How did you come across this site ?

[Jiggy]

Me i found PC Guide in the results of a Google search on low level formating, and im still here and loving its.

[Mark Miller]

I found it from reading Pc mag over two years ago.
They were doing an article on great user to user help forums.
My home away from home :)

[PrntRhd]

I found it looking for a non-existent PC magazine. Certainly it more rewarding than a subscription as the feedback is quick and the wealth of experiences is priceless.
:)

[pentachris]

Google results, after having a catastrophic hardware (then software) failure. I've learned a lot here since!

[Budfred]

I think I read about it in a PCWorld article, but I don't really remember for sure... I was having trouble with a couple of computers I was fixing up for friends and found ready help here... Decided to stick around and try to help myself...

[saphalline]

I honestly don't remember. Oh well, it's fun here so why worry? :D

[jabarnutcase]

I'm with saphalline....I really can't remember either.
Seems to me it was a search for a particular Hardware problem though, which led me to "The Guide", which in turn led me to the Forums.

I remember thinking how cool and unique the little "geek icons" were....and all of the sudden I had another! :p

It didn't take long to notice how friendly and helpful the members were.

And the rest is history as they say. ;)

[jlreich]

I think I was searching for some info on file systems and came across The PcGuide. Saw the link to the forums and have been hooked ever since. During the downtime for the upgrade I must have checked to see if it was back up at least 20 times that day. :eek:

I come here to get my fix at least 3 or 4 times a day. :D

[Paleo Pete]

I used the PC Guide (http://www.pcguide.com/topic.html) as my primary reference while looking up info for my oen learning purposes and answering questions on another similar (but not anywhere near as good) tech forum for 2 years or so before the forums existed.

One night looking up info I spotted a new link to the forums in the nav bar on left, took a look and found something like 480 members...been here ever since and have both taught AND learned a lot since then. Most of the folks who have posted to this thread already have been with us for a good while, and I think I can safely say that as well as learning they also have taught others a lot.

I've always found it odd that I noticed the forums that early on though, because usually I used the link above, which you may notice does not go to the main front page, but the topic index, which was the page I normally needed. That particular night, for no reason at all, I went to the front page instead...here I am 4 years later still finding new information almost daily right here in the same little corner of the Internet...

Once again, thanks to everyone who has worked with us over the past 4 years to make this the best tech forum around.

[ErnieK]

I think it was through a google search.

The forum I was using at the time changed (for the worse) and I went looking for something else. Now it is the first palce I go in the morning after the usual mail check.

[pave_spectre]

Don't recall but I can only assume it was a result of prolific google usage.. :p

Couldn't solve a problem and found the PC Guide which didn't help, then saw the forum link and thought "Perhaps a real person willl know".(Like a real person could possibly know anything :D )

It's now usually the first website that gets viewed each day.

[deddard]

As far as I remember, I was searching for a solution to a technical problem, and this site was shown - been here ever since.
Like pave_spectre, this is the first site that gets checked every day.

[classicsoftware]

Who can remeber back to 2001? I can't remember waht I did last week.

[rond36]

I found the PC Guide when I was looking up computer terminology for my x-wife's computer course that she was taking at the community collage.

[Abbadon]

The PC Guide was actually referenced to in a course text for a computer-class I was taking at that moment. The Guide led to the forum and I kind of kept comming back (not as much as I used to though, busy times and all)

[Whyzman]

Who can remeber back to 2001? I can't remember waht I did last week.The days all seem to run together...I have trouble remembering what I did yesterday!

Honestly, I can't remember how I found the Forums. I do remember mjc spending a number of late evenings with me on our chat channel troubleshooting a stubborn problem. I had a working computer and the misfit side by side...

I was "touched" by his computer knowledge and willingness to help!

[Bumpus]

When I joined back in 2001, I'm sure I found it from a google search but drifted away for a while. I'd come back now and then but never made it a daily ritual.

Then last November I had by-pass surgery and was home for 2+ months and started reading and watching you folks work every day, I must have read 80% of the posts listed, on dial up!

Since getting back to work, I still try to log on at least once a day, it's like a vitaman pill, sure, I may not need it, but I'm better off for it!

Thanks all!

[Jhorner1]

Like Abbadon, I came here following a link in an online course (A+) in 2002.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Well I'll be the odd-ball again... :o

Not to mention names but, someone had to steer me in this direction when I was asking for some help with my pc at a non pc oriented site that had a small section for technical difficulties related to the site in mention.

I had never even used Google at the time let alone knew what MSKB was or of the Windows Update site!

For all I knew, drivers sat behind steering wheels, hardware was nuts and bolts, peripherals had to do with what you could see out of the corner of your eyes... Now I know the dif. well almost... :rolleyes:

But I'm still a Jack of all Trades and a Master of None. ;)

Thanks DrDan, oops... :D

[Steve]

I don't remember for sure but I think I found the PCGuide through Google but it might have been Altavista or some other search engine. I was very new to PC's and found a few sites that had understandable info. The PCGuide was a part of my daily routine when Charles started the forums. I signed up the first day and he hasn't been able to get shed of me yet... ;)

[bairdoid]

Searching google for help on course work.

And the knowledge i see in here is unbelievable definently bookmarked :D

[saphalline]

Just had to reply again! :D

I'm coming up on my 3 year mark since joining the forums. Amazing stuff, all of it. Most of the memories come from the community of the forums, all the faces that I see that were here when I joined, and all the faces of those who joined after me. But most of all it's about how we've all developed. Young or old, born-to-be-techie or jock-turned-techie ;), everyone here who contributes frequently has learned a lot (and not just about computers).

For myself, I've learned most of all from those of you with decades of experience. I came here a spec-spouting greenhorn, with lots of facts and no idea how to use them! Since then I've learned tons about troubleshooting and software, and more importantly that you have to know where you've been before you can think about where you're going.

And I'd like to think that at least a few of you have learned a thing or two from me. ;)

[jabarnutcase]

And I'd like to think that at least a few of you have learned a thing or two from me. ;)
Well that's an understatement if I ever heard one. :p

Many things come to mind...among them: Memory questions (and everything related including type and speed), Video Cards, CPU's and related questions, chipsets, clock speeds, Motherboards, FSB questions, CMOS....well you get the idea. The list goes on and on. :D

I know a lot of us hear a certain question and say to ourselves: "Hopefully saphalline will be along to elaborate a bit on this one".

Anyway, not trying to give any one person a big head here. As saphalline said, it's all about the community. I've learned so much from so many people it would be impossible to list them all.
And as mentioned, "not just about Computers", but the different personalities, nationalities, and different "situations" we all seem to work out together as a group.
Once in a while, we need one of our excellent Moderators to step in. :eek: (But for the most part, we all know the ground rules just from being here for a while, and it works out great) :)

One thing for sure...if you stumble on to this place "accidentally", all you have to do is look around for a while and you'll want to become a member and stay! ;)
Many times, I'll read a post without replying. But I'll say to myself. "Well I"ll be darned, so that's how it's done!"
The point being, you can learn so much just from "browsing" around here, (or peforming a search), without actually getting involved in the thread. But if you have something you feel you can add to help out, you feel inclined to do so.

Thanks to ALL of you. As I said in my first post, I really don't remember exactly how I found this place, but I'm sure glad I did.

[FrankSG]

I don't remember, but since I've been on this one, I no longer use the other two that I used to get on.

[bassman]

Wow, now thats a walk down memory lane. I am coming up on my 4 year in a few months and honestly can't remember how I found this place. I do believe it was a search engine but since I was not to savy then, I don't think it was Google (one of the many lessons learned here). I was trying to fix an old Compaq single box unit and with some wonderful direction, was able to find my own answers and get that little beast runnin. ;)
I would like to thank Charles, Pete, MJC, and many others for having and keeping this place a social enviroment. I have met some incredible souls here :cool:. I have lost friends here :( And I feel like I could travel around the world and have friends to visit almost anywhere I go ;)
I would also like to thank all the dirtbags that have come along. It makes us really appreciate the humble attitudes of those who have stuck around.

[FrankSG]

I would like to thank Charles, Pete, MJC, and many others for having and keeping this place a social enviroment. I have met some incredible souls here .
I would certainly agree with that...

[Donn]

I heard of it, I think, on a radio show talking about the net, and this and one other site was mentioned. I wrote them both down, but I tried this one first, and, quite frankly, I don't recall that I ever tried the other one. That was about, what? around two years ago. . . ?

Edit: I'll definitely second (or third) Bassman's remark about the quality of life here. . . :)

[stefanus]

I also found this site from an out of publication mag, PC GUIDE, and have thoroughly enjoyed my visits here, not to mention the advice, guidance and the great, er, uhm, I cant think of a word suitable enough ;) :D :cool:

[LadyGrey]

I'm pretty sure it was Google that I found this site on. I had just learned about Google and I had just lost my little brother and had inherited his computer that he built himself. I was looking to get my old computer up and running for my disabled son when I stumbled across this site. I asked for help, not really expecting much of a answer and with me being of the female persuasion ( still get raised eyebrows when I tell people I build my own computers) and there had been a couple of other sites I had tried with no results. What I got was a slew, a bevy, and entire herd of answers!! All in plain english that I could understand and people who stuck with me night and day for a week and by golly we got that computer up and running!!!
One of funniest things and I think maybe the one of two things that caused me to stay and bedevil the guru's was a comment Whyzman made way back then. He said that he was getting the popcorn and sitting back watching, that this was better than a movie, something to that effect, it just tickled me silly. That's when I knew that these were real people who actually cared enough to teach if you were willing to learn. I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it, the wealth of knowledge that is here and is being given freely just staggers the mind. As others have said this is a community, this is a family. Charles and our wonderful moderators do such a great job of keeping it that way too!
LG ;)

[stefanus]

Where are the Apples Lady G, FOR THE TUTORS :) :D ;) . On another note,how did college go! Did you WIN ??

[FrankSG]

I asked for help, not really expecting much of a answer and with me being of the female persuasion LG ;)
We need more ladies here, LadyGray. As a matter-of-fact, I like ladies so much that I married one. :)

[stefanus]

I come here to get away from them. A Wife and four adult Daughters :) :D :D

[jlreich]

I come here to get away from them. A Wife and four adult Daughters :) :D :D

I know how you feel. I am the only guy in a house full of girls. I love my wife and daughters very much, but sometimes I think about having another kid in the hopes of having a boy to help even things out a bit. :p

I have always wondered what my bathroom looks like in the morning time. :D

[stefanus]

I thought of that three times, now I have given up :) ;) :D :cool:

[FrankSG]

I come here to get away from them. A Wife and four adult Daughters :) :D :D
Wow! I was lucky. We have also have four kids. But, we have 2 of each kind.
I'm sure you feel like a very good friend of mine. He and his wife have five girls and one boy. I saw him a couple of weeks after they had the fifth girl. He said, "You know, Frank. It's not that I don't love them all, but if you have five brown suits hanging in the closet, you don't go out and buy another brown suit." I think he put it very well. If we had four girls instead of two of each, I would love them just the same. But, I guess I'm glad that we evened it up. ;) Kids are kids and they should all be loved.

[stefanus]

We all love our kids! even if they wreck your car, make you cry then laugh, they are after all just kids

[Whyzman]

My wife's aunt has 7 boys (all growed up and married now). I guess they wanted to add a girl into the mix...they seem to have been rather persistent!

[jlreich]

I only have two. One teen and one preteen. I love them both. They do make you cry and laugh. Mostly laugh thankfully.

All I am saying is I could use a little extra testosterone around the house every once and a while. :p :D

[Mark Miller]

I got one son and in 3 weeks two grandson's and I still act and feel as if I'm 18

don't see them as much as I would like as they live in N.J. and we live in Fla :(
Not sure what all this has to with how we got here but a cool conversation to say the least :)

[Paula De Niro]

I did a Google search for 'PC technical support forum' & got this site!

The problem I'm having is finding the relevant message board for 'What does 'Email Catch All' mean, when registering for a domain name?

Can't find it in the Domain site's FAQ

[Whyzman]

This might help:

http://www.emailaddresses.com/guide_forward.htm

A good explanation: http://www.101domain.com/biz/catch_all_mail_service1.htm

[Paula De Niro]

Thank you Whyzman!

Very helpful.

[Jesus]

I was thinking to my self "Man, I really need to mass download a website". So I typed "I want to mass download some thing" into google, and the first; things that popped up were PC guide websites, and pages about how to correctly use a semi colan. It was only after that I realized that Using robot software to mass-download the forums degrades the server and is prohibited. See here for more. Now I live in a cave. Don;t laugh.

[Jesus]

I was thinking to my self "Man, I really need to mass download a website". So I typed "I want to mass download some thing" into google, and the first; things that popped up were PC guide websites, and pages about how to correctly use a semi colan. It was only after that I realized that Using robot software to mass-download the forums degrades the server and is prohibited. See here for more. Now I live in a cave. Don;t laugh.


Yep. Thats true, I never thought about actually making love to a horse. ;

[jabarnutcase]

(Mods Notified)

[ixl]

Jesus: I really don't have the time to deal with people who arer only here to cause trouble. Consider this a word to the wise. Thank you.

Charles