Help center and print center applications

Abstract

Various disclosed help center features provide help to a user without a staffed help center, provide help to a user before the user recognizes the need, or create targeted commerce opportunities for a provider of goods or services. One help center feature provides a user with help that is specifically related to a component in the user's computer system and that is supplied to the help center feature by the component manufacturer. Another help center feature detects a condition that degrades performance, and hence user satisfaction, and alerts the user. Another help center feature detects an attempt by a computer system to inform the user of degraded performance and offers the user a solution. Another help center feature provides a user with a commerce opportunity specifically related to a component in the user's computer system and/or to the user's geographic location.

1 . A method of providing automated electronic customer service for a computer, the method comprising:
 accessing electronically a component identification item identifying a component of a target computer system;   selecting electronically based on the component identification item at least one but less than all of multiple service providers for which electronic component support items are available;   accessing electronically a component support item relating to support of the identified component; and   determining electronically a support recommendation based on the component support item accessed and the at least one service provider selected.   
     
     
         2 - 52 . (canceled)