Let's try the forum changes thing again...

[ixl]

First, if you haven't seen my related post in the Announcements forum, please check it out, as it provides some context to this post. Thanks.

Many months ago I solicited feedback on the forums, saying I was going to make some changes. There have also been many suggestions here in this Suggestion Box, which I have read and considered but never implemented. I never made the changes, as I got too bogged down in various things. That's not a great excuse, but it's the only one I have.

At any rate, I can't change the past, but I would like to start making some of the changes to the forums now that I had talked about earlier. There have been so many suggestions, and some of them are pretty old, so I am not sure which ones are really the most relevant. So I'd like to open up the discussion again.

In a nutshell, I'd like to see if there is any consensus on changes or enhancements that should be made to the forums, in terms of structure and features. If there is, I will try to make changes as appropriate. Please bear in mind that my time to work on the forums is limited, and my Perl skills even more so. But I pledge that I will make certain changes, especially ones that I can do reasonably promptly.

One thing I want to ask specifically about: do people still want to see the forums themselves shuffled and rearranged, perhaps consolidated into a smaller number? I am concerned that this may not be very easy to do. For one thing, there are a lot of existing threads that would have to be ported between forums, a big manual job. Also, with the increased participation on the forums I am wondering if a larger number of forums, as we have now, might be better than a few that have a heavy volume. Thoughts?

Thanks again for all of your help and patience.

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Charles M. Kozierok
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
Note: Please reply to my forum postings here on the forums. Thanks.

[Hardtek1976]

Hi Charles,

"I got too bogged down in various things. That's not a great excuse, but it's the only one I have."--->>me too but that's another story http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif .

Just a couple of suggestions:
You might consider consolidating System Troubleshooting + Audio Video Trouble Shooting into one. Let's call it Hardware Trouble Shooting, both seem to be related.
Since one forum might be eliminated why not add another. Since Windows XP has just been released and it's quirks are quite different than the Win9x series add a forum specific to it. Since Microsoft has such a dominant placement in the market, not to knock Linux, it might keep the Operating System forum a little cleaner.

________________________________

Ron

[Paleo Pete]

I'll have to give it some thought really, but one thing I am aware of, a request was made not long ago for a forum dedicated to XP, and a while back a Linux forum was suggested. Both might not be bad ideas. My thoughts are: Win9x, XP/2000, Linux and remove Operating System troubleshooting, it would be then split into those three.

How Do I and How does this Work could probably be combined, they both tend to be catch-alls anyway...Audio/Video and Periferals could probably be combined, Storage gets a good deal of use, so I would think leave it as a separate category.

To get an idea what it would look like:

Announcements
Suggestion Box
PC World
How Do I/How Does This Work {Renaming might reduce the catch-all syndrome)
Buying and Upgrading
Certification
System Troubleshooting
Storage
Periferals
Win3.x/9x/ME (non NT kernel)
XP/2000/NT (NT kernel)
Linux
Notebook
Software
After Hours
FAQ
Testing

That's 17, we have 17 now. Just rearranged a bit, and a couple that are more specific to particular Operating Systems. That would be a plus the way I see it, since we don't always know what OS we're dealing with until we ask the person.

Just realized a Virus/Trojan specific forum was requested not long ago too. That's not a bad idea either, lately security has become a more serious issue, especially with some of the recent nasties we've seen. So far I've been posting Virus alerts in PC World, whenever a particularly bad one appears, a couple others have too. That would make it 18...



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Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[fixrupr]

Charles,
Would it be possible to add to “Profile”, pertinent info re OS, brand of machine,Hardware etc?
If used, would save a lot of guesswork for the folks that have answers.

[bassman]

Along with the above suggested Forum changes (which I agree with completely), it would be nice to see the "Tips for success" a little more defining as suggested in MJC's thread. I think there are some really good suggestions there.
Since you stated that your Perl skills were limited, I'm not sure if this is do'able. It might work better if you had to actualy click a "next" button after scrolling thru the tips to get to the "Submit" page.
Any takers on scripting this one for Charles???? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Well, thats enough of me for now.

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Quotes from "Lifes Little Instruction Book" by H.Jackson Brown: 16)Be the first to say, "Hello"
Frank's Place (http://www.members.aol.com/frankscompsrvice)

[damfino]

Well ,I don't have that many posts.
Well I like to see a LINUX forum
Lotsa people need somewhere to go
But this place rocks. Just my .02$
bob

[diurnal]

On the active posts , could you put who last replied and how many posts the thread has. That would be a big help , because there is 60 active posts each day and it would help out people with 56k modems. It used to be about 45 posts, these would help out immensley, it would save me and others time tracking down posts, and following up on problems. Here is a site which implements this procedure. http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/

Go to active posts and youll see what im talking about. Thanks Charles



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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[diurnal]

Oh on the site click on active posts for the day. Thanks

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[Gallaeglagh]

Make it totally clear that Announcements area is for the Administrator only.

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When in doubt search on Google

[kfh]

Hi All,
I've probably not been here long enough to make a suggestion.
But as the saying goes "If ain't broke don't fix it".
kfh.

[ErnieK]

Quote
To get an idea what it would look like:
------
"Win3.x/9x/ME (non NT kernel)
XP/2000/NT (NT kernel)"
End quote

Pete I am going to show my ignorance here (what else is new http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif)

Does the above quote mean that it would be specific to NFTS installation of XP? (Professinal and Home) What about a dual boot using Fat32? which is a NON "NT" kernal, or, as usual, have I got it wrong?


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Ernie

[pentachris]

I haven't been here long enough to talk about newcomers, but I've always tried to be respectful.

A "Mark for Moderation" option would be great for, among other things, alerting our moderators to newcomers making an ass of themselves (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000369.html). http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif

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...
If my computer were the eighth dwarf, it would be Dumpy.
-Chris

[This message has been edited by pentachris (edited 01-04-2002).]

[This message has been edited by pentachris (edited 01-04-2002).]

[Vic 970]

e-mail tracking in 'reply' as well as 'new post' would be good. save waiting twice for re-load.

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for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.

[Paleo Pete]

ErnieK: I'm not sure if I can conjure up a good description, but maybe I can come close...

The kernel is basically the core of the OS. Windows NT, 2000 and XP are built on the NT kernel, while 95, 98 and ME are built around the Windows 95 kernel. (I'm not sure what it's actual name is.)

NTFS is the file system created when partitioning the hard drive that NT, 2000 and XP can use. They can also use the FAT file system. Win95/98/ME can only use FAT 16 and FAT 32 (but can communicate and cooperate on a network with any OS using the NT kernel and/or NTFS.)

Confused yet? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[ErnieK]

Pete
EH!? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

What me confused? Can I claim Senile Dementia as an excuse? or do I get honest and admit to stupidity? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif Will XP on a Fat32 installation be listed\posted under NTFS XP listing? Or is\will there be no difference?

For examlpe: If a problem arises with the NTFS (or Fat32) installation (drivers or software) would the solution be the same in both file formats?
I think thats what I mean. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

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Ernie

[Paleo Pete]

Ernie: Yep, whichever file system is used, a problem concerning an OS using the NT kernel would be posted in the forum specific to that OS, not according to the file system used.

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Support the right to keep and arm bears.
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[Whyzman]

Since the Announcements Forum is off grounds except for all but administrators...I would suggest locking us out. That would seemingly solve the problem and keep the latest announcement on top.

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

[Vic 970]

wyzman,

that would prevent everyone from posting a reply also. perhaps be better if unauthorised new topics were just deleted by the moderator, no moving, no reference, just deleted.

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for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.

[Whyzman]

Vic,

Good point! How about block us out of the ability to post New Topic...just be able to post a response?

In the View Todays Active Listings...would it be possible to add the original poster's name along with the topic? I seem to be able to remember the poster's name more easily than how someone has chosen to denote their problem...

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

[Pianorak]

<< . . . the Windows 95 kernel. (I'm not sure what it's actual name is.)>>

Could it be Kernel32.dll?

If not, sorry.


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The PC Guide ueber alles – with Google a close second.

[iisbob]

..Could it be Kernel32.dll?..

Close enough! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I just got a look at the Juno posting, whew!! glad i ignored it!


Then again, maybe i should have gotten this genius to give me his ip ( if he knew what that was ) to " help " administer his system. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif What do you think GH, Pete, Sea, and other guru's?

Wouldn't it be fun to show him what you can really do to an uniformed user on a network?!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Anyways, to the subject at hand.

Pretty much have to agree with Pete's suggested layout above, only other thing i would suggest is possible a big BOLD link at the top of the Forums to guide people to actually look in the PC Guide itself for their answers before posting-seems like we get a lot of repetition on problems and answers sometimes. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Other than that, can't really complain about how well the forum works-IMHO this place would be well worth a small membership fee just because of the help that is so abundant here.









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iisbob

Life of a tech-support specialist-
"..Tech Support: "Use the right button to click on the shortcut--"
Customer: "I don't have a right button."
Tech Support: "You should have a right button."
Customer: "I'm sure. I have 'ctrl', 'alt', 'backspace'..."

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 01-06-2002).]

[Paul Komski]

Vic 970 above wrote:

e-mail tracking in 'reply' as well as 'new post' would be good. save waiting twice for re-load.

Just an expansion of this really. I think that eMail tracking should always be set-up for both new posts and for replies (and only thereafter specifically turned-off by a "thread-poster" as required). It has occured to me that one of the reasons that peeps don't post back with success/failure posts is that they:- have had a successful reply; it has solved their problem; and thus they never return to the thread. If they got an eMail notifying them of subsequent posts - they might have their memories jogged to review their original posting.

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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul

P.S. The eMails could also include a little message/reminder that an acknowledgement of success/failure would be much appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Paul Komski (edited 01-20-2002).]