2nd RFD: uk.comp.os.ms-windows
Barry Salter
2ND REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD)
This is a formal Request For Discussion (RFD) for the following changes
in the uk.* Usenet hierarchy:
create unmoderated newsgroup uk.comp.os.windowsxp
remove unmoderated group uk.comp.os.win2000
remove unmoderated group uk.comp.os.win95
Changes from previous RFD:
Proposed name changed from uk.comp.os.windowsxp to uk.comp.os.ms-windows
with associated removal of existing unmoderated groups uk.comp.os.win95
and uk.comp.os.win2000.
Charter and rationale revised to reflect the above change.
Newsgroup line:
uk.comp.os.ms-windows Use of Microsoft Windows in the UK.
*** ALL DISCUSSION MUST TAKE PLACE IN UK.NET.NEWS.CONFIG ***
This is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time.
Further procedural details are given below.
RATIONALE: uk.comp.os.ms-windows
At present, there are groups for two specific versions of Microsoft
Windows, specifically uk.comp.os.win95 for Windows 95 and
uk.comp.os.win2000 for Windows 2000, with no group to discuss earlier or
future versions. This proposal seeks to address that situation by
creating a new group to cover ALL versions of Microsoft Windows, past,
present and future, and removing the two existing groups.
CHARTER: uk.comp.os.ms-windows
This newsgroup is for the discussion of all aspects of the Microsoft
Windows operating system and GUI, with particular reference to technical
issues affecting users of the UK versions.
Valid topics include, but are not limited to, hardware requirements,
software compatibility, installation, maintenance and Internet access.
Discussion of all versions of Microsoft Windows, past, present and
future, is on-topic, but discussion of versions of DOS, CP/M, OS/2, or
any other underlying operating system is specifically excluded, as is
discussion of the X11 system and its derivatives (commonly referred to
as XWindows).
Advertising
Advertising is forbidden, with these exceptions:
Suppliers of goods and services relevant to Microsoft Windows in the UK
may post an invitation to visit their web site or request details. It
should be of four lines or fewer and not posted more than once every 3
months. The subject line should begin "ADVERT: ", except for vacancy
adverts, when it should begin "JOB: ".
Binaries & Formatting
Encoded binaries (e.g. pictures, compressed files, etc.) are forbidden.
Such material belongs on a web or FTP site to which a pointer may be
posted. Cryptographic signatures (e.g. PGP) may be used where
authentication is important and should be as short as possible.
Posts must be readable as plain text. HTML, RTF and similarly formatted
messages are prohibited. To see how to make some common newsreaders
comply with this, read <http://www.usenet.org.uk/ukpost.html>.
END CHARTER.
CURRENT CHARTER: uk.comp.os.win2000
This newsgroup is for the discussion of all aspects of Microsoft's
Windows 2000 operating system with particular reference to technical
issues affecting users of the UK release. Valid topics include, but are
not limited to, hardware requirements, software compatibility,
installation, maintenance and Internet access.
Windows NT, from which Windows 2000 was derived, and direct decedents of
Windows 2000 are on topic but discussion of the Windows 9x and Windows
3.xx operating systems and their direct descendants is specifically
excluded.
This newsgroup wishes to be welcoming to new users who may be unfamiliar
both with Windows 2000 and with Usenet etiquette. Common errors, e.g.
articles written in HTML or containing upside down quoting, should be
corrected by experienced users but not flamed.
The primary language for this newsgroup is English.
Advertising is strictly forbidden.
All messages must be formatted in plain text. Encoded binaries, e.g.
pictures, compressed files, etc., are forbidden except for cryptographic
signatures, e.g. PGP, which should be used sparingly. Posting of URLs
for binary material is acceptable.
All posts to this newsgroup should be in plain text. Attachments, HTML
and other types of formatted text are not permitted.
END CHARTER.
CURRENT CHARTER: uk.comp.os.win95
This group will be a forum for dicussion on any and all Win95 related
issues. Intended principally for UK based users, uk.comp.os.win95 would
allow any technical issues, including, and not limited to, hardware and
software consideration, loading and unloading, accessing the internet,
and hardware compatibility.
It is expected that this group will attract new users of both Windows 95
and the Internet. The group should therefore be tolerant of the mistakes
that new users are likely to make.
The group's language will be English.
The group specifically bars advertisements for hardware software or
services, job advertisements, binaries of any length and long boring
sigs.
END CHARTER.
PROCEDURE:
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase of
the process, any potential problems with the proposal should be raised
and resolved. The discussion period will continue for a minimum of 10
days, starting from when this RFD is posted to uk.net.news.announce
(i.e. until January 10th) after which a Call For Votes (CFV) may be
posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion warrants it.
Alternatively, the proposal may proceed by the fast-track method. Please
do not attempt to vote until this happens.
This RFD attempts to comply fully with the "Guidelines for Group Creation
within the UK Hierarchy" as published regularly in uk.net.news.announce.
Please refer to this document if you have any questions about the process.
DISTRIBUTION:
This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups:
uk.net.news.announce
uk.net.news.config
uk.comp.misc
uk.comp.os.win95
uk.comp.os.win2000
Proponent:
Barry Salter <ba...@southie.me.uk>
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