Simple registration, very easy to do, will not satisfy the problem, so I cannot vote yeh or nay, Once again, I would ask you to consider fatboys suggestion, or something similar.

I've rewritten this post because after much thought, I have to agree with Superbills post below concerning unregistered posters.. I did click yes on the poll above (the only one it would seem) and wish to retract that vote to no. It is pretty cool really to think how little do we see in the forum concerning spammers and posters who flame..Which obviously reflects on everyone who frequents here... I think it should stay the way it is for now and check on the subject again if the need arises?

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I'm for retaining the "status quo".
My introduction to this forum came about by looking for an answer to a specific pc problem and then deciding to register once I had assessed how useful & informative the site was. I doubt if I would have stayed if I was given an ultimatum to register straight away. There is merit in the suggestion to register after a a period of time but perhaps 10 days would be preferable.

Sadly, I haven't been to any website except this one, that doesn't require registration before posting. That's an opinion from the Internet!!!

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Celestra

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying?
I also visit many help sites such as this. With a couple of noteable exceptions, I have never been requested to register immediately.
This site, and the others, whether you register or not, are still free to browse through and study the questions and answers. Surely, therefore, the matter of assessing the sites value, could be deduced from such browsing?
I have purposely stayed away from sites where I was required to register BEFORE browsing the answers. The only sites where I have, in fact, registered, are those where I could, like yourself, assess the merit first.

I see this as a darn if you do and darn if you don't. So Mike I have to agree with you on this. Simply because you might lose some good people by taking a harder line on this.

I am embarrassed!! After expressing my strong views I had a mental abberation and clicked no when I meant Yes. (Hangs head in shame)
Anyway it is obvius which way the vote is going 8not a lot of interest it seems?9 so the Admin can leave it or change it as wished.

Lol, phew and I thought I was the only one to get things in a twist...I'm sure this topic will surface time and time again until a more perfect solution is found.. I agree with davehc about how frustrating some unregistered posters are but I also feel that the forum would be worse off without them.
Some forums I can mention have very strict rules on being able to join, the reason offered for this is to cut down on 'idiot' posters... We have no such restrictions but yet enjoy a sensible and mature forum (for the most part). I suppose what I'm trying to say is that, you may have all the regulations and rules in the world but a good forum it doesn't always make. Forums develop their own identity which reflects on those who frequent it and make it what it is....

Just a thought: Rather than ban unregistered posters, how about coming up with ways to make users feel more like becoming members??

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The one thing I do not want to see, leading from this thread, is stricter moderation.
I am on one such site which is policed heavily. I stay as an active member because of its very high efficiency in quality of contributions etc.

Unfortunately, due to recent annoyances as far as spam is concerned, it has become a necessity. Registration requirements will also be stricter. Consider the voting to be concluded "early", as even I have had enough of the spam problem.

Some anti-spam software has also been added to the website which will automatically put posts suspected of spam into the moderation queue for approval. Although I doubt that this will happen often, if it seems to be overkill please let me know.

Of course if this results in less activity on the website in the form of contributions to posts I will consider changing it back to allow Unregistered to post. However enough people seem to have voiced their objections for now.