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The
Answer Pages
Calling this section "The Answer Pages"
is more than a little bit presumptuous, but we hope it will provide at
least some answers, and help point readers in the right direction. The
issues selected here are based on the experience of HelpNet members, and
on the subjects that become topics of discussion on the helpnet-list.
Your comments, suggestions and feedback are welcome, so please send
us a message.
-
Getting
Started
-
Our
own HelpNet "How-To" Series
-
Viruses,
Security Holes, and Virus Hoaxes
-
General
Help and Troubleshooting Resources
-
Help from Microsoft for Windows and Other Products
-
Other
Sources of Help for Microsoft Software
-
Modems
and Dial-up Networking Problems
-
E-mail
-
Web Authoring
Disclaimer: We have attempted to ensure that
all information contained on these pages is as accurate as possible.
However, computer systems are complex, and humans are fallible. All
information is offered without warrantee, and the members of the HelpNet
project, and its supporting organizations, are not responsible for any
loss or damage resulting from the application of any information presented
here.
Getting
Started:
- Troubleshooting
and your mental state. This section of the PC Guide contains
essential advice to help you calmly, sanely and efficiently diagnose
and correct computer problems.
- How
to help someone use a computer. Guidelines for more experienced
users who are helping the less experienced.
- The
Internet Tourbus. This free, twice-weekly newsletter from Patrick
Douglas Crispen and Bob Rankin is not really a help or troubleshooting
resource, but it's a painless and entertaining way for both new and
experienced uses to learn how to make the best use of the Internet.
Our
own HelpNet "How-To" Series:
- An occasionally
augmented series of guides to common computer tasks and problems.
- How-to:
Backup Basics.
- How-to:
Transferring Large Files.
- How-to:
Using Word and Excel to Create and Manage an Address List
Viruses,
Security Holes, and Virus Hoaxes
- What
is a computer virus? A basic explanation.
- How
to tell virus fact from virus fiction. Distinguishing genuine
threats from rumors and hoaxes.
- Protecting
your system. Recommendations for safe computing.
- Current
virus and security issues. Selected issues from the helpnet-list,
and elsewhere.
- HelpNet/Bairnet
Computer Security Workshop handout. Resources from a Helpnet
workshop. (Updated October 2001). You can also download
and print out this handout as an RTF (Rich Text Format) file.
General
Help and Troubleshooting Resources
- Home-grown help:
- The helpnet-list
– If you haven't already done so, try subscribing to our
own discussion list and asking your question here, or look for the answer
in the list archives.
- MaineNPTechNet
– This free Web site and E-mail discussion list is a state version
of our local Maine Project, designed to serve the technology needs of
Maine non-profits.
- MSLN
Circuit Rider Program – This is the "Miscellaneous
Tips and Advice" Page of the Maine State Library Network Circuit
Rider Program.
- Another place
to get free personal service:
- Experts
Exchange – This new service takes a very interesting approach
to organizing a large volunteer network. People who ask questions earn
"points," which they can "spend" to ask questions
of volunteer experts.
- Other places to
look for help:
- PC
Guide – If it's a general hardware question, and you can't
find an answer locally, I'd look at this site first.
- ZDNet
Help – A commercial site provided by the publishers of
PC Magazine and a host of other computer industry publications.
- Help.com
- Another big commercial site, this one maintained by CNET.
Help from Microsoft for Windows and Other Products
- Microsoft's Web
site is a treasure-trove of valuable support information, if you can
only find what you're looking for. In the past, this hasn't always been
easy, but the site is being reorganized, so we can hope for improvements..
Here are a few good places to start:
- Microsoft
Technical Support Frequently Asked Questions – Answers
to common questions and problems for the full line of software products.
If you're lucky, the answer you're looking for will be here.
- Microsoft
Personal Online Support Center – the starting-off place
to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, look for file downloads, find
help on MS Office programs, etc.
- Microsoft
Download Center – source of all downloadable patches, updates,
etc. (I think the format will be a little intimidating for non-nerds.)
- Windows
Update – If you have Windows 98, or Windows 95 with Internet
Explorer 5 installed, going to this site will download a small program
which examines your computer (without sending any information to Microsoft,
they say) and gives you a listing of downloads for your particular system.
Those listed as "Critical Updates" are the most important
for maintaining the security and integrity of your system. (Windows
98 users - just click on the "'Windows Update" icon on your
start menu to get here).
- Microsoft
Security Home – More than you ever wanted to know about
security vulnerabilities and fixes for Microsoft products.
Other
Sources of Help for Microsoft Software
- There's a lot
of information out there. Here are a few resources that have helped
me:
- Annoyances.org
– Gateway to "Windows 95 Annoyances" and "Windows
98 Annoyances," good collections of Windows tips and tricks.
- Woody's
Office Watch – An authoritative free weekly newsletter
covering all aspects of Microsoft Office programs. Aimed at intermediate-advanced
users. Subscribe to the newsletter and read archived issues from this
site.
- Woody's
Windows Watch – Similar to Woody's Office Watch, but this
weekly newsletter covers Windows. Doesn't get quite as esoteric as Office
Watch.
- And here's a free
service that look interesting, but that I haven't yet tried myself:
- No
Wonder – a free technical support service for a variety
of operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux/Unix, as well
as Web/HTML questions. It says it has a group of a thousand volunteer
experts, who can usually answer a question within 24 hours, plus a set
of message boards.
Modems
and Dial-Up Networking Problems
- The pages below
don't even scratch the surface of all the issues here, but they may
help start you on the road to a solution to your problem;
- What
Happens When You Make a Dial-up Connection? Understanding the
steps in the process will help you find where the problem is.
- Watching
and Listening to Narrow Down the Problem. Sometimes simple observation
will help isolate the problem.
- Testing
Your Phone Line. Slow connection speeds can be caused by poor
line quality.
- Troubleshooting
Resources. Where to go for in-depth help.
E-mail
and Web Browsing
- How
to Use E-mail Lists.
Web
Authoring
- Here are handouts
from the 3-part workshop on Web authoring that HelpNet delivered in
the spring of 2001:
- Resources
for Web Site Creation
- Tips
on Web Site File and Directory Structure
- HTML
Tips and Tricks
Pine
Tree Folk School
RR 2, Box 7162
Carmel, ME 04419
207/848-2433
E-mail: info@ptfolkschool.org
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