Today we're going to look at some websites designed to provide us with assistance ? and I mean US: Earthlings ? the sites I have chosen, don't assume, like some others, a level of technical competence suitable to organise a Space Shuttle mission.

1. http://www.computerhope.com/

This is an excellent site for the Earthling. These guys are great, and have been offering free technical support on their website since November 1998. There are sections covering hardware, software, operating systems, drivers and other very useful disciplines.

They have a forum, a very easy to use questions and answers section, and best of all they are contactable and will provide free email technical support. This site definitely rates as my number one in terms of ease-of-use, accessibility, response and plain English approach. Check it out?

2. http://www.cybertechhelp.com

This site is also very good. They require you to register, which alone might be a technical issue for some Earthlings, so guess what? They have a movie you can download that shows you how to register!

Once you've registered there are forums on lots of topics that allow you to ask questions of every other member. My experience here is that the information provided by others is competent and correct, but it might take a couple of days to get the right information. These too, have tutorials and a whole host of downloadble help files. A good site.

3. http://forums.pcpitstop.com.

These guys are also good. They have an automated set of products that allow them to remotely run a complete health-check on your computer, and extract information that they can then use to advise you on optimisation.

Their products do however require you to switch-on programs that allow other remote users to activate programs remotely on your computer, so I would use these products with the greatest of caution.

Their products are free. They too, have lots of forums, a good number of "Pit Crew" as they call them, from Europe and the USA to provide you with advice and guidance and tips and tricks when you access their lively forums. Another good site.

4. http://malektips.com/index.html.

This site is a tips'n'tricks website with over 2,500 tips about everything from Windows, to Digital Cameras. Very easy to follow, very useful tips. Very well organised site. However, be aware that some of the links on this site are commercial (i.e. they link to other sites selling products).

That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you should be aware that these links exist and recognise when you have left the malektips.com website. This site is very well organised and I have even used some of the tips from this site myself.

5. http://www.techsupportforum.com

A look around this site and a brief glance at some of the questions in the forum, might frighten you off because this site caters for all levels of technical ability.

Thus, you might stumble onto a topic that is being discussed between two or three of those on planet geek and not understand a word of it.

Fear not however, because those same geeks will answer in plain English and question you ask of them in the forum, and because the language you use in describing your problem or making your query will be plain English, they will answer the same way. This site has forums for Windows, Network, Computer Security, On the web and others. Pretty cool.

6. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com

Earthlings that have ever had problems with their computer (and that's most of us), will find the address of this site amusing.

Once again this site requires registration, but once registered you can post to any of the discussion boards and forums, and I have found that responses are helpful, competent and pretty quick.

The site also has a tutorials section which is very easy to use. Finally, if you're still stuck you can contact them directly via email. All free. Another excellent site.

A word of warning about Computer-Help sites: The term Trojan-Horse (which I will introduce you to properly when we look at viruses and security), is used in computer terms to describe something that purports to be something that it isn't in order to solicit something from you.

In respect of computer security, therefore you must be very careful that the site you are connecting to that is going to provide you with support, is actually a support site and not some mindless hacker intent on gaining access to your system for other, more sinister reasons.

Next time: Introduction to gaming ? the playing of games on your PC.