Tips For Getting Technical Support Help Online

Sometimes your PC will start acting strange for no apparent
reason or a program which you use regularly will all of a sudden
stop working as it should. This can be a frustrating experience
especially if you have no idea where to go for help. If this
happens to you, don't panic! Here are some simple tips which may
turn your frown upside down.

1. Don't assume that your problem is unique. The chances are that
someone else has had that problem and it has already been
solved. Google is a great place for getting technical support
help believe it or not. You may have to experiment with wording
your problem and refining your search, but it's worth a try. For
example my Outlook email client stopped showing me the 'Subject'
field when I was composing new email. As a result all of my
email was going out without a subject. After a bit of
experimenting with wording the problem I found the answer by
searching on the phrase "Outlook subject field missing". Someone
in an online discussion group had the same problem and the answer
was provided. When you find good discussions groups bookmark
them for future use. I have a bookmark I call Technical Support
Help and it's full of great web sites.

2. The Google trick is good for lots of software but you should
always try the web site of the program's manufacturer as well.
Sometimes your problem is really a bug and there may be a new
release or work around available. Many software web sites have
FAQs, discussion lists, and help desks available that provide
free support. Sometimes there is a telephone number that you can
call but you may have to pay for live help.

3. There are companies that offer free general help for simple
questions and then charge a sliding scale for more complicated
ones. Support Freaks (www.supportfreaks.com) is a good one to
try. Even if you have to pay, the rates are reasonable. Click on
the "Freebies" link, under the "Quick Links" menu to see if your
question is eligible for free help.

4. There are probably any number of local PC support groups that
meet in libraries and other locations near your home. Some of
these groups are very specific in nature and some are general.
Try searching Google for "PC Support Group" or "PC User group"
and the name of your town. Also check with your local librarian
and computer stores. They often know of these groups.

5. Speaking of computer stores, you can often pick the brains of
the more knowledgeable salespeople if you are lucky enough to
find any. Many times these employees love computers so much that
they will act as your big brother or sister if you need some
quick help. Sometimes they moonlight as consultants at a good
rate.

This ought to be enough information to get you started on the
road to solving your next PC or software problem. If you are
having Internet connectivity problems then your ISP is the first
place to start. If you can't get online at all, and you don't
think you know their phone number, think again. I'll bet that
it's printed on every bill that they send you. You'll also need
your account number and you can bet that it's printed on the
bill as well.

Remember -- When it comes to getting technical support help, the
first rule is: Don't Panic!