Bulletin Board Entry Instructions
Do this by telling a little white lie. Click the Forgot your password? link as seen above. Doing so will bring up the screen below. In the Username/Email window, enter the e-mail address that you provided SLO Bytes and select the by Email radio button. It is the same
e-mail address at which you receive SLO Bytes announcements via the listserv. Click the Send button immediately to the right of the Username/Email window.
This action will bring up the message seen below and allow you to create a password.
Enter whatever password you choose in the Choose password window as seen below. Enter the same password in the Verify password window and click the Save button.
Clicking the Save button, will bring up the Password successfully set screen as illustrated
below. Shortly thereafter, the password that you entered will be sent to your e-mail address. Open that confirmation e-mail and click on the link.
Doing so will open your browser to the window displayed below.
IMPORTANT:
Notice that the e-mail will also contain your Username. The username was entered by moderator Ralph Sutter when he created your account. Perhaps it may not match the username that you anticipated. Enter that Username nevertheless in the appropriate window. If you choose, you can modify it later.
In the Password window, enter the password that you created previously and click the Login button. If you don't want to have to enter this information next time, check the Always stay loaded in box.
Once that you are logged in to the SLO Bytes Bulletin Board, you will be able to post messages and reply to the posts of others. Only those who are logged in will be able to do this. The ability to subscribe to the SLO Bytes Bulletin Board is limited to current SLO Bytes members. Guests may view the bulletin board but may not post.
Below is a screen shot of the opening page of the new SLO Bytes Bulletin Board
Bulletin Board Netiquette
Subscribers who post clearly offensive matter, commercial solicitation or spam are subject to having their posting privileges either suspended or revoked.
The only stupid question is the one that you don't ask - - That said, if you can search previous postings to see whether your question has been asked and answered already, you want to do so. Treat others on the bulletin board as busy friends. Try to figure out the answer yourself before asking, and then, when you can't figure it out yourself, do ask.
Be polite - - No one gets paid to monitor the bulletin board or to answer questions. They all have a day job or doing something else if they are retired. Those who answer do so because they enjoy it. If you respect that, and try to make it easy and enjoyable for people to answer you, then all the other tips here will seem obvious. You are dealing with your fellow SLO Bytes users. They don't work for Microsoft or any other computer company. Some of them have a great deal of expertise and you are getting it for FREE. Others may have little general expertise but may have experienced and solved the same problem that you are now facing. All suggestions are "as is" and without any warranties.
Be specific - - make the message subject line descriptive of the question. Saying something like: "Windows Problem" or "Help!!!" isn't going to catch the eye of somebody who might know the answer. Good Examples: "XP slowdown after installing MS Q811493 update" and "No Internet connection after installing Microsoft SP1" is much more informative and useful. However, even if that subject line says your entire question, repeat the question or problem in the body of your message.
If nobody answers your question, it is probably because nobody knows the answer. There is no guarantee that anyone will know the answer, though most questions should get answered. There is also no guarantee regarding response times. An answer will appear when somebody who knows the answer chances to read the question. Putting "URGENT" into a subject line is unlikely to make much difference as to when that will happen. Likewise, repeating the same question a few days later will just irritate people.
Don't post a new question in response to another person's post. Create a new post of your own. Avoid "me too" posts indicating you have the same problem unless you can add substantial information about it.
Briefly describe your machine as necessary - - Provide the CPU type and speed, amount of RAM, hard drive size and amount of free space. If you are having problems with a particular component, describe that hardware. Avoid listing every piece of unrelated hardware you own. Identify the operating system and version you are using: Control Panel >> System >> General Tab
Keep emotion and bad attitude out of your post - - Swearing at Microsoft or some software product or using foul language turns people off. Be professional as people who may be able to help you might not because of your demeanor.
Describe your problem - - as fully as possible, including where appropriate what you have tried so far when attempting to fix it. Where possible, use the terms used within the program itself to describe what is happening. Describe what you are trying to achieve overall. If you get an error message repeat the *exact* verbiage in the error message. Don't skimp on information but don't provide unrelated details and confuse the issue.
Identify - - the particular program version you're asking a question about.
Use your real name - - or at least something that looks like a real name. It seems somehow witless to start a reply by saying "Hi MadDog", or whatever your chosen alias is.
Use a spell checker - - If possible, type in a Word processor, then copy and paste into the bulletin board.
Post your responses - - to the bulletin board if you are answering a problem. Many people other than the person who asked the question will read your response and learn from it. Bulletin boards work well because everybody can see all the information.
Please, DO NOT e-mail questions directly to people you see on the bulletin board.
When you get help - - say "Thank you." Let the person know that you appreciated the answer and his or her solution worked and solved your problem.
Updated 08/25/2006
Please send your questions or comments about SLO Bytes to contact@slobytes.org.
Direct your comments regarding this site to rsutter@cuesta.edu
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