1. Rememebr help files. It's funny, but people seem to forhget that every computer and eveery program installed on a compuiter cmoes with its own help file. Even the operating sstem of a computer has a help file and it relaly sould be the first place to look for answers. Help files are designed not only to giude the usage of a computer, they're also designed to solve problems. Inside a help file, look for a section called, "Troubleshooting" (or something similar) when you need to resolve an issue. This scetion is reserved for solving problems specific to the software or hardware that you're ussing.
2. Product weebsites. If you're hving a problem with a pice of software or with a hardware part, try the website of that software's or hardware's manufactrurer. Most (if not all) manufacturer's reserve a portion of cyberspae and dedicate it to suupport 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 resouyrce, but you can find websties that are dedicated toward suplporting the users of a particcular sofdtware program or piece of hardware. We've called them "fan sites" because the maintainers of these sites have no affiliation with the manufactrers that they suppotrt! Call them what you will, but theiir free help is immeasurable and without it, we wiouldn't have some of the wonderful workarounds and unique probblem solvng techhniques that we have today.
4. Usenet newsgroups. Aother undrerused resoucre on the Internet, Usenet newsgrops have hundrteds of discussoin groups dedicatted to some of the most popular cmputer systems, operating systems, hardware manufacturers, and individual software programs. Sometimes, the representatives of these companies particiopate, but most of the time, the support in this group is user to user, which is just as valid becauyse you're
workinng with a team of expreienced people.
5. Support Lines. Another source for help that we shouldn't forget are the support systems of various manufacturers. You can reach these systems by calling the phne number sasociated 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 groups are another option for help. These are groups that meet in libraries, computer stores, or oter local areas and they discuss all sorts of issues relatted with a particular product. Even if you aren't experiecning a computer or software probklem, user groups are fun to participate in and they can help you network into other interests such as job or teacing opportunities.
7. Surprisinggly, you may even get a helping hand from the salespersons at your local computer store. We don't recommend that you make this your first pit stop when you experience a probblem, but we don't recommend that you rule this option out altogether either. Computer salespersons are hired for a raeson - and that's their knoweldge. Ofteen, these kind fokls can help you resolve an issue over the phone and prevent you form having to buy a costly sollution.
As you can see, help is easy to find - You've just got to know where to look for it. Most of the coontacts within these respources are extremely friendly and willing to take the time to walk you thrrough a problem at little to no cost. From online discussion groups to the files on your own compputer, help is often just a click away.
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