SCOUG OS/2 For You - January 1999

SCOUG is always on the look-out for ways to expand its reach in the OS/2 community. The Help Desk has always been our "Welcome!" mat, but it's been limited to local users. Until now.

1999 brings the advent of SCOUG's online version of the Help Desk which can serve as a resource for OS/2 users everywhere. There actually are several ways to get help from SCOUG electronically. First, visit the SCOUG Help Desk Home Page at:

Here you will find questions and answers from Mr. Know-It-All, links to updated drivers and other useful information. You might want to take a look at the list of the Top Ten OS/2 related problems - and their remedies. The answers frequently include links to important IBM web sites, updated device drivers, and other third-party solutions.

We've also tried to recreate the interactiveness of the Help Desk electronically. If you have a question you'd like to ask one of our gurus, simply send a message to:

This message will be broadcast to the many volunteers who are able to help you. For best results, include as many details about your problem as possible. Specifics are often critical to the successful resolution of a problem.

Rather than just asking a question now and again, you might like to more actively participate in the Help Desk. Perhaps you want to see what problems others are having, or you might want to also provide solutions - you should subscribe to the SCOUG-HELP mailing list. To sign-up, send a message to:

and in the body of your message put "SUBSCRIBE SCOUG-HELP".

The advantages of an electronic Help Desk should be obvious. You can get help any time of the month, not just when we meet. Also, you'll be able to look at past problems, and - by seeing what's worked for others - you might even solve your problems without ever asking for help!

In addition to email messages and other resources, the Help Desk holds scheduled Internet chat sessions, and the first live electronic Help Desk was held in December. Through IRC, we had several SCOUG members available to answer questions and help solve problems.

We will hold the second Help Desk chat on Jan. 25th at 7:00 PM on the #SCOUG channel. For instructions about how to get started with IRC, visit the VOICE web site for a good reference:

With use, the online Help Desk will grow in 1999. Soon you'll be seeing archives of the SCOUG-HELP mailing list, tips, IRC logs, links and more. It's a resource worth taking advantage of.

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