Tech Tip: Using search engines to find tech solutions

Almost every PC hardware or software question posed to me by friends and family has a simple answer that is clearly described somewhere on the web. Rather than just always give point-specific solutions, I feel it's important to teach process and methodology so these victims can solve issues on their own. This tech tip is the actionable embodiment of the famous proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

The Tech Tip: You can find the solution to most any tech issue by learning how to use a search engine. Here are the steps:

1. Open your favorite browser
2. In the address bar, enter www.google.com (www.yahoo.com, or www.bing.com)
3. Enter the tech subject your are interested in, or your tech question.
4. After you've entered your search terms, or question, or phrase, do one of the following (step 5, 6, or 7):
5. If using Google, click the "Google Search" button
6. If using Yahoo, click the "Web Search" button
7. If using Bing, click the magnifying glass icon
8. Read over the search results and pick ones that look useful, and click the links
9. Read the web pages that the search result links take you to and try to learn and apply the solutions they offer

You now possess the knowledge to leverage the web to find solutions to your critical IT issues and questions. Don't forget, you learned it here at the Effective IT Solutions blog.