* Give as much information as possible about your problem and whatever steps you've taken so far to solve it. If you don't do this this, you may waste time waiting for advice that you've already thought of and done.
 
* Give as much information as possible about your problem and whatever steps you've taken so far to solve it. If you don't do this this, you may waste time waiting for advice that you've already thought of and done.
 
* If it's a purchasing question, be sure to give the specifications of what you want and a budget.
 
* If it's a purchasing question, be sure to give the specifications of what you want and a budget.
−
* If errorz are given please written them down exactly, including all fiddly numbers, letters and CDC's. Screenshots are also acceptable [http://www.runpcrun.com/printscreen (how to make screenshots)]
+
* If errorz are given, please write them down exactly, including all fiddly numbers, letters and CDC's. Screenshots are also acceptable [http://www.runpcrun.com/printscreen (how to make screenshots)]
    
= IMPORTANT!! Be prepared!!! =
 
= IMPORTANT!! Be prepared!!! =
   −
Make a "Break open in case of emergency pack"
+
Make a "Break open in case of emergency pack"!
    
== System data ==
 
== System data ==
    
'''If you keep your system backed up like below, you can protect yourself against having to reinstall or fix ANY software problems.'''
 
'''If you keep your system backed up like below, you can protect yourself against having to reinstall or fix ANY software problems.'''
−
* Use Acronis TrueImage(easy but commercial) or [http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm DriveImageXML] (free) and keep a backup of your C drive to an external drive! (this step alone will save you huge amounts of grief).  
+
* Use Acronis TrueImage(easy but commercial) or [http://www.runtime.org/dixml.htm DriveImageXML] (free) and keep a backup of your C drive to an external drive! (This step alone will save you huge amounts of grief).  
−
** Keep it updated at once a month for best results.
+
** Keep it updated at least once a month for best results.
 
** If using Acronis then create a bootable CD, if using DriveImageXML then get yourself the relevant BartPE plugin. (See below)
 
** If using Acronis then create a bootable CD, if using DriveImageXML then get yourself the relevant BartPE plugin. (See below)
−
* If you have a recent image of your C drive (and your personal data safe) you can simply reimage your machine back to how it was (and then NTBackup to restore your profile for uber-perfect restore) and solve any problem that you have!
+
* If you have a recent image of your C drive (and your personal data safe) you can simply re-image your machine back to how it was (and then NTBackup to restore your profile for uber-perfect restore) and solve any problem that you have!
    
== Personal data ==
 
== Personal data ==
 
** HijackThis will quickly scan your system, and then open two new windows. The results of the HijackThis scan, and hijackthis.log in Notepad. Save hijackthis.log. By default it will be saved to C:\HijackThis, or you can chose “Save As…”, and save to another location.
 
** HijackThis will quickly scan your system, and then open two new windows. The results of the HijackThis scan, and hijackthis.log in Notepad. Save hijackthis.log. By default it will be saved to C:\HijackThis, or you can chose “Save As…”, and save to another location.
 
** Hijackthis.log contains the info that’s required to receive analysis and assistance. Highlight the entire contents. Copy and paste the contents into your post, along with a complete description of your problem(s).(again put it in [code] and [/code] tags for readability)  DO NOT fix anything. Wait for help.
 
** Hijackthis.log contains the info that’s required to receive analysis and assistance. Highlight the entire contents. Copy and paste the contents into your post, along with a complete description of your problem(s).(again put it in [code] and [/code] tags for readability)  DO NOT fix anything. Wait for help.
 +
 +
 +
Fire up this:
 +
 +
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
 +
 +
then go to options up the top and hide Microsoft Entries and then scour the remaining list. If there is anything fishy there or claiming to be MS stuff, chances are it is a nasty. The majority of them will have a publisher listed which bad things won't (or not a legit one anyway) but that's not to say that ones without a publisher are bad (see: 7zip/winRAR)
    
= Hardware =
 
= Hardware =
    
=== BSODs ===
 
=== BSODs ===
−
Blue Screens Of Death are evil, but generally not '''that''' much trouble, as they can usually be pinned down to Memory issues or Graphics card Driver or heat issues.
+
Blue Screens Of Death are evil but generally not '''that''' much trouble, as they can usually be pinned down to Memory issues or Graphics card Driver or heat issues.
   Exception encountered, of type "Error"