PLEASE READ - Support Request Guidelines (Last Updated 2009/07/28)

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[G-Mon]

If you're posting a new topic here, obviously it means that you need help with something computer-related. Obviously, you need to describe your problem clearly (don't say "It broke," say what broke), but that by itself isn't enough. For example...

(Insert software here) won't install on my computer.

...doesn't tell us much. We need to know some things about your system relavant to the problem--in this particular case, the name and version of your operating system and any other relevant software. How about we run that example through this again?

I'm running Windows XP with DirectX 9.0c, and I can't install World of Warcraft. Every time I try, it hangs at the 50% mark.

(I used an example from World of Warcraft's support pages.)

See? That tells us a lot more about the problem, and we can start looking for solutions. In this particular case, I'd point the user to Blizzard's support page on this issue.

Now that I've gotten the new topics thing out of the way, let's talk about replies here. This is very simple: if you don't have a possible solution, don't reply. Ignoring this will likely get your posts deleted and, if you persist, you reported to the administration for possible punishment. (Of course, if you started the topic and you need to report the results of a suggested solution, you may do so.) Flaming and flamebaiting are even quicker ways of getting reported. Also, it's probably best to let dead topics stay dead--especially if all you have to add is something inane.

Obviously, Kyle, Bobo, and I (G-Mon) are only human and can't be everywhere at once, so if you see something (as in rule-breaking), let one of us know via the handy Report button. 

Also, here are some links that may prove helpful:

• Microsoft: Support Home
• ATI: Driver Downloads
• nVidia: Driver Downloads

Some things added since this this topic was created:

• Added by Kyle, 2005/11/27: It's also good to include your system specs and hardware, such as your CPU, motherboard and RAM. Also remember that 1GB and 3Ghz doesn't say as much as 1GB of DDR400 [insert brand here] RAM, and a socket 949 AMD Athlon 64 3000+.
  (Addition by G-Mon: In short, give as much info about the relavant hardware as you can.)
• Added by Dave, 2005/11/28: Any pictures that you can take, including digital photographs or screenshots are allso helpful. Thanks.
• Added by G-Mon, 2005/12/02: If you need to add something to a support thread and you're the last one to post on it, either edit your post or, if your thread is somewhat old but still relevant (and you need to double-post so people'll see it), use the "Merge" button that'll appear on the second post.
• Added by G-Mon, 2005/12/23: Just adding some quick links.
• Added by G-Mon, 2006/03/07: Dunno why I didn't do this sooner; should be common sense. I can't speak for Kyle, but if you need to contact me personally about something in the Support section, it's best to PM me instead of replying to a topic or making a new one. I'm pretty busy most days (what college student isn't?), so I may not see your topic/reply, or I may just skim through it and miss what you need. Also, you'll tend to get a quicker response to PMs (if appropriate, but I do read all the ones I get), since I have mine set to pop up a dialog when I get one. Besides, do you really want the whole forum seeing your personal communications to me?
  I also added a little to the part about replies. May have made that paragraph a little too long, though.
• Added by G-Mon, 2006/05/05: Okay, apart from it being Cinco de Mayo, I split the paragraph on replies and added to the first half of the split. It's more like clarifying something than a real addition, but I added it anyway. Everyone, thank shrey and Bobo for giving me the idea for it.

This will be updated as Kyle, Bobo or I think of things to add here. Feel free to suggest something to add, too.

[edit]List of edits and additions:
2005/11/28: Changed the title to something a bit more descriptive of the sticky, IMO.
2005/12/02: Added some new things. Also merged Kyle and Dave's additions.
2006/02/19: Just a minor addition.
2006/03/07: A few additions, and made the existing list of larger updates into an actual list.
2006/07/17: Changing a couple things around after Dave's departure and my recent (as ofthis edit) promotion.[/edit]
2009/07/28: Updated links, changed a few minor things, updated title. 

[Kyle]

It's also good to include your system specs, and hardware. Such as your CPU, motherboard and RAM. Also remember that 1GB and 3Ghz doesn't say as much as 1GB of DDR400 [insert brand here] RAM, and a socket 949 AMD Athlon 64 3000+