Contacting the Vendor for Technical Support

Many hardware and software vendors now offer a variety of free, Web-based support resources for their customers. Some also offer email- or fax-based support, either for free or at a very reasonable price. And, of course, most vendors offer some combination of free and paid telephone support options.

If you know that you need support for a particular product, it is a good idea to start at the vendor's Web site. However, not every vendor offers the same level of support. While some do a great job, others provide poorly organized or downright inaccurate information on their products. As some vendors cut back on more expensive, live technical support options, their Web sites and other online resources do not pick up the slack. It is important to be weary and pay attention.

Fortunately, a growing number of Web sites offer a variety of accessible, high-quality technical support resources — often for free. If you don't find what you need in the vendor's tech support offerings, these sites can help.