Reporting Errors

Reports that aren't detailed usually just lead to follow-up emails asking for details:

1) Describe what you were trying to do and when
2) What you were doing before the error -- if you can repeat it, take a screenshot too.
3) What happened at the point of error -- screenshot.

If you're not detailed, it's often hard for tech support to know exactly where something went wrong. (Look at the email you're about to send: intro, two page descriptions, two screenshots?)

If you don't take screenshots, Stephen's going to have to ask you to take screenshots, so take screenshots. Every tech support person from here through the rest of your life will thank you and be able to help you faster if you make this a habit.

How to take screenshots:

Mac's are easy shift-apple-3 (or shift-apple-4 for defining a part of the screen)

Windows:
not-vista instructions for using print-scrn and then pasting into a graphics program.
Vista has a "snipping tool."

... it's often best to send the whole screen each time. The program you're using, the URL, the time on your clock can all help tech support. Send too much info rather than go back and forth.

everyone: This is a really good tip for anytime you deal with tech support... plus every now and then it will save your butt when some software is freezing up and won't save what's on the screen, but you can get it into the clipboard.