Guide to support options
Published: September 7, 2006
Everyone needs help with their computer at some point. There are many free resources available on the Web, as well as many computer experts who volunteer their time to help people. You may have a friend who works with computers who can help you with your problem, or you may be eligible to receive free professional support from your computer manufacturer or from Microsoft. Lots of options are available for common Microsoft Windows XP support issues, and the list below provides a recommended order for finding the answers you need.
Start at the top of this list and work your way down until your problem is fixed:
1. | Help and Support Center. The Help and Support Center is your first stop for troubleshooting problems with Windows XP or programs built into Windows XP, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook Express. |
2. | Microsoft online help and support. The definitive source for help on Microsoft operating systems and programs, this Microsoft Web site includes information for solving almost any software-related problem. |
3. | Friends. If you have friends who are computer savvy, they can connect to your computer across the Internet to fix a problem or show you how to do something. |
4. | Support newsgroups. Other people have probably experienced the same problem you are having. Free support newsgroups let you search for similar problems and post questions that can be answered by knowledgeable volunteers. |
5. | Computer manufacturer support. Most computer manufacturers offer online chat and phone support. |
6. | Microsoft support. While your computer manufacturer should always be your first line of support, you can contact Microsoft for pay-per-incident support. |
Tip: Many problems can be solved by restarting your computer and installing updates from Microsoft Update. If you're experiencing a hardware problem, try troubleshooting the problem.
Microsoft online help and support
For help with Windows XP or other Microsoft programs, Microsoft Help and Support includes the most thorough, up-to-date support information. For an overview of Microsoft Help and Support and detailed instructions for finding information relating to your problem, visit Windows XP Support Center.
Friends
Sometimes the quickest way to solve a problem is to ask friends for help. But if your friends aren't nearby, it can be difficult for them to walk you through the problem over the phone. In this case, you might want to use Remote Assistance.
Tip: If your friend says that your problem cannot be fixed, or suggests you buy additional hardware or software, seek a second opinion. People often have different ideas about how to solve a problem.
Remote Assistance allows a friend to connect to your computer across the Internet, with your permission, of course. Once connected, your friend can see your desktop and applications as if your friend were sitting next to you. You can then demonstrate the problem, and your friend can control your keyboard and mouse to help you solve it. Remote Assistance is also great for online computer tutorials. For more information, read Get help with Remote Assistance.
Support newsgroups
There are people who enjoy helping others so much that they troubleshoot computer problems for free. To find these generous computer experts, visit the Microsoft Communities Newsgroups. There's a very good chance someone else has had the same problem that you are having and that the solution is already available. However, if you have a new problem, you can post your question and hope for a response.
Computer manufacturer support
If your computer came with Windows XP installed, your computer manufacturer probably provides support for most aspects of your computer, including the hardware, operating system, and any programs that came installed. For more information, contact your computer manufacturer or refer to the documentation that came with your computer.
Microsoft support
If you do not have a support contract with your computer manufacturer, or if you purchased Windows XP or another Microsoft product separately, you can contact Microsoft directly for support. Microsoft offers e-mail, chat, and telephone support on a pay-per-incident basis.
Microsoft is committed to making computing as reliable and trouble-free as possible. With the help of the Internet community, computer users have many support options available when problems do occur. Hopefully, these options will help you find a speedy resolution to your problem.
