Improving tech support

[Karl F. Larsen]

Haneef Bashir wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 4:12 AM, Cyborg Alpha <cyborg.alpha.v1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> The best tech support I've seen, on any platform, is community driven.
>>
>> However, if information is missing then a solution may be more difficult
>> to find, as well - it makes it difficult to track problems.
>>
>> Here are a few suggestion;
>>
>> 1. at the top of the message should be the users system information,
>> particularly OS version and if they are on a dual boot system, and if so
>> what version of Windows. The system information should be kept
>> through-out the conversation (tread) with other non-essential parts
>> [snipped].
>>
>> 2. I have found, through observing several tech support groups, that
>> many people with tech problems are running dual boot  (windows & linux)
>> systems. So here is a tech support trouble shooting flowchart;
>>
>> a. Always ensure your data is backed up, off system and not dependent on
>> back-up software to restore.
>> b. re-install your version of linux (from CD or DVD) eliminating the
>> dual boot to only run linux.
>> c. there is more than enough linux-ware to make it run similar to
>> windows including finding a MS network (and all systems under that network)
>> d. if that solves the problem, then the problem exists with the windows
>> dual boot. Which may not be a linux bug, but a MS hd locking technology
>> issue.
>>
>> I've experienced few issues with clean single boot installs. It took
>> three re-installs (on a vista laptop) to fully eliminate MS from the hd.
>> The tech issues that I did experience were due to a lack of information
>> (and errors) on my part.
> good advice. i notice that i have less problems with a single install
> as well. so far so good. thing that i have a problem with is need to
> use voice chat on instant messengers such as msn and yahoo. i have set
> to find a work around for that. im thinking about installing windows
> on another hard drive to use when i need.
> 

	I agree that you should tell what you have as a computer in 
each request for help because it is possible the computer has 
a kink that makes Ubuntu hard to load. I disagree about dual 
booting with windows. IF, windows has the /dev/sda1/ partition 
and Ubuntu is in other partition(s). This way Ubuntu and 
windows can be selected by Grub and each way they bother the 
other not at all.

	My wifes computer now has 2 windows and one Ubuntu 9.04 which 
I have failed to make her use. But it helps to trouble-shoot 
windows, along with a LiveCD

73 Karl


-- 

	Karl F. Larsen, AKA K5DI
	Linux User
	#450462   http://counter.li.org.
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