I have to wonder! Many post on several different forums. I think when they get help somewhere, they don't bother to come back and let us close the thread.

Both the Windows OS and Software & Utilities Forums are full of open questions, all with replies, but no acknowledgement of our help.

It does tend to make one wonder sometimes if it's worth taking the time to help these anonymous users with "big" problems!

Duplicate post in both forums mentioned.

It's also great when long standing members don't abide by our guidelines and post in the incorrect forum

Seriously though, I have no doubt that (a majority of) users do come back and read your replies. If not because they remember the site, then because we send instant email notifications when a response is posted to their newly created threads.

It is my thought that if a reader does indeed come back and read our reply, that we should know about it!

Maybe I'm spoiled from working in the malware forum- those users couldn't use their computers until we helped them fix it! At least they usually-not always, but usually stuck with until it was done.

Julio, would it be possible to investigate some type of email notification if the original poster has not replied after there have been comments made?

Not sure if this is more work than necessary, but it might be a way to remind people to come back and say "Thanks that worked" or whatever to 'close' the thread out.

Do you mean like a second email reminder? Like I said above, we send an instant email notification when there are new replies. Then:

1) If the user ignores the email, we stop sending further notifications.
2) If the user visits the thread, no matter if he posts a new reply or not, the instant notification will go out again when there are new posts made.

This is vbulletin's default behavior.

Julio, forgive me for putting words in someone else's mouth, but I think he suggesting emailing the member with question "Has your problem been resolved? Have out replies helped." Then closing the threads.

I notice you don't close or lock the forum threads here though. Unfortunately, instead of using old threads or research, people with the "same" problem add their post to threads sometimes 3 years old. I wouldn't mind either closing and locking some of these threads.

There is too much showing still open when you run down the list of threads> can't you close 'due to no response'? At least others would see the list of still open threads.

That's not a bad idea at all. However we would have to select only the handful of forums that are 100% tech support discussion based, for example BSOD and Virus removal. The majority of the other boards are a mix of tech support with conversational topics. Either way we would have to find an add-on that mirrored that kind of functionality.

As for closing threads, yes we do that already after 180 days in most forums, only excluding those where it makes sense not to.

I don't usually frequent the BSOD forum- some I send there from Windows OS

As for V&M> pages of open threads, some replies acknowledged, only a few going to resolving the original problem. Most never fully cleaned. Under "normal" circumstances with trained people doing the cleaning, MOST threads would be resolved in a reasonable time with a minimum of replies. Each of the completed threads should be Closed/Locked and any that have not progressed should be Closed 'due to lack of participation...' to prevent new posters from leaving their 'same' problem on old threads.

Windows OS
38 threads from current back 5 days.
Two were locked because of inappropriate content.
Only a few have 'recent posts'
Many have just one reply which was never addressed by the member asking the original question.

Software/Utilities
25 threads from current back through 5 days
None were closed or locked
10 have reply from original poster back to reply from helper
About 5 acknowledged by original poster. Only one resolved back as far as 4 days. All still open.

Success is a good thing and when success has been achieved by resolving the program, the threads should say 'Solved.' When there is no resolution due to lack of help or lack of return by the original, thread should be closed with comment 'due to lack of......'.

I'm often a little wary to post when someone has a question and that is their first or 2nd post. I always wonder if I'm wasting my time because it seems often that they don't come back. Many times someone new will post, and it will be a very vague post, so it gets about 6 replies from members making suggestions based on their interpretation of the question, and then the original dude never comes back to clairify.

And they are posting the same thing on multiple forums! I came across a verbatim post in the Spybot Forum earlier today while trying to identify an error. It could be on other forums too. They are not likely to hit all the forums they've posted on to say 'thanks but it's fixed.'

Do you think it would be worth it to try for additional information first to see if they're following their post? Problem is that the members who are jumping in right away now with their take on the problem, will continue doing that.

I was more thinking if a thread has not been replied to by the Original Poster within X days we send another email asking if they could update the thread.

I know this is mostly a losing battle with 50% of the new users, but I think it will help bring closure to some of the issues and clear up the board a bit.

That is good kimsland. I'm having users come back after 2 or 3 weeks and expect to pick up on the malware cleaning where they left off! And it's not because their internet went down- they are off doing something else.

I think 5 days, maybe a week is reasonable to close a thread for inactivity. And I would also like to have threads closed and locked that are 'solved'. Member are posting with their problem which is "just like what Mary Sue had" months after the original thread was started!

I have already approached Julio about this, but will remind him of that. I'd like to see the following 2 quotes added to the 8 step thread at the beginning in the Very Important section:

Also, close and lock threads that are 'Solved' with indication of "Solved".

I don't care who does this, but it needs to be done. There are way too few of us helping with malware cleaning ans we need to be able to use our time the best way possible.

Julio, I'm copying this to you since it has it spelled out and we have discussed this previously.

Your suggestions in the three categories are all good. The problem is that this board isn't structured enough to follow through with using them. I see the Terms of Service and Usage, along with Posting Rules violated frequently and nothing is done about it. Almost no threads are ever closed, even though the information has become obsolete.

It also means having more 'helpers' in the Virus and Malware forum. It's too much responsibility for one person to uphold. To be honest, it's a Catch 22. Unless the forum is better controlled, I don't think the experienced people who help with cleaning are going to want to come back. And if they don't come back, it's too much work for one or two helpers.

No one who puts serious attempt to help with cleaning is going to continue if members are allowed to give some of the bad, destructive suggestions they do. There are too many infections on systems and many require extensive programs with guidance to come close to cleaning the system.. Allowing someone who just wants to chalk up another post number to give bad advice is a serious turn off.

On a thread today, someone told the user to have HijackThis stop an entry. I don't know what his reasoning was because he surely couldn't have looked it up>> it was for the antivirus program!

My reference to posting on another board was specifically aimed at a copy and paste of a current malware problem, logs and all- nothing else. It's like deja vous to meet the same thread somewhere else!

So we'll dream and maybe someday..............

I've kept a copy of your suggestions. It would be good framework to work from if the time ever comes.