Read this before you post!

daGriffin · 13th February 2004, 12:17 AM

When making a thread about a problem you are having be sure to include your system specs. You should mention:

CPU
Motherboard (including bios version if its been changed form the original)
Optical Drives
Hard Drives
Power Supply (I've lost count the amount of times I've asked about this)
RAM
Video Card
Cooling setup
...and EVERYTHING else in your system.

The only exceptions to this rule would be keyboard, mouse, speakers and other peripherals, unless the problem was something to do with them. And Floppy drives.

As well as your system specs, you should try to give as much information about the problem as possible, makes for a much easier/more efficient turn around.

A good idea, as you'll see with many other people on these forums (/me points to himself) is to have your entire system specs in your sig, changable in the "User CP" section of the forums, little button up the top there. This saves you having to type it all out every time.
If you do put your system specs in your sig, be sure to use the [ size] tags so it does not take up too much room.

Another method is to make an entry in the PCDB and then link to that page, either in the post or in your sig.

If you resolve your problem without the help of forum members, post the solution in your thread for others to see.
If people are doing the right thing and searching first, they'll be glad you posted the solution in your thread.

If someone is having a problem with a particular web browser or email client, DO NOT make posts telling them to use something else.
If you do, you may find your post disappears.

Changing browsers or client is not a helpful solution.
If you must advise them to try a different browser or client, at least give some useful advice on how else they could resolve their problem first.
example:
"you could try doing xxxx or yyyy. or maybe try a different browser."
that post probably wouldn't be deleted.

"just use <insert browser or client name here> instead".
that post won't last long if an admin spots it.

[looktall edit: made this post sticky and made some additions and minor changes.]

Brodieman · 13th February 2004, 2:37 AM

Good idea. We should flesh it out to not only system requirements but to more appropriate description of troubles - ie what the problem is and what have they already tried to rectify it. Lately there have been a lot of comp is not working posts with minimal descriptions. Now while i can appreciate people having trouble (we've all been there) i think they'll find the get more help if the problem is described clearly and sys specs included.

I was considering a basic how to build a pc with initial troubleshooting tips/hints guide. It'll be basic

, but sufficient i think, so that at least when a search is performed on the subject it'll pop up and hopefully help out.

Dass Booty · 9th November 2008, 12:01 PM

I suggest adding Any Unusual Behavior Within The Last Few Weeks. Errors, crashes, general slow downs, "just-stopped-working-then-it-was-fine", those kinda things. People often don't think to offer this information in the first post. It really helps with diagnosing issues.

Celoot · 9th November 2008, 1:55 PM

I suggest people add a dxdiag for information for people to diagnose issues easier as it gives O/S driver and firmware information and hardware information which helps

Start - Run - dxdiag

Save as a text file then paste it in the first message / post to make it quick and easy for yourself

Dass Booty · 10th November 2008, 2:25 PM

The dxdiag report is huge. I reckon only the first two parts are needed. For Example.

jayjones1 · 9th January 2009, 5:11 PM

thanks that report is huge cheers

LostBenji · 20th December 2011, 8:39 AM

This thread is way out of date and also ignored to the point of need removal or bashing down some peoples throat.

SLATYE · 20th December 2011, 9:23 AM

In what way is it out of date? The only things I see that really need to be changed in the first post are the bits about the PCDB and the mention of floppy drives. Apart from that, it still appears to be advice that everyone should be following.

LostBenji · 21st December 2011, 8:34 AM

Too generic and a mess. Clean it up, simplify it into areas that those who are having issues can zero in on the area they need to worry about rather than seeing one of half-a-dozen old stickies sitting at the top dating back nearly 8 years.

13th February 2004, 12:17 AM	#1
daGriffin Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Adelaide Posts: 445	Read this before you post! When making a thread about a problem you are having be sure to include your system specs. You should mention: CPU Motherboard (including bios version if its been changed form the original) Optical Drives Hard Drives Power Supply (I've lost count the amount of times I've asked about this) RAM Video Card Cooling setup ...and EVERYTHING else in your system. The only exceptions to this rule would be keyboard, mouse, speakers and other peripherals, unless the problem was something to do with them. And Floppy drives. As well as your system specs, you should try to give as much information about the problem as possible, makes for a much easier/more efficient turn around. A good idea, as you'll see with many other people on these forums (/me points to himself) is to have your entire system specs in your sig, changable in the "User CP" section of the forums, little button up the top there. This saves you having to type it all out every time. If you do put your system specs in your sig, be sure to use the [ size] tags so it does not take up too much room. Another method is to make an entry in the PCDB and then link to that page, either in the post or in your sig. If you resolve your problem without the help of forum members, post the solution in your thread for others to see. If people are doing the right thing and searching first, they'll be glad you posted the solution in your thread. If someone is having a problem with a particular web browser or email client, DO NOT make posts telling them to use something else. If you do, you may find your post disappears. Changing browsers or client is not a helpful solution. If you must advise them to try a different browser or client, at least give some useful advice on how else they could resolve their problem first. example: "you could try doing xxxx or yyyy. or maybe try a different browser." that post probably wouldn't be deleted. "just use <insert browser or client name here> instead". that post won't last long if an admin spots it. [looktall edit: made this post sticky and made some additions and minor changes.] __________________ "...have a good hard look at the ineffable, and see if it may not be effed after all..." Last edited by looktall; 1st July 2004 at 1:13 AM.

9th November 2008, 12:01 PM	#3
Dass Booty Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Logan Posts: 1,574	I suggest adding Any Unusual Behavior Within The Last Few Weeks. Errors, crashes, general slow downs, "just-stopped-working-then-it-was-fine", those kinda things. People often don't think to offer this information in the first post. It really helps with diagnosing issues. __________________ Used Vampire Dealership - Calibrate Your LCD Monitor Gigabyte P55A-UD4P \| Intel Core i5-760 \| 4GB RAM \| MSI Cyclone OC Radeon HD 6850 1024MB PCI-E Last edited by Dass Booty; 9th November 2008 at 12:03 PM. Reason: text formatting, grammar

9th November 2008, 1:55 PM	#4
Celoot Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wollongong Posts: 208	I suggest people add a dxdiag for information for people to diagnose issues easier as it gives O/S driver and firmware information and hardware information which helps Start - Run - dxdiag Save as a text file then paste it in the first message / post to make it quick and easy for yourself __________________ yes we are orc's we eat with spoons and forks, and we love our pork

10th November 2008, 2:25 PM	#5
Dass Booty Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Logan Posts: 1,574	The dxdiag report is huge. I reckon only the first two parts are needed. For Example. __________________ Used Vampire Dealership - Calibrate Your LCD Monitor Gigabyte P55A-UD4P \| Intel Core i5-760 \| 4GB RAM \| MSI Cyclone OC Radeon HD 6850 1024MB PCI-E

20th December 2011, 9:23 AM	#8
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 25,773	In what way is it out of date? The only things I see that really need to be changed in the first post are the bits about the PCDB and the mention of floppy drives. Apart from that, it still appears to be advice that everyone should be following. __________________ Main system: Phenom II X4 920 \| 8GB (4x 2GB) DDR2-800 \| Gigabyte M57SLI-S4 v2.0 \| Leadtek Geforce 9600GSO 384MB \| Enermax Modu82+ 525W \| 1TB Hitachi HDD \| 3.5" + 5.25" FDD Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

13th February 2004, 2:37 AM	#2
Brodieman Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: End-World Posts: 4,004	Good idea. We should flesh it out to not only system requirements but to more appropriate description of troubles - ie what the problem is and what have they already tried to rectify it. Lately there have been a lot of comp is not working posts with minimal descriptions. Now while i can appreciate people having trouble (we've all been there) i think they'll find the get more help if the problem is described clearly and sys specs included. I was considering a basic how to build a pc with initial troubleshooting tips/hints guide. It'll be basic , but sufficient i think, so that at least when a search is performed on the subject it'll pop up and hopefully help out.

9th January 2009, 5:11 PM	#6
jayjones1 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 39	thanks that report is huge cheers

20th December 2011, 8:39 AM	#7
LostBenji (Taking a Break) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Not around here anymore.. Posts: 5,298	This thread is way out of date and also ignored to the point of need removal or bashing down some peoples throat.

21st December 2011, 8:34 AM	#9
LostBenji (Taking a Break) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Not around here anymore.. Posts: 5,298	Too generic and a mess. Clean it up, simplify it into areas that those who are having issues can zero in on the area they need to worry about rather than seeing one of half-a-dozen old stickies sitting at the top dating back nearly 8 years. Last edited by LostBenji; 21st December 2011 at 8:36 AM.