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Subject:Fw: Re: OK, I shut down the computer... From:reshma pendse <reshma_pendse -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- in> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:52:41 +0530 (IST)
--- On Thu, 28/4/11, reshma pendse <reshma_pendse -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- in> wrote:
From: reshma pendse <reshma_pendse -at- yahoo -dot- co -dot- in>
Subject: Re: OK, I shut down the computer...
To: "John Posada" <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Thursday, 28 April, 2011, 9:38 PM
I'd think that shutting down the computer is not a step in the installation process but a prerequisite to it. If you note it as a prerequisite, then you can elaborate what the user can do to access the instructions before launching into the procedure itself.
Additionally, you could provide a means for them to get the instructions in the form of a text message on their mobile phone. Everyone may not have a printer, but nearly everyone has a mobile device.
Example:Installing xyzPrerequisite
Before installing xyz, you must shut down the computer that you intend to connect this device to. We therefore recommend that you copy or print these instructions before you begin. Alternatively, you can send a text message to receive these instructions on your mobile/handheld device. Type 'Install xyz'
and send to 888888888.
--- On Thu, 28/4/11, John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
From: John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: OK, I shut down the computer...
To: "List, Techwriter" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thursday, 28 April, 2011, 8:56 PM
Hi, guys...
I write online support instructions that are targeted toward consumers
who subscribe to our VoIP phone service. Our target audeience is
anyone who has phone service as long as they have an ISP with a 3rd
grade reading level on up.
I'm writing some online installation instructions on how to install
our device that connects to the Internet. it has 10 steps.
The first required step is:
1) Shut down your computer.
Anyone not see the problem with
anything in step 2?
Anyone have any suggestions?
BTW...the instructions also come on a printed quickstart guide that
comes with the device. My instructions are for those who lost it, and
BTW...telling them to print the instructions isn't an option...we've
found that 1) many users don't have printers, 2), if we tell them to
print, we then have to support printing issues, which we don't do, and
3) The purpose of this instruction is call deflection (very common in
this industry segment) and printing support calls would increase
calls.
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