Getting the Help You Need

In past columns we’ve outlined how to get help by posting questions and comments to discussion groups. This issue I thought we’d take a look at collections of tips and lists of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) that can be found online. There are many great help sites available.

Microsoft Sites

Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Support Page

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/support/default.aspx

A good first stop if you need basic help is Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Support page, which has separate sections for Pocket PCs, Phone Edition devices, and Smartphones. To access the information, select the appropriate section, choose your “Region” (Americas, Europe, etc.), select your device model from the drop-down menu, choose your operating system version, and hit the “Get Support” button. The appropriate support page will pop up (Fig. 1). The drop-down menus only list recent models and the 2002 and 03 versions of the OS—support for older devices seems to be limited.

Fig. 1: Microsoft’s Windows Mobile site offers support for recent Pocket PCs, Phone Edition devices, and Smartphones.

The opening support page offers a Getting Started tutorial that helps you with such basics as setting the date and time and customizing the Today screen. You’ll also find ActiveSync and e-mail tutorials on the support page.

To the far left of the page is the Support Topics list. This covers a wide range of topics, including Information Input, Pocket Outlook, Settings, and more. This list lets you access well over 100 “How-To’s” with step-by-step instructions and screenshots.

If you’re having trouble getting online with your device, the Internet section walks you through the process of connecting via modem or wireless network.

The section on Pocket Outlook has extensive information on Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, and Inbox, and walks you through basics such as creating a contact, beaming a contact, and changing contact options.

The Programs area is especially rich, covering Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Microsoft Messenger, Calculator, and Terminal Services Client. The information for Pocket Word includes topics such as input methods and selecting and editing objects. The section on Excel covers 28 different topics, going into many different features of this application.

Microsoft’s Knowledge Base

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

Another place to get your questions answered is the Microsoft Help and Support section. It includes links to software updates, the Product Support Centers, Newsgroup information, and Microsoft online support. But the chief resource is the Microsoft Knowledge Base, which is a huge archive of articles that contain answers to problems and solutions to technical issues. Unlike the tutorials above, the focus here is what to do when you run into specific glitches.

After you click on the Search the Knowledge Base link, you’ll see a drop-down menu at the top that invites you to first select a Microsoft product. Select “Pocket PC” and then type in keywords related to your question. The page includes instructions and search tips, and it specifically shows you how to search for error messages and downloads.

Help Sites Created by Users

Of course, your support options aren’t limited to Microsoft’s site. Many experienced users have created Web sites that give you the help that you need.

MobileViewsMicrosoft.Public.PocketPC Newsgroup FAQ

http://to-tech.com/mobileviews/pocketpc-com/pocketpcfaqlist.asp