, Make Your Answer Clear:
If you just say what to do rather than telling them what it will fix etc, it will annoy them since they won’t know what will happen, example of this: “You just make the value of “Cow” 1 and that is all.” , like what help does that do them? They have no idea what will happen which might tempt them not to do it.
[/FONT][FONT="]
T3 - Ranking Up[/FONT][FONT="]
Tips On Posting Well
#1. Use correct grammar.
#2. If it's off-topic, make it a worth while post.
#3. Keep on topic, if your bad at keeping on topic, don't post.
#4. Keep the randomness low, it's annoying when people are having a conversation on a topic and you randomly blurt out "Cheese nuggets are good.".
#5. Don't spam! (Leads to #4)
#6. Try being helpful with the posts you make.
#7. Always remember to use these when posting.
Tips On Being Helpful
#1. Make your post a worth reading post.
#2. If something is open for sign ups such as beta-tests, volunteer if you like it.
#3. Even if someone does not ask for help they just announce they are working on but don't say they need beta-testers, volunteer if you like it.
#4. If your active on a topic, try to stick to it so the people know your still trying to help with whatever it is.
#5. Always remember to use these when posting.
Follow these and you might rank up, ranking up requires reputation and is easily achieved by following the tips I set down for you.
[/FONT]
Things aren’t meant to be complicated, so try not to complicate things, people are asking questions so their computer can be fixed, they don’t want to read some complicated piece of text, because it will make them ask a ton of questions about what you said, which will get annoying.
No Links To Download Sites With Potential Dangers:
If telling someone to download something from a site such as MemTest, lead them to the real MemTest website rather than a different website which had the download of MemTest, we wouldn’t want the members getting viruses and we wouldn’t want to accidently give a link to Warez, because many sites hosting downloads such as MemTest that aren’t the official site contain Warez and unfortunately also contain hazardous viruses.
If You Find The Answer To Their Question On Google...:
Don’t just say “Go search Google!” answer their question using the information you got from Google, it’s really annoying for the person to have to search Google for it, because you might have found it on a very high page such as 64 or they might not like searching Google. Most people who ask questions forget to search Google or the forums, yes they should but they just don’t it’s somewhat a habit. I even sometimes don’t search Google or the forums. And if you are one of these people who do search, kudos to you!
Try Answering Without Being A Snob:
I hate people who answer a question in a way that makes the question asker feel stupid like think, how would you feel if you asked a question and someone came out of the blue saying “Wow, your so stupid, it’s so obvious just bring your computer into the shop.”, like really think about it. If you follow this, they will appreciate you more for helping them with their question.
Don’t Overuse Sentences:
It’s annoying when you pretty much say the same thing twice but word it differently, so try not to do this for the sake of the question asker.
If You Don’t Know The Answer, Don’t Answer:
It will help you a lot on these forums, because it can be considered as spam, since you aren’t doing anything to help the person, your making a worthless post, it’s pretty annoying for the question asker to see this since he needs help not a random post.
Don’t Take Advantage Of Them Because They Know Less:
This involves trickery, such as re-directing them to unsafe sites, telling them info that will mess up their system, making fun of them. If you do the worst types of trickery, you have a great chance of being banned.
Lastly, Make Your Answer Clear:
If you just say what to do rather than telling them what it will fix etc, it will annoy them since they won’t know what will happen, example of this: “You just make the value of “Cow” 1 and that is all.” , like what help does that do them? They have no idea what will happen which might tempt them not to do it.
[/FONT][FONT="]
T3 - Ranking Up[/FONT][FONT="]
Tips On Posting Well
#1. Use correct grammar.
#2. If it's off-topic, make it a worth while post.
#3. Keep on topic, if your bad at keeping on topic, don't post.
#4. Keep the randomness low, it's annoying when people are having a conversation on a topic and you randomly blurt out "Cheese nuggets are good.".
#5. Don't spam! (Leads to #4)
#6. Try being helpful with the posts you make.
#7. Always remember to use these when posting.
Tips On Being Helpful
#1. Make your post a worth reading post.
#2. If something is open for sign ups such as beta-tests, volunteer if you like it.
#3. Even if someone does not ask for help they just announce they are working on but don't say they need beta-testers, volunteer if you like it.
#4. If your active on a topic, try to stick to it so the people know your still trying to help with whatever it is.
#5. Always remember to use these when posting.
Follow these and you might rank up, ranking up requires reputation and is easily achieved by following the tips I set down for you.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Two great sites from sasso! (well not sites one is on the forum xD)[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]http://www.vistax64.com/software/115872-free-software-list-vista.html[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT="]http://www.vistax64.com/software/115872-free-software-list-vista.html[/FONT][FONT="]
[/FONT][FONT="]Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit[/FONT]
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