Hi bigpup,
After someone pissed off Flash by posting the same problem in three different places, it occurred to me that maybe those new to the Forum need some advise as to how to use it. This thread seemed the best place to provide it.
There are, in fact, no set rules beyond being courteous and, as bigpup has advised in the beginning "You are our eyes... we can only know what you tell us about your system". But based on my long involvement with the Forum, I thought the following might prove helpful.
The Forum Software is old, owned by John Murga, a Puppy fan perhaps from the creation of the first Puppy. John, himself, is pretty much retired but generously pays for the Forum's upkeep. The Software probably isn't as flexible as newer versions, but I don't think anyone is in a position to upgrade it. Posts by members make this a very active forum, and its seems to have devolved upon Flash and other moderators to try to maintain some order.
One of the Forum's quirks is that in order
to post to a thread, you have to click the "Reply" button on that thread, even when you're starting a new discussion regarding the subject of the thread. Clicking the "New Topic" button starts a new thread on the thread's SubForum. No one may read it.
By convention, The Beginner's SubForum is used to seek advice regarding questions about installation, and the problems those new to Puppy often experience. It is
not the place to post problems about uncommon applications and uncommon hardware.
There are several "Stickies" at the Top of a SubForum, and noted by a Right-Pointing Arrow. Those on the Beginner's SubForum are intended to provide "Beginners" with general advice. Courtesy suggests that before posting a question Beginners should read them or, at least, those posts at the beginning and end of the threads. Most of those threads are as old as the Forum, and while the posts at the beginning of a thread may orient a newbie as to its purpose, the posts at the end of a thread will probably provide the most up-to-date information.
There are also "stickies" on the Users and How To SubForums, well worth reading in order to get the most out of Puppies.
Most versions of Puppy have their own thread under Advanced Topics, either the Puppy Projects or Derivatives* SubForums. (Occasionally someone breaches that rule by announcing/offering his/her version on the thread of the Puppy used to create the variation). When you have a question regarding a problem with a particular Puppy version, or seek advice on how to extend it by using software not provided by that Puppy's Dev, or available via the Additional Software SubForum, common sense and courtesy suggest posting a "Reply" to that Puppy version's thread. That thread is where problems relating to that Puppy is most likely to draw the attention of that Puppy's Dev and those familiar with that Puppy.
* At one time, there was a clear distinction between these SubForums. Barry Kauler published THE "Official Puppy". Any other version was a Derivative. The Projects thread at that time concerned announcements about having created software or, having progressed partway and having encountered some stumbling block, seeking advice to overcome it.
The Additional Software SubForum --the last modification to the Forum Structure-- provides a place to specifically announce and discuss available software and issues relating to it. Obviously, if you have a problem with some application which has its own thread on the Additional Software SubForum that thread would be a logical place to post a problem about it. Where there is both an Application thread and a Puppy Version Thread, your guess as to where to post is better than mine.
The "How To" SubForum, is where tips and instructions are posted. Note, How To is not followed by a Question Mark. The SubForum is for giving, not asking for advice.
Most of the other SubForums, as their names suggest, are for specialized discussions.
From a Newbie's prospective, that leaves only the "Users ( For the regulars )" SubForum. This SubForum, by convention, is for seeking advice from "The regulars".
If you are determined to use some specific version of Puppy with uncommon Software or Hardware, than the proper place to post your inquiry would be to the thread of the specific version of Puppy you're set on using.
But, if you're more concerned with accessing unusual hardware or using unusual applications, then the proper place to post would be the Users SubForum, spelling out that you're trying to do so running a specified version of Puppy, perhaps with a Title such as "How to use a My-Piece-Of-Junk with Puppy-XYZ". Among the advice you may expect to receive is "XYZ Puppy is better able to use that hardware/software".
Frankly, the User's SubForum is the best place to seek advice for uncommon problems. How do you, a newbie, know you have an uncommon problem? First try a Wellminded Search,
http://wellminded.net63.net/, or one of the other dedicated search engines mentioned on this thread, or toward the end of this thread,
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=29754 using as your Search term the device or application you are concerned about. You may discover that the problem has already been solved. Or if it hasn't, and there are no, or only a few posts, concerning it then it's not a common problem.
mikesLr