It is important to have access to the mfr. support resources (specs, documentation, driver updates, etc.) in order to upgrade, repair and maintain a system. Major OEMs like Dell and Gateway use a
Service Tag (Dell) or
Serial Number (Gateway) to provide links to support and documentation for the specific system involved. When asking questions about these types of systems, please provide this number in addition to any other information. For example, using the Dell Service Tag number you can find a list of all of the original components that were included with a specific system, including the OS.
If the system is from a major OEM that doesn't use a Service Tag or Serial Number to locate support information (pretty much any OEM other than Dell or Gateway), then please include a
direct link to the manufacturer support page for the system. While that won't provide information about the specific system, it will provide information about the specific model.
If your question involves a specific system component or product (whether it be hardware or software) please post a direct link to the manufacturer product page where detailed information about the product is available.
For example, I'm typing this on a Lenovo ThinkPad T520 4239-CTO, and the support page for that system is
here. On that page I can find:
Download Drivers & Software (self-explanitory)
Product & Parts Detail (specifications, parts catalog)
Diagnose & Fix (diagnostics software, troubleshooting tips)
User Guides & Manuals (including a detailed service/repair manual)
...and more, a valuable resource indeed. Scott.
