General Forum Guideline - How to ask and answer questions

wolfleben · March 20, 2018, 9:20pm

You have a problem. You need help. Or you have answers to problems and like to give help.

This is a guideline for asking questions or for help and answer or giving help.

Asking a question

You’re looking an an answer to a question. Bare in mind when creating a topic even if it is to get an answer to a question should follow General Guideline for Making Threads. Now with that in mind let us apply that to asking a question.

Why are you asking this question? - This is a suggestion tell people first why you are asking the question.
How you structure or frame your question will affect the answers you get. f you question is vague, you’ll only get vague answers. If your question is clear, then you should receive a clear answer.
Has the question been asked before. Do an internet search before making a thread about the question you have. You might find your answer if you do.

Guideline for Answering a question

If what you post doesn’t actually answer the question, then don’t post it.

Getting Help for Computer Related Issues

Use the Tag fuction when creating the thread and tag it helpdesk.

use%20the%20tag

It’s important that you can give as much information as you’re able to when posting a topic for help with a problem. With this in mind we’ve put together some tips on information to try to include when looking for help with an issue.

Details of the Computer

When you need help related to computers, please provide the specs of your system. It can be after you Describe the issue you're having as best as you can. Fill out [Copy Paste] the following template and have it in your first post.

The template:

|CPU:|text|
|—|---|
|CPU Cooler:|text|
|Memory:|text|
|Storage:|text|
|Video Card:|text|
|Driver for Video Card:|text|
|Power Supply:|text|
|Operating System:|text|
|Monitor:|text|

Example of What it will look like when filled out:

CPU:	Intel i7-6700K
CPU Cooler:	ARCTIC - Liquid Freezer 120
Memory:	Crucial - Ballistix Sport LT 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4-2400
Storage:	Samsung - 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Video Card:	MSI - Radeon RX 480 8GB GAMING X Video Card
Driver for Video Card:	Adrenalin Edition 18.3.4 Optional
Power Supply:	SeaSonic - Platinum 1000W
Operating System:	Windows 10 Pro, Version 1709 OS, Build 16.299.309
Monitor:	ASUS PB278

Please note when your system is Windows 10 to include what edition of Windows 10, The Version of Windows 10, and The Build when asking for help related to Windows 10.

Operating system

Windows

Within Windows 10 computers its important to gather information about the system version that is running (there are multiple versions). This can be done in a number of ways, two are outlined below.

You can run the following command in PowerShell to gather info about the OS Get-ComputerInfo -Property Windows*
You can go to Settings > System > About and copy the information in “Windows Specification”

Linux

Fedora Specific Information

Fedora has a good troubleshooting utility built into the OS called fpaste, it can be used to past arbitrary data for Fedoras pastebin site or to gather system info.

You should include this information whenever you’re dealing with a Fedora system but running fpaste --sysinfo

Getting Info on most Linux Systems by Command Line

uname -a
lscpu
lshw -C display

Mac

To get information on Mac. Go to the Apple menu [The apple icon in the top left] and choose About This Mac. You’ll be able to get the info on the system and os from there.

Concerning Reviving Old Helpdesk Threads

You have a computer problem. You search the thread to see if someone else has had a similar problem. You find a thread and you still want help. Please make a new thread. You can link back to the old thread when you make your new one.

Guideline for Giving Help for Computer Related Issues

You want to give help to a forum member in a helpdesk thread. Great.

Leave your brand and operating system loyalty behind when posting in a helpdesk thread.
Do not troll or post memes in helpdesk threads.

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