best way to learn about specific issues or windows generally

[Guest]

I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go about it,
before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything? E.g., if
a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest number or the highest
number in a series first?

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of art.
In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I believe means
start over trying to getr the software you already own back on the computer.
I wated time researching "reinstall" and "uninstall."

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other support
documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know to look for?

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a personal
favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home user?

Thansk for any answers or opinions.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

You haven't told us anything about your background or even what kind of
information you're looking for, so can't help you there.

If you want a good general introduction to Windows XP, look here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx.
Microsoft's web site is packed with information on using Windows.

 

[Guest]

right -- I don't want to start wasting your time without looking for what is
already available. My questions are indeed general so that I can effectively
search Microsoft Support. I realize (and appreciate) that Microsoft's web
site is packed with information. I am hoping to learn the most efficiently
target the information relevant to my issues as they arise.

I appreciate the link. Thanks

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Clean Install Windows
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using Windows XP
CD
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/XPClean.htm

HOW TO Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q313348

Help and Support on your machine has lots of info.

1) No.

2) Search Help
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=gp;[ln];searchhelp

Scroll down to read...Advanced Search Options
Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query words
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;242450

Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB) Community Solutions Content
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;[ln];cmtycntent

3) No.

4) Some of the best Windows XP books
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/HTML/Books.htm

Articles for home users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-gb;consumerindex

Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx

Windows XP How-to and Technical Article Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/articlelinks.mspx

How to Use Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx

Windows XP Professional How-to Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/howto/winxphow.mspx

Microsoft TechNet: Home
http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx

MSDN Home Page
http://msdn.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...indows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prork_overview.asp

Microsoft TechNet: Windows XP Professional Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/default.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Malke]

I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go
about it, before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything?
E.g., if a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest
number or the highest number in a series first?

The first items returned in a search will be the ones that the search
program thinks have the highest probability of being what you want.

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of
art. In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I
believe means start over trying to getr the software you already own
back on the computer. I wated time researching "reinstall" and
"uninstall."

Google Is Your Friend - Your Best Friend.

Seriously, the way most pros research a question is to immediately jump
over to Google, plug in a search term, and go. For instance, if you use
the search term "clean install", you will get over 7 million hits. The
first few are the best ones.

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other
support documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know
to look for?

Use Google.

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a
personal favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home
user?

Use Google. ;-) Seriously, for books you should just go over to your
local Big Bookstore (like Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.) and look over
the "For Dummies" series (bad title, good books) and just page through
some books that look like they might be helpful to you. You can usually
find what you want online, but some people prefer a book.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks. This is all very useful. The link to the simple "using" area
outside of help and support (provided by you and Ted) was instructive. I had
missed it completely in my KB searches. It gave me good leads and led me to
read simple info general broad topics.

(My "help and support" only helps intermittently which, in part, led me on
this quest.)

The advice to that google results are prioritized is also helpful. A
million (or even 10,000) unorganized hits did not seem like a fruitful field
of study.

Clean Install Windows
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using Windows XP
CD
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/XPClean.htm

HOW TO Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q313348

Help and Support on your machine has lots of info.

1) No.

2) Search Help
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=gp;[ln];searchhelp

Scroll down to read...Advanced Search Options
Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query words
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;242450

Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB) Community Solutions Content
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;[ln];cmtycntent

3) No.

4) Some of the best Windows XP books
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/HTML/Books.htm

Articles for home users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-gb;consumerindex

Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx

Windows XP How-to and Technical Article Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/articlelinks.mspx

How to Use Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx

Windows XP Professional How-to Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/howto/winxphow.mspx

Microsoft TechNet: Home
http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx

MSDN Home Page
http://msdn.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...indows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prork_overview.asp

Microsoft TechNet: Windows XP Professional Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/default.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go about
it, before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything? E.g.,
if a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest number or the
highest number in a series first?

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of art.
In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I believe means
start over trying to getr the software you already own back on the
computer. I wated time researching "reinstall" and "uninstall."

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other
support documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know to
look for?

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a personal
favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home user?

Thansk for any answers or opinions.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I am not sure how to use Google to search for what I don't know I
don't know. Still, I guess I'll buy some stock -- OOPS too late.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

One thing that no one has mentioned is to just look through these groups.

I have learned a heck of a lot that way.

Or search...

Google Groups
http://groups-beta.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q

Google Groups : Advanced Search
http://groups-beta.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en

If you're gonna spend any time at all in newsgroups...

Do yourself a favor and setup a real newsreader.

Outlook Express came free with XP.

Use it.

MICROSOFT PUBLIC NEWSGROUPS
[[There are many valuable newsgroups on the msnews.microsoft.com server, on
nearly every available topic and in many different languages. Clicking the
links below will automatically create any necessary account configuration in
Outlook Express and take you directly to the newsgroup you have selected -
no complicated technical configurations are needed!]]
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm

Using Outlook Express To View Newsgroups
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/directory/worldwide/en-gb/newsout.asp

Viewing and Posting to Newsgroups
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/newsgroups.asp

Setting up Outlook Express Newsreader
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Getting News from Newsgroups
Ignore this part ->> Access a newsgroup right from the Web.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/gettingnews.asp

Set Up Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/setup.asp

Mastering Newsgroups in Outlook Express: Power User Tips
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/newsgroups.mspx

Outlook Express newsgroups 101
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/IE/community/columns/newsgroups101.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks. This is all very useful. The link to the simple "using" area
outside of help and support (provided by you and Ted) was instructive. I
had missed it completely in my KB searches. It gave me good leads and
led me to read simple info general broad topics.

(My "help and support" only helps intermittently which, in part, led me on
this quest.)

The advice to that google results are prioritized is also helpful. A
million (or even 10,000) unorganized hits did not seem like a fruitful
field of study.

Clean Install Windows
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using
Windows XP CD
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/XPClean.htm

HOW TO Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q313348

Help and Support on your machine has lots of info.

1) No.

2) Search Help
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=gp;[ln];searchhelp

Scroll down to read...Advanced Search Options
Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query
words http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;242450

Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB) Community Solutions Content
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;[ln];cmtycntent

3) No.

4) Some of the best Windows XP books
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/HTML/Books.htm

Articles for home users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-gb;consumerindex

Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx

Windows XP How-to and Technical Article Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/articlelinks.mspx

How to Use Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx

Windows XP Professional How-to Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/howto/winxphow.mspx

Microsoft TechNet: Home
http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx

MSDN Home Page
http://msdn.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...indows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prork_overview.asp

Microsoft TechNet: Windows XP Professional Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/default.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go about
it, before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything?
E.g., if a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest number
or the highest number in a series first?

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of
art. In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I believe
means start over trying to getr the software you already own back on the
computer. I wated time researching "reinstall" and "uninstall."

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other
support documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know
to look for?

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a personal
favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home user?

Thansk for any answers or opinions.

 

[Guest]

Wow. I didn't realize that there was so much to just participating in
newsgroups.
Thanks. I will study up on using a reader.

One thing that no one has mentioned is to just look through these groups.

I have learned a heck of a lot that way.

Or search...

Google Groups
http://groups-beta.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q

Google Groups : Advanced Search
http://groups-beta.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en

If you're gonna spend any time at all in newsgroups...

Do yourself a favor and setup a real newsreader.

Outlook Express came free with XP.

Use it.

MICROSOFT PUBLIC NEWSGROUPS
[[There are many valuable newsgroups on the msnews.microsoft.com server, on
nearly every available topic and in many different languages. Clicking the
links below will automatically create any necessary account configuration in
Outlook Express and take you directly to the newsgroup you have selected -
no complicated technical configurations are needed!]]
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm

Using Outlook Express To View Newsgroups
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/directory/worldwide/en-gb/newsout.asp

Viewing and Posting to Newsgroups
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/newsgroups.asp

Setting up Outlook Express Newsreader
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Getting News from Newsgroups
Ignore this part ->> Access a newsgroup right from the Web.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/gettingnews.asp

Set Up Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/setup.asp

Mastering Newsgroups in Outlook Express: Power User Tips
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/newsgroups.mspx

Outlook Express newsgroups 101
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/IE/community/columns/newsgroups101.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks. This is all very useful. The link to the simple "using" area
outside of help and support (provided by you and Ted) was instructive. I
had missed it completely in my KB searches. It gave me good leads and
led me to read simple info general broad topics.

(My "help and support" only helps intermittently which, in part, led me on
this quest.)

The advice to that google results are prioritized is also helpful. A
million (or even 10,000) unorganized hits did not seem like a fruitful
field of study.

Clean Install Windows
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using
Windows XP CD
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/XPClean.htm

HOW TO Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q313348

Help and Support on your machine has lots of info.

1) No.

2) Search Help
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=gp;[ln];searchhelp

Scroll down to read...Advanced Search Options
Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query
words http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;242450

Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB) Community Solutions Content
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;[ln];cmtycntent

3) No.

4) Some of the best Windows XP books
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/HTML/Books.htm

Articles for home users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-gb;consumerindex

Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx

Windows XP How-to and Technical Article Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/articlelinks.mspx

How to Use Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx

Windows XP Professional How-to Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/howto/winxphow.mspx

Microsoft TechNet: Home
http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx

MSDN Home Page
http://msdn.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...indows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prork_overview.asp

Microsoft TechNet: Windows XP Professional Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/default.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In tryintowork <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go about
it, before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything?
E.g., if a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest number
or the highest number in a series first?

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of
art. In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I believe
means start over trying to getr the software you already own back on the
computer. I wated time researching "reinstall" and "uninstall."

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other
support documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know
to look for?

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a personal
favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home user?

Thansk for any answers or opinions.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Once you start using a newsreader, you'll wonder why you ever put up with
that kludgy web interface. Not for you, my friend. You're on the road to
enlightenment. Enjoy!

--
Ted Zieglar
"You can do it if you try."

Wow. I didn't realize that there was so much to just participating in
newsgroups.
Thanks. I will study up on using a reader.

One thing that no one has mentioned is to just look through these groups.

I have learned a heck of a lot that way.

Or search...

Google Groups
http://groups-beta.google.com/grphp?hl=en&tab=wg&q

Google Groups : Advanced Search
http://groups-beta.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en

If you're gonna spend any time at all in newsgroups...

Do yourself a favor and setup a real newsreader.

Outlook Express came free with XP.

Use it.

MICROSOFT PUBLIC NEWSGROUPS
[[There are many valuable newsgroups on the msnews.microsoft.com server, on
nearly every available topic and in many different languages. Clicking the
links below will automatically create any necessary account configuration in
Outlook Express and take you directly to the newsgroup you have selected -
no complicated technical configurations are needed!]]
http://aumha.org/nntp.htm

Using Outlook Express To View Newsgroups
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/directory/worldwide/en-gb/newsout.asp

Viewing and Posting to Newsgroups
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/newsgroups.asp

Setting up Outlook Express Newsreader
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

Getting News from Newsgroups
Ignore this part ->> Access a newsgroup right from the Web.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/gettingnews.asp

Set Up Outlook Express
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/using/howto/oe/setup.asp

Mastering Newsgroups in Outlook Express: Power User Tips
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/newsgroups.mspx

Outlook Express newsgroups 101
http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/IE/community/columns/newsgroups101.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks. This is all very useful. The link to the simple "using" area
outside of help and support (provided by you and Ted) was instructive. I
had missed it completely in my KB searches. It gave me good leads and
led me to read simple info general broad topics.

(My "help and support" only helps intermittently which, in part, led me on
this quest.)

The advice to that google results are prioritized is also helpful. A
million (or even 10,000) unorganized hits did not seem like a fruitful
field of study.

:

Clean Install Windows
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Windows XP Clean Installation - Partitioning and Formatting using
Windows XP CD
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/XPClean.htm

HOW TO Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];Q313348

Help and Support on your machine has lots of info.

1) No.

2) Search Help
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=gp;[ln];searchhelp

Scroll down to read...Advanced Search Options
Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB)
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query
words http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;242450

Search the Support Knowledge Base (KB) Community Solutions Content
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=gp;[ln];cmtycntent

3) No.

4) Some of the best Windows XP books
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/HTML/Books.htm

Articles for home users
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-gb;consumerindex

Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/default.mspx

Windows XP How-to and Technical Article Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/articlelinks.mspx

How to Use Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx

Windows XP Professional How-to Resources
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/howto/winxphow.mspx

Microsoft TechNet: Home
http://technet.microsoft.com/default.aspx

MSDN Home Page
http://msdn.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...indows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prork_overview.asp

Microsoft TechNet: Windows XP Professional Product Documentation

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/default.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In tryintowork <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
I have questions about where to go for information, and how to go about
it, before posting:

1) Does the knowlege base article numbering system mean anything?
E.g., if a search returns 20 articles, should I read the highest number
or the highest number in a series first?

2) Is there a glossary or some why of first trying to learn terms of
art. In this case, I was looking into a "clean isntall" which I believe
means start over trying to getr the software you already own back on the
computer. I wated time researching "reinstall" and "uninstall."

3) Is there an organized table of contents for KB articles or other
support documents such that I can scan to learn what I don't even know
to look for?

4) In additiona or as an alternative to 3, does anuone have a personal
favorite for a book that would be useful to a generic home user?

Thansk for any answers or opinions.