As many of you witness here everyday, about 80% of the time on a posted problem, either insufficient info is provided right off the top by the poster or, as it continues to personally frustrate me, you ask for the information and the poster goes off on another tangent or outright ignores the question -- all the while remarkably expecting you to help him or her.

For the Mods & Allan to contemplate (and offer comment): Would there be any value to posting a standing topic on the 'I've got problems Forum topics' (the ones in the top-half of the Forum Support Web page predominantly), 'Common Questions', or 'First Time Posters' threads to lay out the kind of 'baseline' information we need.

As for content, things like: Motherboard Make/model, CPU type/model (Overclocked or not), RAM installed/type, Graphics card and other peripherals based upon the kind of problem.  Software snags will necessarily be application specific in most cases, of course.

This painful sleuthing is killing me! (LOL)

Anyone's thoughts?

Thank you for your kind attention, TC and Access, but due to an underwhelming response, the flood of support for this idea has been pretty much defined by 20 views and your 2 returns.

By my math based upon the previous two weeks of function on the new forum, I expect to ask the following questions at the following rate during the next year or so:

263 occurrences inquiring whether SP1 is installed

407 events demanding motherboard brand, RAM installation, and CPU type

112 questions in regards to 'when did the problem start?'

46 recommendations to format/re-install

121 cases of too much tweaking

567 reminders that posters haven't done what the previous post had asked

0 corrections to anything a 'Moderator' says

...and this is just the tip of the iceberg!

Did I mention in regards to the motherboard brand, there would be approximately 124 incidents trying to explain what a motherboard is; and, a further 77 cases of explaining how to find out with the manual (68 cases without).

Humour me, this is just Forum banter.  I'm in a good mood and having some fun!

I truly enjoy the collection of 'keyboarded' personalities we have frequenting this place.  You guys/gals are alright!!

I'm sticking around!!