For a new category of help calls Microsoft labeled "scenario-based assistance," Microsoft will charge $79 per incident. This includes more advanced assistance such as helping customers set up home networks, optimize operating system performance or install and run certain third-party hardware and software. Previously, such issues, if Microsoft could handle them, cost $35 per incident, said Fingerhut.

Problems with all other Microsoft consumer software, such as Money, will still cost $35 per incident to diagnose and fix.

"Microsoft is clearly setting the stage for what could be higher costs for support over time," said Paul DeGroot, an analyst with Kirkland, Wash.-based Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm. But he added that complicated technical issues such as those that fall under "scenario-based assistance" probably merit their higher price due to their difficulty.

Caveats and exceptions

Microsoft will continue to help customers free of charge for issues related to security or viruses, as well as Windows Update/Microsoft Update.