By the time you get desperate enough to post a question to the ICON Member's Forums, you are hoping for a really quick (and easy!) answer. You can help assure a quick and accurate (maybe not easy!) answer by providing complete information with your initial post.

You need not include all of the information discussed below in every post….and you certainly do not need to understand everything below before making a post. We are all learning!

Minimum Basic Information
Regardless of the problem you are having with your computer, state at least the following information:

1. Operating System - This is the version of Windows you are using, i.e. Windows XP Pro
2. Processor - The type and speed of processor, i.e. Pentium 4, 1Ghz
3. RAM - This is the amount of memory installed on your system, i.e. 256 mb.

This information is often combined in one long phrase. For example, I might write "I'm using Windows XP Pro on a P-4 1Ghz with 512mb RAM."

If this sounds like Greek to you, don't worry. Anyone can find this basic information as follows: In Windows XP, click START > Control Panel > System. In Windows 98 or ME, click START > Settings > Control Panel > System. On the General tab of the System Properties window will be the information you need.

Specific Software Problems
If your question involves specific software, then it is important to state in your post the version of that software you are using. To find this information, open the software, and click Help from the top menu bar. Select the "About" option, and you will be able to see the exact version of your software. Be sure to list the numbers both before and after the decimal point. For example, my current Internet Explorer version is 5.50.4134.0600. Microsoft Office products may all list the service releases that have been installed, such as SR-1. While such numbers may be meaningless to us, they may be useful to the person trying to help you.

Specific Hardware Problems
For help with hardware or peripherals, such as digital cameras or scanners, provide the make and model numbers and as much additional information as you know about the hardware, as well as the version of any affiliated software.

Internet Problems
State the name of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and whether your connection is dial-up (using the phone line) or high-speed (using DSL or cable). Common ISP's in our area are AOL, MSN, Earthlink, and Juno. Be sure to state which version, i.e. AOL 9.0. Finally, state the name and version of your browser.

What Have You Changed Lately?
State any changes you have made to your hardware, such as adding RAM or getting a new scanner. List any software recently installed. Did you have the same problem before you made the change(s)?

"But I Didn't Do Anything!"
We've all said this as we stared at yet another error message generated by our systems. Remember to include in your post exactly what you were doing (or attempting to do) when the error was generated. State whether you can reproduce the error consistently. If you are getting an error message, jot it down verbatim and include that message in your post.

System Maintenance
Especially if your problem is performance-oriented, you may need to provide information about how you have maintained your system. Have you:

1. defragged your hard drive(s) lately?
2. run a complete ScanDisk?
3. deleted temp files, temporary Internet files and cookies?
4. maintained up-to-date antivirus definitions?
5. installed all critical Windows updates?

You may find the above paragraphs rather mundane or technical. If you find them mundane, then "bully for you!" You'll have no problem providing the necessary information to those trying to help you. If you find them technical, now is your chance to log on to the forum and ask questions about the parts of this article you don't understand. No question is too elementary; we were all beginners once. Help us help you!