Easy Answers to Windows Problems

Upgrading to a new version of Windows has traditionally been a hit-or-miss affair, weighed down by glitches and frustrating customer support experiences. But the word on the street is that Microsoft's support centers are taking half of the expected call volume.

That's due, in part, to Windows 7 itself, which is far more compatible and easier to use than previous versions of Windows. But you can also credit some clever new support options. If you're upgrading to Windows 7, you might want to keep these resources handy:

Microsoft Answers is an all-new online forum where you can submit issues and get feedback and solutions from the Windows "community" -- other users, Microsoft MVPs, and Microsoft employees. It's a new take on the old, less inviting newsgroup model for self-service support.

@MicrosoftHelps on Twitter is a direct line to Microsoft's support folks. Tweet a question, and a team of support engineers will get back to you, often with a link to the solution.

Have you had to lean on Microsoft for help getting started with Windows 7? How did it go? Sound off in the comments.