E-tech support on the internet, Anybody
If you need technical support or just don’t understand the basics what do you do? You seek out technical support on the internet. So just log on and the service is almost always free.
All About Windows: If you’re not a beginner, this is a good site for you. You get tips on how to speed up Vista, how to improve security, even how to customize Windows. But it doesn’t ignore rank beginners; there are illustrated, step-by-step guides that cover everything from navigating the desktop to finding files using the Explorer. www.windows.about.com/compute/windows/mbody.htm
Windows Annoyances: How many files have you misplaced because Windows insists on opening C:/ when you want to save a file? Here’s a site that shows how you can set your own default folder. There are several other succinct tips, and if these don’t help, you can always join the forum and have your specific problem answered. www.annoyances.org/
Tech Tips: “Need to know about the security system for USB drives, but can’t find it? In a few hours there’s an answer to this – with relevant links. That’s the power of online forums and bulletin boards. These two make good starting points and TechSupportGuy is good for beginners. www.tek-tips.com; www.techsupportguy.com
Hope For The Best: What if you don’t know your ipod from your USB? Computer hope pages will explain the difference. You can also ask questions at the site’s forum, or have an online chat with an expert. It’s also worth checking this site when you run into a PC problem. www.computerhope.com
Readymade Scripts: This one’s for experts, bloggers and anyone who has online pages. This site has an excellent collection of CGI, Perl, Java and Javascript (among others) code for common features on Web pages, including mass-mailer software and FTP managers. All you have to do is copy and paste the code on your page and you’re set to go. www.scriptsearch.com
Drivers needed? If you’re trying to upload photos from a camera to your hard drive, you’ll know the importance of drivers. Most gadgets come with driver CD’s that need to be installed, but what if you don’t have or lose the CD? These sites have a large collection of drivers for devices like motherboards and game controllers. www.pctools.com/guides/drivers/; www.driverguide.com
For The Wireless: Again, this is for techies and for those who know their stuff. If you’ve installed a wireless network at home, you might find the device on this site invaluable. Apart from trouble-shooting, there are some excellent tutorials available here. www.practicallynetworked.com
Where’s The DLL: A .DLL file is basically a support file (DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library) that’s used by one or more programs. If several parts of a program need to perform the same action, it can be put into a .DLL file. If this file goes missing (as it tends to do), the program will stop working. So what can you do? Well, reinstall the program. Or, easier and cheaper, download the necessary DLL file from here. www.dll-downloads.com