How to query the Microsoft Knowledge Base by using keywords and query words

Summary

To quickly find an article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, you can search by using keywords and query words. This article lists keywords and query words that you can use in your searches. You can also find keywords and query words by looking in the "Keywords" and "Additional query words" sections that are found in some articles. Using the keywords and query words that are listed in one article may help find other articles that have similar content. However, some query words are only used for older content and may not help you find the most current information. Use a variety of search techniques to make sure that you receive the best search result.

INTRODUCTION

The Microsoft Knowledge Base has more than 150,000 articles. These articles were created by thousands of support professionals who have resolved issues for our customers. The Microsoft Knowledge Base is regularly updated, expanded, and refined to help make sure that you have access to the very latest information.Using keywords and query words in Knowledge Base articles may help you find the content that you are looking for more quickly. This article lists some of the most frequently used keywords and query words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

More Information

You can use the Microsoft Knowledge Base search options to customize your search. To learn more about these settings, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/searchSome articles have the "Keywords" and "Additional query words" sections. When you use words in either of these sections to search the Knowledge Base, you may find articles that contain similar content. To use these words in your search, select your product from the drop-down list box, and then enter the keyword or query word that is specific to the content you want to find in the Search for box.If the query words and keywords that you use in your search do not return the results that you expect, also use other keywords and query words.

Using keywords in your searches

Some articles have a "Keywords" section. The Knowledge Base is large, and it is constantly being updated. The team responsible for managing the Knowledge Base regularly adds keywords to Knowledge Base articles to help automate this work. You can use these keywords in your searches to locate articles that are related to your specific issue.The following is a list of frequently used keywords. However, keep in mind that there are many keywords that are not listed here. Check the articles that you most frequently use to find keywords that may not be listed here, but that may help in your other searches.

Windows keywords

Query word	Description
kbBackup	Creating or restoring backups of the computer system
kbClustering	Server Cluster
kbDefrag	Microsoft Defragmenter
kbDisasterRec	Disaster recovery
kbDualBoot	Dual booting
kbenable	Accessibility: information
kbEnableHear	Accessibility: hearing features
kbEnableLearn	Accessibility: learning features
kbEnableMove	Accessibility: movement features
kbEnableSight	Accessibility: sight features
kbenv	Environment and configuration information including OS, registry
kbEvent	Events, event models, custom events
kbEventLog	Event logging
kbFax	Fax
kbformat	Formatting
kbkern32dll	Kernel 32 issues and errors in Windows
kbKernBase	Kernel/Base issues
kbNLB	Network Load Balancing Cluster, Windows Load Balancing Service (WLBS)
kbRD	Remote Desktop
kbRegistry	Windows registry
kbRPC	Remote procedure calls
kbSafeMod	Safe Mode
kbScanDisk	Microsoft ScanDisk
kbshell	The Windows shell that lets users group-start and otherwise control applications
kbsound	Sound/audio
kbSysPrepTool	Microsoft Systems Preparation Tool
kbSysSettings	Operating system setup and registry settings
kbTimeServ	W32 time service
kbVirtualMem	Virtual memory
kbwindowsupdate	Windows Update
kbWinsock	Communication sockets such as NET Winsock and MFC Socks

Topic of article keywords

Query word	Description
kbAppCompatibility	Application compatibility
kbConfig	Configuration after initial setup
kbdisplay	Displaying information on a monitor
kberrmsg	Error messages and error message follow-up information
kbgraphic	Graphics
kbHardware	Hardware
kbinterop	Operation between applications
kbmm	Multimedia
kbMobility	Mobile Information Server and ActiveSync
kbprint	Printing
kbproof	Spelling and grammar checking tools
kbRepair	Repair processes and tools
kbsetup	Setup
kbui	Configuring the user interface
kbUpgrade	Upgrading or migration
kbUSB	Universal serial bus
kbvirus	Viruses and macro viruses
kbwizard	Using wizards

Type of article keywords

Query word	Description
atDownload	Contains a software update download
Kbqfe	Contains a hotfix
kbhowto	Describes a feature or describes how to perform a task
kbtshoot	Describes a problem or bug, how to fix a problem or bug, or for content about a virus

Security-related keywords

Query word	Description
KbSECBulletin	Security bulletins
kbSecurity	Security
KbSECVulnerability	Known software vulnerabilities

Internet keywords

Query word	Description
kbCookie	Browser or operating system cookies
kbFTP	File Transfer Protocol
kbHttpRuntime	HTTP Runtime
kburl	Contains a link to Internet Web site
kbWebBrowser	WebBrowser

Networking keywords

Query word	Description
kbActiveDirectory	Windows NT Active Directory
kbDCPromo	DCPromo.exe (the promotion process on a domain controller)
kbDHCP	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
kbDNS	Domain Name System (DNS)
kbFirewall	Firewalls
kbGPO	Group Policy objects
kbGRPPOLICYinfo	Group Policy information
kbGRPPOLICYprob	Group Policy problem
kbnetwork	Networking
kbStorageMgmt	Storage management
kbTermServ	Terminal Server

Messaging keywords

Query word	Description
kbExchangeOWA	Outlook Web Access integrated with Exchange
kbTransport	SMTP and MTA
kbaddressbook	Address book issues
kbreceivemail	email receipt issues
kbsendmail	email sending issues
kbemail	General email category
kbBTSmessaging	Microsoft Biz Talk Server messaging

Database keywords

Query word	Description
kbDatabase	Database
kbDTC	Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC)
kbJET	JET database
kbOracle	Oracle products and technologies

Developer keywords

Query word	Description
kbActivexEvents	COM Events
kbActiveXScript	ActiveX Scripting
kbAPI	Application Programming Interface (API), must have another keyword in article to specify which API's are discussed
kbCompiler	Compiler
kbCOMPlusLCE	COM+ Loosely Coupled Events
kbComPlusQC	COM+ Queued Components
kbCtrl	Programming or use of OCX or Windows controls
kbDCOM	Content related to Distributed Component Object Model
kbDirect3dIM	Direct3D-Immediate mode
kbDirect3dRM	Direct3D-Retained mode
kbDirectDraw	Direct Draw APIs
kbide	Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
kbJAFC	Java Application Foundation Classes
kbJava	Java programming/usage
kbJavaFAQ	Java Technologies frequently asked questions
kbJDBC	Java Database Connectivity
kbJNative	Native Java method
kbmacro	About an issue with the macro recorder or includes steps that use the macro recorder to create a macro.
kbMSHTML	Microsoft HTML Rendering Control
kbProgramming	Programming
kbRemoting	.NET Framework remoting namespace objects and classes
kbSample	Contains compilable code samples
kbWebServices	Microsoft Web services
kbXML	XML

Using query words in your searches

Some articles have an "Additional query words" section. Over the years, query words have been added to articles to make articles easier to locate quickly. However, many query words represent older content and may not help if you are looking for more current information. The following list contains query words that are frequently found in Knowledge Base articles.

Windows components query words

Query word	Description
Vfw	Microsoft Video for Windows
Wps	Microsoft Windows Printing System
MSCS	Server Cluster
Wss	Microsoft Windows Sound System
Msvoice	Microsoft Voice
kbScanDisk	Microsoft ScanDisk
kbDiskMemory	Disk/Memory Management
ISVCompress	Third-party disk compression
LFN	Long file name
MWAV	Microsoft AntiVirus for Windows
MWBackup	Microsoft Backup for Windows
AWFax	Microsoft At Work PC Fax
RAS	Remote Access Services
WinComm	Windows communications/serial
WinDrvr	Windows driver-related information
WinMem	Windows memory
WinShell	Windows Shell issues
WinMIDI	MIDI
WinTTF	TrueType font issues
WinPNP	Plug and Play issues
WinTAPI	Telephony issues
WinPlus	Microsoft Plus!
Dun	Dial-Up Networking
Drvspace	DriveSpace
WinFat32	FAT32
WinGame	Games that are included with Windows
SysInfo	Microsoft System Information Tool issues
Multimon	Multiple Monitor issues
WinAPM	Advanced Power Management (APM) issues
WinBatch	Batch files
WinBoot	Windows Startup issues
Winprint	Microsoft Windows Printing issues
Netclients	Network client
NLB	Network Load Balancing Cluster, Windows Load Balancing Service (WLBS)

Error message query words

Query word	Description
kbGPF	General Protection Faults and general crashes
UAE	Unrecoverable application error

Miscellaneous component query words

Query word	Description
3rdPartyNet	Third-party network issues
MSNets	Microsoft network issues
NetUtils	Network protocol utilities
NDIS3x	NDIS 3.x protocol issues
NDIS2	NDIS 2 protocol issues
NETHW	Network hardware issues
AppsComp	Application compatibility issues

Microsoft Network query words

Query word	Description
msnsignup	Sign-up issues
msnconnect	Connection modem and access issues
msnbbs	Bulletin board issues
msnchat	Chat issues
msnmail	E-mail issues
msnnav	Navigation issues
msninterop	Interaction with Windows 95 issues
msnsetup	Setup and upgrade issues
msnaccount	Customer account issues
msninternet	Internet issues
msnother	Issues that are not covered by other MSN keywords

Query words that are used for Encarta and Bookshelf articles that apply to MSN

Query word	Description
msn_encarta	Information that is related to Encarta on MSN
msn_bookshelf	Information that is related to Bookshelf on MSN

Microsoft makes every effort to add appropriate keywords and query words to its Knowledge Base articles. However, keywords and query words should not be interpreted as the sole representation of any topic.