| Q. |
What is the purpose of the Board? |
| A.
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The Board exists so people can find answers to
computing problems and exchange information concerning personal computers and
related technologies. (Smart Computing reserves the right to delete
off-topic or otherwise inappropriate questions or replies.) |
|
| Q. |
I’m new to computers, so most of my questions may have
been asked before. Should I go ahead and ask them anyway? |
| A. |
Before posting a question, try using our
Tech Support Center or searching the Q&A archive on the topic to
see if your question has been answered. This may let you get the information
you need faster. If you can’t quickly find an answer to your question, go ahead
and ask! Click here to search the
Q&A archive or click here to read
Q&A Search Tips. |
|
| Q. |
How does the Q&A Board work? |
| A. |
First, check to see if your question has been asked
before. Then, when you have a question, post it. Check your question later to
see if someone has answered it. You may find your question by clicking the View
My Questions link at the top right area of Q&A Board or by using the
Board’s search tools. You can search by keyword, such as the topic of your
question, or your name. We also number the posts so you can search by the
question number if you want. |
|
| Q. |
What information should I include in my question? |
| A. |
Provide as much information as you can. Be sure to
include your system's specifications (see next question), such as operating
system, hard drive size, and amount of memory, where applicable. Also, include
information on what software programs you are running and the last task you
performed before the problem occurred. It is also helpful to mention specific
error messages you received. |
|
| Q. |
Why do I need to complete my computer specifications? |
| A. |
Computer specifications are important to provide so
other subscribers know exactly what you are working with, as one or more
features of your computer may affect other parts or systems. From any Q&A
page, click the Set Options link in the upper right corner. The first option on
the page will ask you to list your computer specifications. Click Change at the
bottom of the page to save the information. Your computer specifications will
then appear at the end of any question posted by you. To update your
specifications or change any other features, click the link in the upper right
and make necessary changes. Click Change at the bottom to save your changes. |
|
| Q. |
How should follow-up questions be asked? |
| A. |
Simply post them within the same question using the
Click Here To Answer Or Reply link. (NOTE: Questions will appear on the main
board for 30 days but are stored permanently in the Q&A archive. When you
perform a search you are searching the entire archive.) |
|
| Q. |
Should I let people know if the suggested solution
worked? How should I post thank-you messages? |
| A. |
Many members greatly appreciate the posting of a final
"That worked - thanks for your help" post. Post these messages as a response to
your original question. Use the Click Here To Answer Or Reply link to post
your thank-you message. |
|
| Q. |
What does the Subscribe To This Message link mean? |
| A. |
When you click Subscribe To This Message, you
automatically receive all responses to that message, via email. To unsubscribe
to a message, click the Unsubscribe To This Message link, which is dynamic and
will appear in the same place the Subscribe message was located, after
subscribing to a thread. To view ALL messages you have subscribed to, click the
View 'Subscribed' Messages link in the upper right of any Q&A page (Note:
you must be subscribed to at least one question before the View 'Subscribed'
Messages link will appear.) |
|
| Q. |
How long does it take to get an answer? |
| A. |
Some questions are answered quickly, but it may take a
couple of days for others to get answered, so keep checking back to see if
someone has responded to your question. |
|
| Q. |
Is any question too basic to ask? |
| A. |
There is no such thing as a “dumb” question. Everyone
starts out at ground zero with technology, so you shouldn’t feel embarrassed
about the nature of your question. Members may post any question dealing with
personal computers and related technologies. |
|
| Q. |
What if someone makes a rude response to my question? |
| A. |
We insist that readers communicate in a courteous and
civil manner. Derisive comments, personal attacks, rude language, or other
non-civil behavior will not be tolerated. We can't block the occasional
objectionable answer, but be assured we will contact the person who sent it as
soon as possible and, if necessary, revoke their Board privileges. |
|
| Q. |
What happens if someone ignores your guidelines? |
| A. |
Again, Board users who violate these rules will
receive a warning and their messages may be pulled from the Board. Members who
repeat violations will be banned from the Board. |
|
| Q. |
Can anyone post an answer to a question? |
| A. |
No. Only subscribers to Smart Computing magazine
can post and/or answer questions on the Q&A Board. Subscribers are
encouraged to respond to any questions if they think they know the answer.
Please indicate if you're not sure about your information. |
|
| Q. |
How does the communication on the Q&A Board differ
from the communication in the chat rooms? |
| A. |
The Q&A Board questions are open requests for
information, and answers may be posted at any time. The chat rooms are live
discussions on a topic and are more conducive to extended conversations. |
|
| Q. |
How do I make URLs (uniform resource locators, or Web
addresses) clickable links? |
| A. |
When entering a URL in a question or response, be sure
to also enter the http:// or www. This ensures the URL becomes a clickable
link. |
|
| Q. |
How do I make clickable links to previous posts or
questions? |
| A. |
When making a reference to another post or question,
be sure to add a pound sign (#) in front of the message number. Do not type a
space between the pound sign and the number. |
|
Note: It is important that posts remain computer-related, include
appropriate content,
and do not contain advertising/promotional messages.
We reserve the right to edit or delete any posts that do not conform to these
guidelines.
|
Rules Of The Board |
|
Additional questions about the Q&A Board may be sent to
feedback@smartcomputing.com
|
