new posters are rarely posting useful system specs

I asked the same question years ago and got the same answer (Johns post #2)

Thinking on the problem of system specs longer I have come up with a thought. Grab your aspirin. I'm thinking again.

Most new people are looking for one of these buttons and think we got one.



Now that the new member are signed up looking for help we can give guidance.
One of my first suggestion for these new people is to complete this tutorial by Brink.

System Info - See Your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Note:
I do have two very nice computer and I'm happy to show them in (My System Specs) but they are there for others to use if and when I need help.
We need system specs to give proper guidance in my opinion and that is what I try to explain to the new members.

Yes I know it's a pain in the (axxx) to ask for the information, but it's necessary.

This forum is like all other forums on the net; we want and need new members.
Posting Brinks tutorial is my way for a new member to get started. If the new member has problems with completing Brinks tutorial we have are work cut out for us. Everybody has their own learning curve.

Another useful tutorial is by Kari, for more advance users in my opinion.

Speccy - Publish Snapshot of your System Specs - Windows 7 Help Forums

Just my thoughts.

Jack

I've been very active in other puter forums for many years. I put as much info as possible into my signature, instead of a joke or cool image. I change the sig as my puter changes. On a hardware forum, I'd be more specific about hardware. For most forums, Speccy is overkill.

Problem with "stickying" guidelines on any forum is that most people don't read them. Layback, I don't know if you're a mod, but having the Speccy link in your replies is more effective than having sticky threads, more visible. I think the SystemInfo link would be too hard for many people.

As we are one of, if not, the largest and best independent Windows 7 Forum the way we handle specs is proven to work better than others that have been tried - And we will not be changing it anytime soon. Accurate details of hardware and software displayed in an organised manner is far better than any random Signature

@ RoWin7

No I'm not a Mod. or Super Mod.
I'm just like the other folks on this site. Just trying to help others and learn.

Jack

We've actually had a few new people in the past who have become downright hostile when asked to provide their system specs. I'm not sure that I understand this behavior, but I guess it is what it is.

For my part, I try to help without system specs if I am able to, but I'm not averse to politely asking a new member to provide their specs. If they provide them, then we progress and try to solve the issue. If they don't, I may ask again, but never more than twice. Even if it is something that I can't help with, I will often ask for specs to help other forum members to help that person. It's my way of contributing to the thread, even though I might be stumped.

I do wish that there was an effective way to help new members to understand how vital specs can be in some circumstances. Unfortunately, I haven't found one.