Minimum Member Specs Required?

Would it be possible to make at least minimal computer specs required? I would say a bullet selection for Starter, Home Premium, Pro, Ultimate, Enterprise and another for 32bit or 64bit. With a note, if you have multiple versions running please specify the one you use most often.

You could still leave the Operating System Detail line where they can expound upon multiple versions etc.

One thing missing on this forum, that is very usefull is a read before posting thread.

In it you could ask members to post system info, the problem, anything that was installed lately, etc...

Are you suggesting forcing users to fill in system specs? I am not for that. In fact, I think system specs are pretty much useless. Many posters come here seeking advice for friends, family or neighbors. I, for example, have 8 computers in this house. So unless the OP puts in his opening post that he is talking about that computer listed in computer specs, we still have to ask.

Most individuals have one or possibly 2 computers. And especially for the one-time or few-time posters that are looking for an answer about their computer they would supply the info to said computer more often than not.

[... rant deleted ...]

I support the last two posts. I, also, have several computers, and many pass through my house, for various reasons. It would not be practical.
Also, the posters, so far in this thread, are all regular helpers. I, personaly, have never sougth help, as , also, have most of the others. I could not see the benefit of making the entry compulsory.
A really bad example of where this could lead was with my brother. he was a very enthusiastic helper on another forum site. In the course of a reasonable open discussion with the Admin, he was markedly criticised for not having filled out the specs, after one year on the forum. This lead into associated arguments, regarding the site and his attitude, with further comments from the Administrator. Finally, in frustration, he asked to be deleted from the site, from which, to his loss, he is now banned!
Maybe not exacly relevant, but such mandatory rules can lead into unplanned areas!

How can you support the "last two posts" ? One is mine, for it, and one against - I would say from your post you are against but I don't understand your wording.

As you pointed out, you have several computers and you don't ask for help. The less experienced users are less likely to have lots of computers and they are the ones asking for help 90+% of the time. I didn't say make the whole thing mandatory, just what OS and 32 or 64bit.

BTW, if it had been mandatory on that other site your brother would have filled it out, there would have been no argument about it, and he may very well not be banned.

I guess if you are worried about multiple computers etc. than rather than make it part of the users specs you could make it mandatory when opening a thread in categories where the info is relevant.

You seem to have your hair on end over this subject? I hardly expected a simple post to be flamed!
Obviously, then, I did not understand the wording of your post.
"Most individuals have one or possibly 2 computers"..etc. - That was the item to which I responded.

"Would it be possible to make at least minimal computer specs required"
That sounds mandatory. The OS, imho, is not "computer specs.". I am not denying it is often a "need to know" for problem solving.

The issue with my brother was, as said, an example of the way small ripples can became waves. Had the information been mandatory, I guess he would still have had to ask the pertinent question in his case - "which one". But it was, in any event, an accumulation of exchanges, which led to his request for dismissal.

I don't know how the idea in your last para could be implemented?

Yeah. Gee whiz, dude! Personal attacks against me then Dave? What's up with that? None of us disagrees with you that the information up front is needed!!! But Dave is right, required = mandetory and that's just not going to happen. Many posters have no clue the exact version of Windows that they have, let along 32 or 64-bit. They just want their problem fixed. And again, as you admitted, many users have more than one computer. But also, going back to your attack on me, many problems have nothing to do with the OS and since I tend to hang out in hardware sections, it is very often the threads I deal with are not OS dependent.

I wish every OP would list the complete System Specs (which I too generally consider as hardware), OS version (and patch level, if applicable) to include 32 or 64-bit, problem description to include when it started and what they have done thus far to fix it, complete error message (and not just "I get the blue screen"), and a list of any recent changes (HW and SW) they have made. But it's not going to happen. Newbies are always going to join, then post in the wrong forum, in someone else's thread, "my computer reboots, what's wrong?", and maybe even include a HJT log.

I agree totally, plus most n00bs usually just post the OS they're using, not the hardware it's installed on. It us who do our own builds that really have a grasp of what to list.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Then it would truly be a "perfect world", other than me and Nicole Kidman spending the weekend together.

Very True! Plus once they get the answer they were looking for, they leave and never contribute anything else. I believe just about everyone has something positive to contribute in some small way or another.

Then there are the new ones that come on and act as if they are the "Ultimate Computer Messiah" and everyone else is either wrong or an idiot.

Several of us here have some strong opinions about certain things regarding computers, myself included. I also know that I do come across, at times, as a pompous ass. At least I know my shortcomings... I think.

I wasn't flaming you Dave, I was seriously asking how you could say you support both posts when, as I read them, they are of opposite views. You have answered it. I apologize for any confusion.

And Digerati, whenever I read your posts they tend to hit me as negative so, maybe I read more into your post than I should have and I got defensive. Your last post above hit me as sincere and the last paragraph is definitely true, especially about posting in someone else's thread. I have removed my flame and I apologize to you as well.