HowToGetHelp

Revision 3 as of 2005-07-06 06:02:49

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HowToGetHelp

So, you're having a problem with your Ubuntu system. Don't panic! This page provides some starting points where you can find help.

Before asking for help

  • Read the FAQ: FrequentlyAskedQuestions. The most common questions are already answered here. Read these first!

  • Browse [http://www.ubuntulinux.org/documentation/ other available documentation], and search in the wiki using the search box at the top left of the page. One of these documents may contain an answer to your question, or give you clues about where to look. Try:

    • [http://www.ubuntuguide.org Ubuntu Guide] - This is an unofficial guide for users of Ubuntu: shows you how to do many things.

    • [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/ Ubuntu Web Forums]: the Ubuntu forum: where users ask and answer questions: it is VERY likely that any problem you have will have already been asked and answered here!

  • [http://lists.ubuntulinux.org/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users The Official Ubuntu User Email list] - Search the mailing lists! Someone may have asked your question before, and received an answer.

  • Search [https://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/query.cgi Bugzilla]. You may have encountered a known bug. Information about workarounds and package updates can be found in Bugzilla. If you find a bug which corresponds to your problem, please add comments to the bug if you have information which is not already recorded there. Instructions on filing bugs can be found at the bottom of this page.

  • [http://www.google.com/ Search the Web]. You may find information from other sources as well. A global web search is a good place to start.

How to ask for help

attachment:IconsPage/IconHelp.png

If none of these resources led you to a solution, take a moment to formulate your question before asking for help. This is important! If your question is unclear, you are less likely to receive answers. If someone does reply, they may need to ask for more information in order to help you. This process requires time and effort on both your parts which could otherwise be avoided.

Here are some simple ideas which will help you to ask your question effectively:

  • Describe your problem clearly and precisely. Explain what you did, and what you saw when you did it.
  • If you have received an error message, reproduce it *exactly* as it is shown on the screen, for example via cut-and-paste or a screenshot.
  • Whenever possible, provide a step-by-step procedure which would allow anyone to see the problem for themselves. Given this information, most bugs are much easier for developers to isolate.
  • Avoid making assumptions about what the problem might be, since this may greatly confuse the issue if you are mistaken.
  • Don't ask whether it is OK to ask a question. Go ahead and ask! One question is better than two.
  • Along the same lines, don't ask whether someone will help you. If someone is willing to help you, they will respond to your question when you ask it.

A more detailed discussion of these and related ideas can be found here: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Where to ask for help

IRC

attachment:IconsPage/PicIRC.png

IRC is the fastest way to get help, because you can converse "live" with other users about your problem.

Here is an explanation how to get online using Xchat: XChatHowto, and start using IRC.

Mailing lists and Forums

The mailing lists and forums are discussion groups where users can correspond and hold longer conversations.

Following up

Hopefully, after following this procedure, you will have arrived at a solution to your problem. However, there may still be work to be done. Perhaps you did not find your answer easily, and arrived at it only after much searching, or by receiving a direct answer from someone else. If so, think about how to make that information more readily available to the next person who encounters a similar problem. Perhaps a new entry in the FAQ, or a how-to article. HowDoc: Doc writing howto.

TODO: how to submit suggestions for placement of documentation

If you think you have found a new bug

Or, you may have found a bug. If you are certain that your problem represents a bug in Ubuntu, you should read [BugzillaHowto how to report a bug] and then [https://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/enter_bug.cgi report it]. Even if you found a way around the problem, it should be reported, so that it can be fixed in the future. The bug report will also serve to collect information about the problem which can be useful to those affected, even if there is not a proper fix yet. If you are uncertain as to whether you have found a bug or not, ask.