Forgot to save the instructions? No problem.

Ok, this is going to be one of those ideas that you will wind up smacking your head about if you don’t already do it.

I have begun, with all of my new appliances or electronics, or really anything that is complicated enough to need a manual. As soon as I purchase an item, I now go to search for the internet version of the user manual and download it for my future reference.

For example, I have a Motorola DCT-6412 DVR from my Comcast cable company. After searching for it, I find the online PDF downloadable version of the manual at the Motorola DCT-6412 website. I can download it and save it to my “Manuals” folder in my system reference folders, possibly printing a copy, which then can go in a normal folder or a 3-ring binder for manuals. I recomend printing one if you have a strange sized manual or it is bent in a way that can’t be straightened due to the packaging.

I especially recommend this for your computer manual, if the print one is difficult to file for some reason. If your system is broken, having the manual on the hard drive is not that useful.

Now, this may be enough for some, but I like to also do follow up with one additonal step.

Once I find a manual to download and save, or more particularly, once I have the product number, I will do a web search for my product number and the word troubleshoot. Here are some other keywords you can use, any of which could provide that one additonal item you need to get the best functionallity out of your new acquisition. I suggest putting each phrase in quotes if they are multiple words, to prevent you from getting hits from unrelated sites.

• known bugs- if the product is a software item or may have software/firmware installed.
• recall- if it is the type of product that may need one occasionally (cars, major appliances, high electricity demand items like heaters, TV’s or game systems.)
• wiki- if you want to see if there is a user/group database for the product or if an entry appears on Wikipedia.
• accessories or peripherals – if you want to see what items are available as addons to it.
• addon or plugin- if you want more functions added to a software product.
• version or latest version- if you want to check the versions that are out and see if your version is the newist or may need updating.
• update, support or support download- if you want to find that latest update to your product.
• review- if you would like to see if there is anything that you may not have noticed yet that could be a downside to your purchase.
• features- if you want to make sure that you are not missing anything on the product.

I really like checking Wikipedia for a new product I get. Often, there are links or tips there that will never be listed on the manufacturers message boards. And I have also found links to sites with exactly the details I wanted. I have also wound up taking a product back unopened for a full refund once I found out about a feature I did not like. I bet some people would have liked to do this with the Coldplay CD X&Y once they got it home and opened it.

“Known bugs” and “Update” are especially good if you got an item which may have been out a while. With all of the features in the newest products now, it could take months or more to find a bug or defect if you don’t check these. That is often outside of the warranty or return period, especially for opened items, so it is best to draw on the experiences of other users. I often ignore anything good when looking for the flaws first, as those are what will annoy me the most.

I hope this helps some of you out there. I know it is helping me incredibly. Please drop a comment if you think of another “operator” to use for the searches.

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, you will get items which will occasionally discourage you on this process. I got the Logitech Cordless Attack for Xbox and wanted the PDF manual. Logitech does not offer for download, so like any good consumer, I sent a simple email inquiry:

Me:

Subject:Are PDF manuals avalible for download?

I would like to download a PDF version of the manual for this product. Are they avalible? I am trying to archive all manuals for my electronics for space reasons.

(various product details attached per web form)

Logitech:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your recent inquiry about your Gaming Console.

I would like to offer a solution to the problem you are experiencing, but you didn’t provide me with enough information to determine which troubleshooting steps would benefit you most. Please write back with a detailed, step-by-step explanation of the issue that you are having. I need to know exactly what is happening (exact error messages, if applicable) and what circumstances make the issue appear.

Please write back to me the following details.

1. The M/N: of the product (Model Number)
2. The S/N: of the product (Serial Number)
or PID (Product ID)
3. The P/N: of the product (Part Number)

I am tempted to say that they are letting their products just answer the emails for them. There is no reason for this kind of sloppy service. I bet someone uses an auto reply for anything that is less than a certain number of words or lines.

Update 2:

I got another email back from Logitech:

Dear Michael,

Thank you for your recent inquiry about your Gaming Console.

I understand that you want the manual for your Logitech Cordless Attack for Xbox.

Please note that Logitech no longer ships manuals with its products. Instead, each product comes with a Setup Guide or a Getting Started guide along with an extensive Help file you can access through the software. The Setup/Getting Started guides are simply designed to tell you how to connect the product. However, once you have installed the software, you can open the software and press F1 to view the Help system for more information on using the product.

That is so neat! Apparently this controller installs a new button on my Xbox!