Royal Institute of Traditional Arts implements Saudi-Chinese cultural exchange program    Localization in Saudi military industries rises to 19.35%    Logistics park for vehicles worth SR300 million to be set up at Dammam port    Commerce Ministry recalls 6,500 Genesis cars due to risk of fire    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Saudi, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Oman-mediated talks with US    Prince Sultan University launches first bachelor's program in language and media    Al-Falih: Eastern Province hosts 700 investment opportunities worth SR330 billion    Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May    Crown Prince donates SR1 billion to support housing for eligible families    Pakistani military says it killed 54 militants attempting to cross border from Afghanistan    Suspect charged after Vancouver car ramming leaves 11 dead    Eight hundred Houthi targets hit after weeks of strikes, says US    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi orchestra to perform at Sydney Opera House in May    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







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These sources may help you help yourself
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 03 - 2008

I can be fairly helpless at times. I misplace my wallet and car keys, have trouble finding the big yellow mustard container in the refrigerator and had to get my stepdaughter's help to assemble a radio-controlled airplane I got for Christmas.
So I understand how frustrating it can be to be faced with a problem with an HDTV, computer or other gadget you don't understand. I try to help with my weekly Q&A column, but I can only take a couple of questions a week.
Today we'll talk about various ways to ease those high-tech frustrations on your own. Keep in mind that – despite what I tell my buddies– I run into all sorts of tech questions that baffle me. These resources have saved my neck many a time.
GOOGLE: Google is like having a tireless research assistant with access to mountains of reference books. It's a good place to start on almost any question.
The trick is to be as exact as you can in your query.
Let's say you have an ATI videocard. You've tried to use the software that came with the card to load the driver (the tiny piece of software that communicates between the card and your computer) and failed. Use a search like this:
+driver +”won't load” +ATI
That tells Google with the + sign that the word must be in the results. If I did the same search without the plus signs, I'd get some pages that contained the word “driver” but that didn't mention the other terms at all. Next, by putting quote marks around the “won't load” statement, I've told Google that the page must include those words in that order. Using a search engine correctly can make a huge difference in the results you get. MANUFACTURERS: Often I hear from readers who have spent weeks trying to puzzle out a problem. I'll ask them if they contacted the manufacturer. Too often, they hadn't.
Even a tech genius knows less about a gadget than the folks who built it.
If a feature of the gadget, or software, is hard to figure out, they've heard about it from customers and often have come up with a better explanation. If something doesn't work right, they've probably heard about it and designed a fix.
Most manufacturers have a Web page that includes a link to answers to support questions that they've received. You'll also find a link to a download section – that's especially handy when you need to download drivers and other support software. You'll often find “bug fix” programs that will fix a defect in software. WEB FORUMS: Sometimes called user groups, these are Web pages that are not sponsored by the manufacturer. They draw people who are interested in a specific software program or hardware device.
There are lots of these places. You'll be able to post a message asking a question of others who are interested in the program or device you own.
The upside? You'll often hear critical comments that would be off-limits from a manufacturer site.
And since these people are enthusiastic enough about the product to gather together to talk about it, there are plenty of experts available.
The downside? I'd guess that at least 70 percent of the posters are coming there to get help, not offer advice.
And some of those who offer help will be flat wrong. So if you get a suggested fix, try to check it out with others. If it involves doing anything radical to the device or software -- something that could cause more damage -- don't just think twice. Think four or five times.
Don't get me wrong, I'll help you when I can. But there's something really satisfying about figuring out a problem for yourself. And, along the way, you learn more about the product, and that prepares you for the inevitable new problems. __


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