Go here to find out how to ask intelligent questions: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html - Be sure to look at the section http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#before - This FAQ has information to help many users solve their own problem more effectively and to help users interact more effectively with helpers.
Possibly most importantly of all, particularly if you have a technical question; don't assume you already have the correct methodology to reach your real goal and then ask questions about that methodology. You might be asking an XY question. Describe your goal in the first place. If the description of your goal includes technical language, then it's probably not actually your goal. See http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html#goal
(With thanks to irc.debian.org)
