Posting Rules WindowsBBS.com

The following are the guidelines for using the WindowsBBS.com Support BBS. This list was designed merely to give users an idea as to what is acceptable and what is not. This list is just a guideline; the Moderators & Administrator have the final word. This is not a public place, you asked us to join to be able to post your questions/opinion, we just ask you to abide by our rules.

Why we have these rules

The posting rules are in place to improve our forum. By following the rules, you will make a good contribution to WindowsBBS. For example, when a post has a good subject that summarizes your problem with a few key words, chances are that you'll get a faster reply. Also, if someone later has a similar problem, and he uses a search engine (either on the Internet, or here on our own site), he can quickly see from the subject that the message you posted will probably be relevant to him. For search engines, the title is one of the most important parts of your posts. So before you post, think about a good title!

Being a member of WindowsBBS is not a right, it's a privilege and we expect you to follow our rules. Although the constitution of the USA guarantees that "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech," this website is not Congress. Freedom of speech rights do not extend to this privately owned website. The TOS/Guidelines of this website governs the behaviors and activities of the members. If you choose not to follow the guidelines agreed to during registration, the result is a disabling of your account.

General Posting Rules (Etiquette)

Keep your posts understandable - Please keep your posts readable. Use punctuation marks & paragraphs. Use a spell checker! Give as much information about error messages as possible: the devil is in the details! Respect copyrights and use capitalization correctly. Use punctuation and contractions correctly (no !!!!!!!! or Ill and Im). This is not MSN Messenger nor IRC chat, so do not post like you do when chatting with your friends!.

Be courteous - Respect others. Argue with the post, not the poster. While we certainly don't discourage productive and useful debate relating to a particular topic at issue, posts that are made in a nonproductive or inflammatory manner are not permitted.

What to ask yourself before you hit the post button

• Have you used the Spell Check on your post? We offer this feature for it to get use.
• Have you reread your posts? Many times you will find small errors when you reread your posts. Some of these errors involve our rules.
• Are you contributing? If you are posting a question, did you provide information for us to help you? If you are posting a response, do you add something else to the discussion?
• If you are posting a question, has it already been answered? Try using the search feature to save everyone some time. Also try checking "sticky" topics, and our website.
• Will this post offend somebody? If it might, you should not post it. Offendable posts can be anything from insults and flaming to profanity and graphic or explicit posts.
• Is this in the correct forum? We have multiple forums for a reason - they organize the discussion.
• Is this in the correct topic? Is what you are posting in the current line of discussion?
• Does your post violate any of our other rules? If it does, do not post it.
• Have you posted this elsewhere today? Have you posted many posts in total today? "Post-whoring" is making an unneeded amount of posts at one time - do not post more than is necessary.

Specific Forum Rules

1. Use the Search function - Before you ask a question use the search function of the BBS to see if the question you want to ask has been addressed before - many have been! You find a link to the search function at the top.
2. Posting in inappropriate forum - We ask that you select the forum most appropriate for you post. For example, if your question is dealing with 3rd party software (MS Office, Lotus, Games, etc.) do not simply post it in the Windows XP forum just because your operating system is Windows XP. These questions belong in the "Other Software" forum. Only post the same topic in 1 forum - Cross posting isn't allowed.
3. Meaningful Subject - Please use a subject of a few words describing your question/problem. "Need Help!!!!" is not meaningful, and a lot of people won't even read your post in the first place! Please do not add Please Help, URGENT, Help Needed etc. It's obvious, Windows BBS is a place to get help. If your problem is urgent, contact Microsoft support, or your favorite computer technician! We're all volunteers here, and do this in our spare time.
4. Multiple postings - It is simply not acceptable to post your question more than once, or to post it in more than one forum. Choose the forum that your question or post best fits in, and place it there and only there.
5. Misuse of vB Code - Overuse or misuse of vB Codes may be held as an offense at the Moderators discretion. This would include particularly annoying, large, flashing, or otherwise unnecessary overuse of such special features.
6. Missing or Invalid Passwords or Product Keys ^* - We follow Microsoft's Policy regarding missing or invalid passwords here; meaning that we cant help you, and don't want this information to be posted here. This also applies to Content Advisor Configuration Information and Product Keys.
7. Spamming/Advertising - You cannot post advertisements of any sort in any forum. This includes products, services, or Web sites from which you'd directly or indirectly benefit in any way. When posting a useful response, you may include your own Web page in the signature of your message. However, this does not precede other rules.
8. Crude or Rude Language - Uncivilized and offensive language (especially cursing of any sort), used anywhere on the board, including your user name, is completely unacceptable.
9. Irrelevant and/or Inflammatory Postings - While we certainly don't discourage productive and useful debate relating to a particular topic at issue, posts that are made in a nonproductive or inflammatory manner are not permitted.
10. Other Illegal Activities ^* - As you might expect, we don't want anything illegal going on here. Users cannot post hacks, cracks, pirated software, registration keys, or anything of the like.

This list does not exclude any other rules, such as the Rules, Policies, and Disclaimers you agreed to when you registered.

Generally an offense of rules 1-6 will result in a warning. If a user has been warned on more than 1 occasion, his/her posting rights could be revoked.

Offenses of rules 7-10 will in most cases lead to an immediate revocation of posting rights.

^* We have no way to determine if you are the legal owner of a piece of software/hardware, so do not ask any questions about circumventing passwords/security that you might have lost/forgotten. And NO we can't take your word for it.