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Account Related
How do I set up a protonic.com account?
How do I ADD a NEW computer to my account?
How do I change my account details?
How do I change my website preferences?
I need to change my E-Mail address
Question (Ticket) Related
How long does it usually take to get my question answered?
How do I upload a file to my question?
How do I find my system information to add to my ticket?
How do I reply to my Technician?
How do I rate my Technician?
How do I close my ticket?
How do I ask a question?
About protonic.com
What is protonic.com?
Why are you free?
Can I submit my question to you via E-Mail rather than through the web page?
Do you accept donations?
What sort of questions can I ask?
Will you ever start charging money for your services?
Can I link to you?
Do you have an address for press enquiries?
What are the Technical Details of protonic.com?
I can\'t find an answer to my question in this FAQ. What can I do?
protofriends Email
How do I import my Outlook Express contacts in to my protofriends e-mail account?
Account Related
How do I set up a protonic.com account?[  ]
Creating A Protonic.com Account
1. Click Create An Account.
2. Click Register a new account and then type your first and last name
3. After reading the information about spam filters, type your E-Mail address.
4. Click the drop down menu and choose your general knowledge of computers.
5. If you would like our newsletter, place a check in the box next to Get the proto.newsletter. Choose HTML or Text format.
6. Type your username and password.
7. Retype your password to verify.
8. Click “Register” and an account will be created for you.
How do I ADD a NEW computer to my account?[ ]
Using the protonic.com menu on the left hand side is the easiest way.
1. Click My Account, and then select My Computers
2. Click the purple "Add" button
3. You'll be asked several questions about the inside of your desktop computer or laptop.
- Computer Information:
* Computer Name: Do you have a special name for your computer? If not, your name will be perfect.
* Operating System (OS): Select the drop down and select a Operating system. If you\'re unsure, ask a family member or friend as this is very important to our technicians.
* Service Pack: Microsoft usually release Service packs for Windows every year or so. If your unsure, right click My Computer -> Select properties -> If you\'ve installed a Service pack before, it will list itself on properties.
* Processor Type: This is listed on your manual, box and even on your computer properties. Right click My Computer ->Select properties -> it will be listed on the properties page.
Example: Intel Core 2 CPU, AMD Core 2 CPU, etc
* Processor Speed: This is listed on your manual, box and even on your computer properties.
Right click My Computer ->Select properties -> it will be listed on the properties page.
Example: 2.00GHz, 1.90GHz, 2.30GHz, etc
* Memory: This is listed on your manual, box and even on your computer properties.
Right click My Computer ->Select properties -> it will be listed on the properties page. Example: 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, and 4GB
* Hard Drive: This is listed on your manual, box and even on your computer properties.
Click My Computer ->Right click your C Drive -> it will be listed next to Capacity.
* Screen Resolution: This is not always needed by Technicians unless the problem relates to resolution. If you\'re unsure, ask a family member or friend as this can be important for to technicians.
* Computer Make/Model: The Make and Model can usually be found on the front or back of your Desktop/Laptop. Example: Hewlett Packard DV9399, Packard Bell 5315, and Compaq C700
* Web Browser: Program you use to go on the internet. Example: Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari
* E-Mail Client (& ver.): What do you use when sending an e-mail? Example: Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail.com, Yahoo.co.uk, etc
You'll be asked several questions about the Operating system of your desktop computer or laptop. Each option will have a box next to it for you to select.
- Operating System Information
* I built this computer.
Example: I built this computer with my bear hands and changed parts
* I have an Operating System Install / Setup disk.
Example: I have an Operating system CD in place and it\'s in working order.
* I have a valid CD key (if Windows).
Example: This CD key owned by me is legit and available to use on my computer.
* The Operating System was pre-installed on this computer.
Example: The computer I purchased is pre-installed with the operating system already
* The Operating System was pre-installed on this computer.
Example: I have a set of Recovery CDs for which I can use to restore my computer back to Factory Settings.
You'll be asked several questions about the type of desktop computer or laptop you own.
Each option will have a box next to it for you to select.
- Type of Computer
* This computer is a Desktop or Tower.
Example: Desktops and Towers are the same meanings, but said different. This is a box sized Desktop with a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse.
* This computer is a Laptop.
Example: This is a portable laptop which is light weight, fairly small and has a battery underneath.
You'll be asked several questions about your Internet for desktop computer or laptop.
Each option will have a box next to it for you to select.
* Internet:
I do not connect to the Internet with this computer
Example: I don\'t have Dial-up or Broadband at all. I use my computer for other uses.
* I connect to the Internet using Dial-Up.
Example: I use Dial-Up to connect to the internet. It\'s slow at times, but I get used to it. I should be getting Broadband in the near future.
* I connect to the Internet via a High Speed connection.
Example: I use High Speed Broadband to surf the Internet, download games/films and for work too.
There's a white field for other information. This can be used to add comments regarding your computer. Example: I just purchased a new Graphics card and 2 sets of speakers or I just changed my memory recently.
Once you're done, hit the purple "Add" button and away you go.
How do I change my account details?[ ]
Please follow the steps below to change your account details.
1. Go to http://www.protonic.com and login with your username and password.
2. Click “My Account”, and then select “My Account details” from the menu
......This is where you can change your name, password, and e-mail address.
3. Click “Save” once you’ve made amendments to your account
All open tickets on your account will be updated instantly as of when you change your details.
Your personal information is stored in a database only accessed by the administration of protonic.com. We take data protection very seriously and always keep it confidential at all times.
Privacy Policy
http://www.protonic.com/index.php?page=privacy
How do I change my website preferences?[ ]
Please follow the steps below to change your website preferences.
1. Go to http://www.protonic.com and login with your username and password.
2. Click “My Account”, and then select “Website Preferences” from the menu
Here you will be able to explorer the following options below:
* Default tab to display – Meaning when you open protonic.com, you can choose which tab you want to open on every visit.
* Default First Page – Select a default page to be viewed every time you login to your protonic.com account.
* Page display width – Select a Narrow, medium, wide, or even extra wide for those everyday pages you’ll be viewing.
* Remember Login Details: You'll only have to enter your password and everything else is done for you.
* Automatic Login: Click protonic.com on your favourites, click “Login”, and your already here in seconds. Note: Requires 'Remember Login Details' to be ticked too.
3. Click “Save” once you made your amendments
I need to change my E-Mail address[ ]
Please follow the steps below to change your account details.
1. Go to http://www.protonic.com and login with your username and password.
2. Click “My Account”, and then select “My Account details” from the menu
3. In the E-Mail area your old E-Mail should be shown... Simply type in the new one.
4. Click “Save” once you’ve made amendments to your account
All open tickets on your account will be instantly updated to the new E-Mail address.
Your personal information is stored in a database only accessed by the administration of protonic.com. We take data protection very seriously and always keep it confidential at all times.
Privacy Policy
http://www.protonic.com/index.php?page=privacy
Question (Ticket) Related
How long does it usually take to get my question answered?[ ]
The length of time it takes us to respond to a Ticket (i.e., a problem or question) is dependent upon a number of factors. Included are such things as . .
* The number of Tickets currently awaiting an answer. For example, if our site is mentioned in a newspaper or magazine article, or our site is mentioned on radio or television, then the Ticket count (i.e., the number of "new" Tickets) increases greatly. This tends to be the primary reason we cannot answer all Tickets in a timely manner.
* The number of volunteer technicians who are working on the site at any moment in time.
* The complexity of the problem or question.
* The amount of research that may be necessary by a technician before the Ticket is acted upon.
Please remember that we offer a free service and that we are a not-for-profit organization. All of our technicians volunteer their time and they are not compensated in any way for their time.
How do I upload a file to my question?[ ]
The steps below will help you upload a file to your ticket.
1. Login to your protonic.com account
2. Press the "My Questions" button and then the "Reply / Add to Ticket" link. Find and click your open question
3. Scroll down to the end of the page and you’ll find a section called “Attachment” and a Browse box to the right of it.
4. Click the Browse button and then select the file you want to upload to your ticket.
5. Enter a short description in the field below the browse button so that it is clear what you’re sending us.
Note: Please do not exceed 2.0 MB size.
6. Click the “upload” button and your file will be added to your ticket in a minute or two. Larger files can vary depending on the size of the file.
7. Your technician will be in contact with you shortly regarding your attachment.
How do I find my system information to add to my ticket?[ ]
Viewing Your System Information
Windows XP
When you set up a Protonic account, it is important to furnish as much information about your computer as possible. It makes your tech’s job easier if the following information is include with the ticket:
Operating System:
Data Width (32 bit / 64 bit)
Version
Service Pack
Computer Make
Model
Processor
Processor Speed
Memory
Hard Drive: GB.
Screen Resolution
Web Browser
E-Mail Client
If you are a beginner, locating this information may seem too overwhelming for you. In this case, your tech will help you find the information if it is necessary.
To Access System Information, use either of the following methods:
Click your Start button and then click My Computer
Click the View System Information link under System Tasks on the left of the window.
Here you will find the following:
Operating System
Version
Service Pack
Processor
Processor Speed
Memory (RAM)
To Find Your Hard Drive Size:
1. Click on the Start button (lower left corner of the Taskbar)
2. In the pop up menu, click on My Computer to open the window.
3. Single click on the Local Disk (C:)
4. If necessary, click on Details (found at the bottom of the blue bar on the right of the window)
5. You will see how big the hard drive is under Total Size: xx GB. and how much of that space is unused (Free Space: xx GB)
To Find Your Screen Resolution
1. Click your Start button
2. Click Control Panel.
3. First make sure your control panel is in Classic View and not Category View.
4. Double-click Display
5. Click the Settings tab.
6. You will find your screen resolution on the left.
Your web browser is the program you use to access the Internet:
Internet Explorer
FireFox
Safari
Opera…..etc.
E-Mail Client: It is especially important to tell the tech what E-Mail program you are using, especially if you are asking a question about E-Mail :)
How do I reply to my Technician?[ ]
1. Login to your client account
2. Press the "My Questions" button on the left hand side.
3. Click the "Reply / Add to Ticket" option
4. You will now see a list of your open questions. Find the question in that list and click the title.
You can also see all your questions at "my questions" button and then the "My Questions".
How do I rate my Technician?[ ]
1. Login to your Client account
2. Click the "My protonic.com" on the left hand side, where you will see a list of your recent questions labeled "Answered / Closed Questions" from where you can rate your technician. It will be under a column labeled "Rate Tech?" under which you can select "Yes" or "No"
3. You will see: " Yes / No".
4. From here choose to rate by clicking "Yes" to Not to rate by clicking "No", you can also check if you’ve rated your Technician already.
Go to the page immediately by Clicking this link.
How do I close my ticket?[ ]
If you found a solution to your problem, here’s how to close your ticket
1. Login to your client account
2. Press the "My Questions" button on the left hand side.
3. Click the "Reply / Add to Ticket" option
4. Scroll down to the end of the page and select “Mark as Complete”
Or, you may use the link at the bottom of your Technicians reply.
This will close your ticket and you’ll be able to “Rate your technician”
How do I ask a question?[ ]
Here again is how to ask your question. (If you already have an account, you will not have to make a new account):
.... 1. Go to http://www.protonic.com and login with your username and password.
.... (If you do not have an account please set one up.) Register an account with protonic.com: http://www.protonic.com/?page=register
.... 2. Click the 'Ask a question' link on the left hand side
.... On this page, do the three main steps and then continue with the rest of the steps.
........ [Step 1] Select the computer you’re having problem with.
........ Note: If you haven’t added a computer to your account yet, click the purple “Add” button to add a computer. Clicking the “Help” link to the right of your page will help you.
........ [Step 2] Choose your experience with this type of problem using the drop down menu.
........ [Step 3] Choose a category by clicking one of the available choices.
.... 3. Title your question with reference to your problem.
.... 4. Describe your problem in as much detail as possible as every piece of information will help us resolve your problem quickly.
........ Tip: Why not select the spellcheck option and spellcheck your question.
.... 5. If you have any attachments, screenshots, HijackThis logs, please attach them as this will help us too.
.... 6. When you’re ready, press the “Send Question” link at the bottom and wait for one of our technicians to reply to you.
About protonic.com
What is protonic.com?[ ]
protonic.com is an online community that provides Technical support to computer users for free.
All the Technicians are volunteers, and we have been featured in many media publications.
If you have a computer problem - anything from hardware to HTML problems - submit your question to us! You should receive an answer to your question in your E-Mail and through our easy to use Web Interface.
Why are you free?[ ]
For a long time, computer hardware and software manufacturers have provided mediocre support for their own products and charged good money for it. We here at protonic.com are tired of this sort of treatment. We are committed to providing the very high quality support that major companies should but fail to provide to their customers. We are free because we enjoy helping people... It is simple as that. We get a great deal of satisfaction in helping our Clients. That is all the reward we need.
Can I submit my question to you via E-Mail rather than through the web page?[ ]
Unfortunately, we cannot accept new questions via E-Mail. Our system is not set up in this manner. The Ask your question page is the only way to submit a question to our support system. We do however, answer via E-Mail so a valid working E-Mail address is a must.
Do you accept donations?[ ]
Yes, Please! We have always been and always will be a site offering free support to those who need our service. However, operation of our site does involve some costs for server hosting and bandwidth, domain registration, software maintenance and so on .... This totals several hundred dollars per year. We have to pay it to keep the service in operation. If you would like to help support our work at protonic.com, please visit our donations page.
What sort of questions can I ask?[ ]
You are perfectly welcome to ask any type of computer-related question that you wish. Our volunteer Technicians can help you with anything from software installation to explaining computing terms.
Though almost nothing is out of bounds, please do not ask questions about illegal (hacking, etc.) or other illegal activities (such as E-Mail harvesting). As a policy protonic.com will not answer these types of questions.
We cannot write entire programs for you. This is far beyond what we can and will do. However, we'll be glad to help you work out programming concepts or give suggestions on perfecting a program you've already written.
Will you ever start charging money for your services?[ ]
protonic.com was founded by people who used to work at a similar site that began to charge its Clients for help. Our founder, Emile Axelrad, felt that he wanted to continue free computer help on the Internet and left the other site to start protonic.com. Though the site has changed ownership, the new owner shares Emile's commitment to never charge any Client so much as a penny for our service.
Can I link to you?[ ]
By all means, go ahead! As a constantly growing site, protonic.com welcomes any and all publicity. For your convenience, we have a number of pre-made banners and buttons that you can use to link to us if you so desire. They can be found here. Sample HTML code that links directly to our site is found there too.
Do you have an address for press enquiries?[ ]
We certainly do! E-Mail us at our site support address and a site manager will reply to you ASAP.
What are the Technical Details of protonic.com?[ ]
We are written in entirely hand coded PHP, running on a FreeBSD/Apache web server. We run MySQL on our database server. Our web hosting is provided by SuperWebHost.
I can\'t find an answer to my question in this FAQ. What can I do?[ ]
You’re more than welcome to e-mail us at our site support address and a Support representative will reply to you ASAP.
protofriends Email
How do I import my Outlook Express contacts in to my protofriends e-mail account?[ ]
The first thing we need to do is to backup your contacts from Outlook Express and to save them as a .CSV file.
To do so, open Outlook Express and click File > Export > Windows Contacts
Then choose the option to save as CSV file.
Once you have saved this file, you can load up your protofriends email account and click Options > More options then select Import Contacts.
You can now select the CSV file you have just saved and this should import all of your existing contacts into your new e-mail account.
end - protonic.faqs[ ]
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