User:Pietinger/Help

I wrote this article so that I can refer to it on the Gentoo forums when users report a problem but don't provide enough details.

Help us to help you

You’ve just received a reply on our forum that led you here ... because ... we can’t help you with the information you’ve provided.

Sometimes we can help you simply with a precise description of the error. For example, if a specific error message has appeared. Sometimes, however, we need to know what you were doing just before the problem occurred. And sometimes we also need precise details about your hardware or your system configuration. To help you, here are a few examples:

1. When I boot up, I get a black screen and nothing appears.
2. After entering command X, I get error message Y.
3. Programme X won’t start. However, no error message appears.
4. After a fresh installation, Gentoo does not recognise my Wi-Fi.
5. I used to be able to print, but suddenly I can’t anymore.

As you’re probably realising by now, these descriptions won’t be of much help unless you know what was done BEFORE the problem occurred. Or you have information about what was logged in the system log.

Please be aware that every Gentoo installation is unique - it is your own Linux distribution - and so anyone wishing to help you will need to know what your installation looks like. Examples:

1. I have installed OpenRC as my init system / I use systemd
2. I do not boot the Gentoo distribution kernel but a manually configured kernel
3. I use GRUB as my boot manager / I boot a UKI kernel directly from UEFI
4. I have a Gnome desktop profile active, but the use-flag XYZ is disabled globally

Sometimes your problem also depends on the hardware you have. In that case, we’ll need that information too. If you’re not familiar with the commands lspci, lsusb, dmesg and emerge --info, please read: User:Pietinger/Overview_of_System_Information

Please try to describe your problem in more detail. If we do need any further specific information, we will let you know exactly what is required. Troubleshooting is usually an iterative process.

If you’re brand new to Gentoo, I’d also like to recommend another article I’ve written: User:Pietinger/New_at_Gentoo

I would like to take this opportunity to quote a passage from this article:

Even if you are frustrated with your problem, stay friendly and polite on the Forum; all users on the forum are volunteers and do not earn money for their help.