I know it sounds kind of dumb but maybe you could try and make the “Read THIS before you post” topics that stand on top of most sections more visible. It seems to me that more than 60% of those posting for help totally miss them and don’t post the most basic info needed to provide an answer.
Maybe some red fonts or other more eye-catching color would help.
It seems to me that more than 60% of those posting for help totallymiss them and don’t post the most basic info needed to provide ananswer.
Only 60% ?? 
This is one of our MAJOR problems (and has been, for as long as I can remember). The great majority of instances, though, it’s not due to the “visibility” of the post, as it’s posted on almost all forum pages and in all languages supported (to say nothing of ‘other’ places, such as my own siggy… and it’s in colour!! ).
It’s due to factors such as users not bothering to read, being lazy (“I don’t wanna read anything. I just want an easy and fast solution to my problem:”) and wanting the reply to magically appear on-screen (by telepathy or some such method), at the same instant that they finish pressing the “Post” button.
You know, we know and, yes, even some of ‘them’ know that without the basic Essentials (see my sig), we can only resort to using our “crystal balls”.
I agree with changing the colour to red** **or something , though (lol, I even asked if it could appear in ‘flashing mode’, once)… I’ll have to ask if someone ‘higher up’ can do that. 
Yes I totally agree with flashing, too (you read my mind).
It could even intermittently switch from “Read this first” to “Read this first or I’ll smack you in the face” :lol: Who knows maybe that way they’ll read it.