The official ©2004 Microsoft site describes these as
"...a free Internet broadcast service provided by Microsoft." All broadcasts are made available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours of the live session."

Where else can you watch live technical presentations provided by Microsoft technology experts and get involved in live Q&A sessions with the experts, after each presentation?

If you interested in these but cannot participate in a live session, you can now visit the past Support Webcasts pages to view an on-demand recordings.

In other words, the benefits of Support Webcasts are variegated! These benefits include but are not limited to: an opportunity to chat with Experts, gain insight to issues which can make your online experiences more enjoyable and learn tips plus tricks on how to use Microsoft products, on your personal computer.

For your convenience, I have compiled this brief summary from various MS partners and WinWriters.com, to enhance our understanding on this FREE Internet broadcast service.

First, to view a WebCast you will need to set aside some time and have the current version of Windows Media Player or PowerPoint, installed on your PC.

Note: the Windows Streaming Media archive requires an Internet connection of 28.8 Kbps or faster, and is best viewed with a minimum screen resolution of 800 X 600.

In addition, be aware that there are various categories plus technical levels of information, which you can expect from a Support WebCast. The following descriptions from Microsoft will provide you with details on these WebCast levels.

Support WebCast Level Descriptions

"To ensure that participants get the most out of each Support WebCast, the technical level of the presentation has been included. Classification has been done in accordance with the classic undergraduate class model and the description of each level is listed below."

100 level: Is an introduction to the topic or overview. The 100-level Support WebCast assumes little or no expertise with the topic being covered.

200 level: Assumes 100-level knowledge and a fairly complete understanding of the features. The 200-level Support WebCasts may discuss case studies that cover a breadth of common scenarios or explain how to use more advanced features.

300 level: Assumes 200-level knowledge and an in-depth understanding of product features in a real-world environment. The 300-level Support WebCasts may go into unusual case studies that illustrate specific aspects of the product that are key to improving performance or interoperability.

400 level: Assumes the deepest level of technical knowledge we expect a customer to have. The 400-level Support WebCasts are essentially expert-to-expert sessions. The content provides the means for customers to push products to maximum performance, achieve the broadest possible interoperability, and create applications using even the most advanced features.'

Check out the following for popular and FREE WebCasts or Live Meetings by Microsoft experts which include

Microsoft Windows Error Reporting,

Using Windows Remote Assistance,

Internet Explorer Security and Privacy,

Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition: An Overview,

Basic Troubleshooting Techniques for Windows Millennium,

Wireless Home Networking and Windows XP Service Pack 2,

Microsoft Windows XP: An Overview of the Advanced Networking Pack,

Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003: Password and Account Lockout,

Best practices to use when migrating from Microsoft Office 2000 or Office XP to Office 2003

and Windows Messenger for Windows XP: New Features, Common Issues, and Troubleshooting.

For those interested in the Wireless Network security, review the Best practices to set up a home wireless Network, from a previous Live Meeting titled How to Set Up and Improve the Security of Home Wireless Networks. (It runs approx 1 hour 8 minutes and is a Level 200 session, presented by William Keener.)

On a related note, popular recorded Web seminars include topics on: The effect of antivirus software on Microsoft Exchange Server, Troubleshooting common problems in Microsoft Virtual PC 2004, Port Reporter tool, Office System 2003 and Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft offers current Downloadable Support WebCasts for offline viewing. View these expert Microsoft presentations, without requiring an active Internet connection.

MocassinNote: This WebCast or Live Meeting FAQ was created to help you save money and resolve PC plus server related issues.

Stay and be well!

In spirit,