We've had quite a lot of debate about Super User and the website-questions-policy.  Here are two of the more major threads:

 - [High reputation users having trouble understanding Super User?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/38391/high-reputation-users-having-trouble-understanding-super-user)
 - [Superuser website applications policy](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/39615/superuser-website-applications-policy)

That's the basis of current policy, so start there.

> Is it fair to ask a question at Super User about how to most efficiently access support resources (e.g. drivers, BIOS updates, tools, manuals) from a computer manufacturer's web site?

Yes, it's fair *to ask*.  But if the question is more about *how to use the manufacturer's website* than *supporting the hardware*, it may fall afoul of the website policy.

Resolving this is simple: don't ask how to use the manufacturer's website; ask how to fix the problem hardware.  (Or software.  Whatever.)