I've suggested this before but maybe an automatic warning for all newbs that pops up before they post with a link asking them to read a FAQ thread where most of these common questions will be answerd before opening a new thread would be beneficial. Something along the lines of "If you're about to ask a common question please check here* first as there's a good chance it's already been answered" or whatever.
*Link to a FAQ thread.
I also think that unfortunately they would be never read but immediately skipped.*Link to a FAQ thread.
Maybe a solution could be to force the new users, when they register, to answer to 2-3 simple questions that demonstrate they've somehow read the README/FAQ.
1 reply linking to the thread with the answer and nothing else. But thats not going to happen, because its an easy "constructive" post for people with a paid signature. And while its nice to get someone answering my question in detail it encourages dependent behaviour. I am probably guilty of this myself. For some of these threads I notice answers coming in weeks after the OP has allready gotten an answer.
I suspect that probably we would see a lot of 1 post threads (just the OP) if there weren't the signature campaigns.On the other hand it might not be wise to be harsh to newbies. After all we (or at least I think so) want more people to get involved with bitcoin and this board is the place to go for that.
Yes, it could have a light impact on the abandon rate of new users. But is that really a problem?I mean that if someone is really interested in BTC, I think he can go over that.
The way I know the newbie section though, this will not work. Threads get necro'd there all the time. People write short useless replys on threads that allready have several answers.
Yes, that's annoying when the new answers don't add anything to what already posted if there is no need of multiple confirmations. 
