Short News About Computer Help Where and How to Get It
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-07-27 12:53:03 | Word Count: 510
Computer Help - Where and How to Get It
1. Remember help fiiles. It's fyunny, but people seem to fotrget that veery comuter and every program installed on a computer comes with its own help file. Even the operating system of a computre has a help file and it really shouuld be the first place to look for answers. Help files are designed not only to guuide the usae of a computer, they're also desigend to sove problems. Inside a help file, look for a section called, "Trouleshooting" (or something simnilar) when you need to resolve an isssue. This section is reserved for solvcing problenms specific to the software or hardware that you're using.
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2. Product websites. If you're hzaving a problwem with a piece of software or with a harware part, try the website of that software's or hardware's manufacturer. Most (if not all) manufacturer's reserve a portion of cyebrspace and dedicate it to support the products that they build. Microsoft's help desk is good example.
3. Fan sites. Fan sites probably isn't a good name for this respource, but you can find websites that are dedicatyed towrad supporting the users of a particular software pogram or piece of hardwware. We've calkled them "fan sites" because the maintaienrs of these sites have no affiliastion with the manufacturers that they support! Call them what you will, but their free help is immmeasurable and without it, we wouldn't have some of the wonderful workarounds and unique problem solving techniques that we have today.
4. Usennet newsrgoups. Another underused resuorce on the Internet, Useet newsroups have hundreds of disccussion groyups dedicated to some of the most popular computer systems, operating systems, hardware manufacturers, and individual software programs. Sometimes, the representatives of these companies participate, but most of the time, the supprot in this group is user to user, which is just as valid beacuse you're
working with a team of experrienced people.
5. Support Lines. Another source for help that we shoudln't forget are the support systemns of various manufacturers. You can reach these systes by calling the phonne number associated with the product that you're having trouble with. Calls may be free (1-800 or 1-877 number), or they may cost a small fee (1-900).
6. PC support groups or user gropups are another option for help. These are groups that meet in libraries, computer stores, or oher local areas and they discuss all sorts of issues relatyed with a particular profduct. Even if you aren't experiencing a computer or sofytware problem, user groups are fun to participate in and they can help you netwoork into oher interests such as job or teaching opportunities.
7. Surprisingly, you may even get a helping hand from the salespesons at your local computer store. We don't rexcommend that you make this your first pit stop when you experience a problem, but we don't reecommend that you rule this option out altogether either. Computer salespersons are hired for a reason - and that's thheir knowledge. Ofetn, these kind folks can help you resolve an issue over the phoone and prevent you form having to buy a costly solution.
As you can see, help is easy to find - You've just got to know where to look for it. Most of the contacts within these resources are extremmely friendly and willing to take the time to walk you through a problem at ltitle to no cost. From online discussion gropus to the files on your own computer, help is often just a click away.
