5 Service and Support

HP Support Assistant CD-ROM

The HP Support Assistant is a traditional CD-ROM that includes technical and product information documents on HP Vectra Personal Computers, HP networking Products, HP LaserJet printers, and accessory products—in addition to the HP NetServer information that underlies the HP NetServer Information Assistant.

For subscription information on the HP Support Assistant, obtain ordering instructions from the library of the HPSYS forum on CompuServe, via HP’s World Wide Web home page, or from HP’s automated fax system. Each of these services is described elsewhere in this chapter.

CompuServe Discussion Forum and Library

CompuServe, the worldwide electronic information utility, provides support, technical data, and updated software drivers for the products of some 900 hardware and software manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard.

With a CompuServe account you post your question publicly in a managed, focused forum dedicated to one manufacturer or topic. People who regularly visit that forum read your question and reply within a day or two. If the topic is complex or controversial, an electronic discussion starts among several people— providing you with a group consensus.

HP products are covered on CompuServe in forums operated by independent consultants. The NetServer section of the HPSYS forum is visited regularly by HP employees and a group of knowledgeable and friendly NetServer users. Libraries are maintained of newsletters, technical articles, drivers, and other software modules. Enter “GO HPSYS” to reach the HP Systems Forum.

There are CompuServe forums covering most hardware and software manufacturers. In addition to the HPSYS forum, some other forums of interest to HP NetServer owners include those for: Banyan® , IBM® OS/2, Intel,

HP Peripherals, Lotus® , Microsoft Windows NT® , Novell® , Oracle® , SCO, and Sybase® .

See “Joining CompuServe” at the end of this chapter to open a CompuServe account (with a free introductory membership and free usage credit).

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