Maximum PC

Please check over the posted FAQs and links as they may hold the answers to your questions. You may be sent to this thread if you post a duplicate. We hope to reduce repeated questions by consolidating answers this way.

Please post anything you feel should be added to this thread and I or another moderator/admin will sort through and update as needed.

Useful forum resources
General Windows Information
32-Bit Memory Limits
What security software do you use?
Cool/Power tools for Windows

Windows 8 Please make note that Windows 8 is under development, consider that information may not be official or correct!
Current "news" about Windows 8

Windows 7
Windows 7 Software Compatibility
Windows 7 Hardware Compatibility
Windows 7 Upgrade Thread

Windows Vista
Vista FAQ
Vista FAQ Discussion

How to ask for help
1.) ALWAYS post what operating system/systems you have and which versions / builds they are. Include 32 or 64 bit where applicable.
Here in the Parlor, we deal with many different iterations of Windows operating systems. Each has its own nuances - what works on one might not work on another, things are in different places, some features may or may not be present in your version.

Please! Especially if you're posting an issue-type question, asking if software x will work, or something similar: Post your OS family, version, bit-level (32- or 64-bit), and service-pack level.

Bad examples (and, what's missing):
"I have XP" ((is it Home, Pro, Media Center (2002, 2004, 2005?) RTM (no SP?) SP1, 2, or 3?)
"it's Vista" (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate? 32- or 64-bit? RTM (no SP?) SP1? SP2?
"Windows 2000" (there are four service packs to deal with.)
"Server" (if you're posting a Server question, you know how many variants there are.)

Windows 7 users:
Please state if you're using the public RC (Release Candidate), or final (you bought it, or it came with your PC, or the 90-day trial of Win7 Enterprise.)
If it's a torrented prerelease build (anything but .7100 or final), go away. We cannot help you with an issue on an illegal OS.
[edit, 18 Jan 2011]: support for the RC has ended. It expired, and we cannot help you get it working (again.)
If you're running a beta of SP1, please say so (and, what version.) When SP1 does ship, please say if you've installed it (after, if applicable, uninstalling the SP1 beta!)
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Good examples:
"XP Home, service pack 3"
"Vista Home Premium (32-bit), SP1"
and so on.

The same goes for any software (be it Microsoft's, or a third party's) - the more version-specific you are in your post, the better.

Complete information helps to better help you.

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FYI: The link for the Vista FAQ goes to the discussion thread, not the FAQ itself.

It was the stickied thread. ::shrug::

Was there ever a real FAQ posted?

Yes.

viewtopic.php?t=72632

Link updates going in. Tks.