Hi all,

We all get asked lots of questions on here about PCs. A few folks (vidster, Martin_s, cyclone amongst others) have suggested an FAQ of some sort.

So....what questions would be in it?

If people want to post the questions, I'll collate the responses and see if we can assemble enough collective brainpower to deliver the answers!

Joe

Not necessaarily about PCs but:
how do you get smilies and different fonts in your posts. seems to be asked a lot!!!

Originally posted by em3978
Not necessaarily about PCs but:
how do you get smilies and different fonts in your posts. seems to be asked a lot!!!

Now that one is already in our site Help / FAQ section :

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/misc.php?s=&action=faq&page=3#smilies

On the 'Forum Contents' menu on the left hand side of the screen there's a link called 'Help and Rules'. There's all sorts of stuff about the site in there.

Cheers

Joe

ah ok :) didn't look cos i've never used it, just figured it out myself :D

Top of me head.....


How do I protect my computer against the bad guys? (Info on virus software/firewalls/spyware/trojans)

How/Where can I get help with building my website?

How do I register a domain and where can I get web hosting?

Where are good cheap relaible places to buy computers or computer hardware?

May think of some more later....

Nomme

Definitly something on protecting against spyware/virus's etc...

suggest stuff like AVG anti-virus, adaware, etc

Something on building PC's, what parts are good, what brands... home built vs Dell, HP etc...

Place's to buy computer parts, DVD/CD media...

I'm willing to write up anything if you want Martin? I've got quite a good list of parts suppliers I use, I can give some reccomendations on building/buying...

Maybe some explanation on digital camera specs? seen a lot of people asking advice on what camera to get... what is megapixels? 128mb card? etc..

Just a thought but I think it'd be wiser to stick to generic information such a the spyware, anti-virus type issues...

Recommending a company for computer builds, etc.. tends to get outdated pretty fast and shuts out the competition which is a teensy bit unfair so I'd caution against that... Giving a list of suppliers in the area would be more balanced.

Pretty sure we'd have our hands full as it is though... :)


And having reviewed a few threads here's a few suggestions:

- Using search engines (eg: Google) effectively [ie: finding the right keyword(s)]

- Avoiding electronic theft (identity, credit cards, logins, etc..)

- Working out what you need in your new PC...
(not what the salesman wants to sell you)

- Computer security, the pro-active approach

- Computer recovery, the "ohmi{deity} it's all gone horribly wrong approach"



I'm sure there's plenty more...

Definintely an area for "Why does this search bar appear?" (Answer: Spyware)
"Why has my home-page changed?" (Answer: Hi-Jack This).

What about an area for these and add hyperlinks to Spybot - search & Destroy, Ad-Aware v6.0, AVG v7.0.?

Alex

How about the SP2 issue? Sorry I can't elaborate, but it didn't affect me, so I didn't read any of the threads.

And how about 'wireless' systems as they're becoming more popular?

Or some hyperlinks to the best broadband deals?
(Perhaps the Forum could cut us a deal somewhere, or negotiate on similar terms to the Amazon thing? Geoff?)

Originally posted by Strix
How about the SP2 issue? Sorry I can't elaborate, but it didn't affect me, so I didn't read any of the threads.

And how about 'wireless' systems as they're becoming more popular?

Or some hyperlinks to the best broadband deals?
(Perhaps the Forum could cut us a deal somewhere, or negotiate on similar terms to the Amazon thing? Geoff?)

Eureka - SF work in conjunction with PlusNet/Force 9/Free-Online...?

Perhaps?

Alex

Originally posted by amhudson119
Eureka - SF work in conjunction with PlusNet/Force 9/Free-Online...?

Perhaps?

Alex My thoughts exactly, but I've already blown F9's trumpet this week :D

No offense guys... it's a nice idea but the recommendations should be made on the basis of service quality and not on their being local... much as it might be preferential to the forum and/or the pocket, ultimately it's the quality of the service that counts...

That's not to say that Force 9 or any other local ISP isn't good but we'd run the risk of tying our hands so's to speak if a deal was brokered...

Just my 10 penneth worth anyways

Originally posted by Martin_s
No offense guys... it's a nice idea but the recommendations should be made on the basis of service quality and not on their being local... much as it might be preferential to the forum and/or the pocket, ultimately it's the quality of the service that counts...

That's not to say that Force 9 or any other local ISP isn't good but we'd run the risk of tying our hands so's to speak if a deal was brokered...

Just my 10 penneth worth anyways

Hmmm... True on both accounts, M.

Alex

Originally posted by JoePritchard
Hi all,

We all get asked lots of questions on here about PCs. A few folks (vidster, Martin_s, cyclone amongst others) have suggested an FAQ of some sort.

So....what questions would be in it?

If people want to post the questions, I'll collate the responses and see if we can assemble enough collective brainpower to deliver the answers!

Joe

Would it not be simpler & faster to register a domain & host it as a seperate entity?

I've had a domain name reg'd for nearly a year for just this kind of thing (was going to gear it towards South Yorkshire - might just get round to doing something useful with it in the New Year)!;-)

Originally posted by sccsux
Would it not be simpler & faster to register a domain & host it as a seperate entity?
Not really, then it's a seperate entity and distinct from the community here.. Putting it on a subdomain would make more sense..

Thanks for the offer sccsux, but I agree with Martin - probably see if we can put it together as a subdomain here or just hang it off a menu.

First thing will be to get the material together, I guess.

It's all looking good, though - lots of great ideas.

Joe

Originally posted by xafier
[
Maybe some explanation on digital camera specs? seen a lot of people asking advice on what camera to get... what is megapixels? 128mb card? etc.. [/B]
see this
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21767

I'd also stick those trouble shooting diagrams in there. You know the ones where it asks a question then depending on the outcome moves onto another one.

Those diagrams are pretty cool - I see a Christmas project coming on here at The Towers to automate such a thing.

I clearly need a life not defined by bytes....:)

Originally posted by amhudson119
Definintely an area for "Why does this search bar appear?" (Answer: Spyware)
"Why has my home-page changed?" (Answer: Hi-Jack This).

What about an area for these and add hyperlinks to Spybot - search & Destroy, Ad-Aware v6.0, AVG v7.0.?

Alex

Lets just hope you're not the one writing the faq being that Hijack This is a tool to fix hijacked home pages it doesn't cause it ;)

OK....I think there's a fair amount to go at here.

Unless anyone has any other thoughts I'll close this over teh next day or two and then add a new thread that has the list of things to be covered gleaned from this thread.

And then if we can get some brave and foolhardy volunteers to sign up to answer teh questions, we can get putting it together.

Also add :

What is XP SP2?
What should I say when I get asked whether I want to install something?

Joe

Originally posted by JoePritchard
And then if we can get some brave and foolhardy volunteers to sign up to answer teh questions, we can get putting it together.
On the whole most of those issues are already covered so perhaps the first port of call is to write the list and then do a search for articles that relate to the issue(s) and put together a list of links.

From there we can then sort out individual articles... and don't forget to credit those who've contributed... :)

Absolutely, Martin, I'm a big believer in crediting folks!