EPTPlease skim through the entire OP before posting. If you do not, chances are your thread will be locked for not following rules. There is a template at the bottom of the OP that you should use when asking for help.
If you have a simple question that can be asked in four sentences or less, post in an existing thread such as the "Simple Questions Simple Answers" thread. Please avoid making a new thread with a two or three line opening post.
It goes without saying that using the search function or Google should be the first thing you do. Very often, people will be in the same situation as you are and, therefore, will already be a solution to your query.
If you are providing advice or assistance with troubleshooting, please be somewhat competent in the area of discussion and read the entire opening post of the thread, preferably the entire thread. Be warned that providing obviously wrong information have resulted in warnings and even bans from the Tech Support forum in the past.
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+ Guidelines for requesting suggestions for hardware/software +
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Building your own computer?
Looking to build your own computer and need help with component selection or advice? Use the Computer Build Resource Thread . Make sure you read the OP as well as fill out the template. This will make it easier for the forum regulars to help you.
Need help on picking a mouse/keyboard/monitor/etc?
Please use existing threads for discussion of peripherals instead of starting a new one of your own:
- Teamliquid Monitor Thread
- Mechanical Keyboard Guide
- The Ultimate Mouse Thread
- Best Gaming Headset?
- Headphone enthusiast thread!
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++++++++ Guidelines for technical support ++++++++
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Please follow these guidelines. These guidelines exist to make it easier for yourself and your fellow forum users. You even may find a solution to your query or problem. Before asking for hardware support, please see if any of the following applies to you:
Need help with streaming?
Please read the "Stream Quality Guide" and "Streaming problem? Read this!" threads created by R1CH. Only open a new thread requesting for help after you have read both of these threads thoroughly. Some threads that may also help you in setting up a stream include but not limited to:
- Streaming 101 - By TheGunrun
- Xsplit video guide with justintv
- The Ultimate Xsplit+Dxtory streaming Guide
Experiencing a blue screen of death?
If you are experiencing a blue screen of death such. Please take note of the error code and look through this for the cause(s) and solution(s): http://aumha.org/a/stop.php
If your computer is rebooting before you can take note of the error code. You need to disable the automatic restart upon system failure. To do this, go into your Control Panel > System and Security > System > Advanced Systesm Settings > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery Settings > Uncheck the Automatically restart checkbox.
+ Show Spoiler [How to Disable Automatic Restart] +
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/nYnWI.jpg)
Further information can be found in HackBenjamin's writeup: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=226562
Experiencing poor performance, crashes, or random reboots?
Update your drivers which include but not limited to video and chipset.
Run memtest86+ and let it complete at least four passes. If errors appear during the test, it likely means that your memory is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Run prime95 (64bit) or Prime95 (32bit) and use the "In-place large FTTs" test. Monitor your temperatures during this time using Real Temp , Core Temp , or any other CPU temperature monitoring software. In addition to monitoring the temperature, please also monitor your CPU frequency using CPU-Z and CPU usage using the Windows Task Manager. This test should be ran for at least one hour, preferbly more to check for CPU stability and heat issues. Temperatures under 80C are acceptable and should be of no concern.
Run Furmark and use the "BURN-IN test" with your appropriate resolution and let it run for a minimum of thirty minutes. Use MSI Afterburner to monitor the temperature, clock speed, and GPU usage. Temperatures under 90C are acceptable and should be of no concern.
What do I do if I find a very obvious fault with my recently bought hardware/software?
Very often, many problems can be solved by simply contacting support. Companies spend lots and lots of money on post-sales support for a reason: to build customer loyalty. The often repeated idea that post-sales is useless is utterly false.
For instance, if your new computer rejects your Windows 7 serial key, the easiest solution is to explain to Microsoft what the problem is. If I remember correctly, the whole process is automated and Microsoft will reissue you with a new valid serial key.
Similarly, if your Dell monitor has numerous dead pixels, contacting warranty is the only and best solution. Attempting to fix the problem may exacerbate the issue; contacting warranty will not exacerbate any problems and will be the most painless solution.
If your product is within warranty and you are certain there is a fault with the item, it is very common to get a replacement no questions asked.
I can't find a solution to my problem and I don't know where to ask my query. Can I make a thread?
If you find no solution to your problem, then you are perfectly welcome to create a thread. Please follow the following guidelines:
Creating a thread requesting for help.
When you are opening a new thread requesting for technical help, please explain your problem thoroughly, provide system specifications, and as much other relevant information as possible.
Thread titles should be concise and descriptive. It should not include useless words such as problem, please, help, noob, etc. Please use abbreviations whenever possible such as blue screen of death = BSOD, computer = PC, Starcraft = SC, etc.
+ Show Spoiler [Past examples of good thread titles] +
- BSOD & monitor singal loss, Windows blames dxgkrnl
- Xsplit + Razer Banshee sound problem
- How do i filter Skype from my stream
- Starcraft 2 crashing/locking up my PC
- Monitor Out of Frequency Range, I can't change res
- nvlddmkm.sys BSOD XFX GTX 295
- Xsplit + Razer Banshee sound problem
- How do i filter Skype from my stream
- Starcraft 2 crashing/locking up my PC
- Monitor Out of Frequency Range, I can't change res
- nvlddmkm.sys BSOD XFX GTX 295
+ Show Spoiler [Past examples of bad thread titles] +
- Need a little bit of help....
- High budget computer build
- What is wrong with my PC?
- Complete Computer Noob
- General problems
- High budget computer build
- What is wrong with my PC?
- Complete Computer Noob
- General problems
The content of the opening post should be as detailed and clear as possible. It should contain all relevant information, a detailed explanation of your problem, as well as all of the solutions you have tried. To make it easier for you, here is a template which you can copy and fill out:
[b]Details of problem:[/b]
This should contain a description of the problem as well as any details that may be related to the problem you are encountering. If you are suffering from blue screens and cannot find the solution, post the stop code that appears on the blue screen; if you suspect you are suffering from overheating, post your temperatures during load.
[b]Solutions and measures conducted:[/b]
This should contain all of the fixes you have tried in detail.
[b]Recent changes to hardware/software[/b]
This should contain any recent changes to your hardware/software, if applicable.
[b]System specs[/b]
Post your hardware specs. Try to be specific with the model and revision number if possible. If you don't know, that's OK but it may make things more difficult to diagnose.
If you are not knowledgeable enough to know anything about your computer, there is a simple program called [url=http://www.piriform.com/speccy]Speccy[/url] that will tell you most of everything that people need to know in order to assist you in solving your problem.
Either take a screenshot of the program window by pressing ALT and Print Screen or list it out. Here is an example of what you might post:
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Nvidia Geforce 8800 GT 512MB
4GB DDR2 800MHz
500GB Harddrive
Corsair CX430 (model of power supply is important)
Generally, it's a terrible thread if your opening post is less than ten lines long because it does not explain the problem thoroughly, provide the relevent information needed for diagnosis, it's something that you could have found through Google, or an existing thread should have been used.
