If you want help with a Windows problem, the ultimate source is Microsoft. There is a vast accumulation of information on the Microsoft website. Unfortunately, the site is huge and keeps changing. Finding anything can be like the proverbial hunt for a needle in a haystack. To help find things on Microsoft, I have put together a short list of some Microsoft links that may make it easier to get answers when help is wanted.

• Microsoft Answers- Post your question here for help from experts
• Microsoft Fixit- Automated fixes for certain common problems
• Microsoft Forums- Another place to post your questions
• Windows 7 solution center
• Vista solution center
• Office solution center
• Internet Explorer solution center

Microsoft being Microsoft, these sites are not always as useful as they might be. However, it is possible to dig a little deeper into the vast array of Microsoft articles when that seems necessary. If you can describe your problem in a short phrase, try doing a Google search on the phrase and add site:Microsoft.com to your search query. This will often turn up something useful in the encyclopedic collection called the Microsoft Knowledge Base or in one of the Microsoft forums. For example, if you need help with a System Restore problem in Windows 7, a Google search query might look like:
Windows-7 system restore failure site:microsoft.com

And there you have it. Now you can make good use of all those Microsoft articles.

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This tips section is maintained by Vic Laurie. Vic runs several websites with Windows how-to's and tutorials, including a computer education website and a site for learning about the command line.

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