Problem: The computer by the window in office XX.NN is not working
Fair enough. I go to office XX.NN to see what the problem is.
My Problem...There is no computer by the window, in fact, there is no desk by the window.
I call the teacher that called with the problem, I wanted to verify the office number and if the problematic computer is in fact in that office.
Teacher: Of course the computer is in there, I was in there earlier today
Me: Really, are you sure the computer is by the window?
Teacher: Yes
Me: The only computer that was in that office was on the right side, as you walk in, wall....
Teacher: That's the computer that isn't working
Me: I see...That desk or computer aren't by the window
Teacher: Well, its close to the window
Me: [silence]
Teacher: Has it been fixed yet?
Me: No, not yet, I just wanted to confirm that I had the right computer in the right office. I'll fix it today.
Solution: Plug the computer's power cords into the electrical extension on the floor under the desk on the right side, as you walk in, wall
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Why are some teachers so obtuse?
A teacher approached me today, she was having a problem with her network password. It was an easy fix, and she was about ready to go on her way.
I look at her, biting my tongue, and suggest that she go and check right now, today, so that if there is a problem we can fix it before her presentation.
The teacher responded with a look that implied I had saved the world from collapsing.
Duh!
Obtuse
"I have a presentation in a multimedia room tomorrow, what if I have a problem with logging in?"she inquires.
I look at her, biting my tongue, and suggest that she go and check right now, today, so that if there is a problem we can fix it before her presentation.
The teacher responded with a look that implied I had saved the world from collapsing.
Duh!
Obtuse
Thursday, March 6, 2008
This monitor is too big
I got a request to install a refurbished computer in a teacher's office; a desktop case with a 17 inch CRT monitor. We usually ask the teacher make room on their desk for the computer and monitor.
As part of the initial request, she told us that the monitor was very big, She was hoping that an LCD monitor would magically show up on her desk. That was NOT going to happen. This computer was essentially free to her and her department, her department was not going to buy a new monitor for a refurbished computer.
I went to her office to do the install, again she said that the monitor was very big and could she have an LCD (a direct request to me this time) I explained that she would have to ask her department chair, and if it was OK'd she would get an LCD.
I was told that there wasn't enough room on her desk for the computer and monitor, she would like a small table, could I find a small table for her...HUH?!?! I don't do tables.
I directed her to the correct department and suggested that when she gets the table I would return to install the computer for her.
The teacher was not pleased, but there wasn't much I could do.
Where is the punch line, that silly bit that makes this a head banger....
Wait for it.....
The computer was a desktop case and the monitor sits ON the case, taking up no more room than the computer. So while she waits for a small table, the computer sits on the floor gathering dust.
I doubt the computer will ever get installed.
As part of the initial request, she told us that the monitor was very big, She was hoping that an LCD monitor would magically show up on her desk. That was NOT going to happen. This computer was essentially free to her and her department, her department was not going to buy a new monitor for a refurbished computer.
I went to her office to do the install, again she said that the monitor was very big and could she have an LCD (a direct request to me this time) I explained that she would have to ask her department chair, and if it was OK'd she would get an LCD.
I was told that there wasn't enough room on her desk for the computer and monitor, she would like a small table, could I find a small table for her...HUH?!?! I don't do tables.
I directed her to the correct department and suggested that when she gets the table I would return to install the computer for her.
The teacher was not pleased, but there wasn't much I could do.
Where is the punch line, that silly bit that makes this a head banger....
Wait for it.....
The computer was a desktop case and the monitor sits ON the case, taking up no more room than the computer. So while she waits for a small table, the computer sits on the floor gathering dust.
I doubt the computer will ever get installed.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
I can't print
This is a common enough problem, with many potential causes.
Sometimes we need to add paper to a printer, or the toner needs to be replaced, sometimes a printer can break.We use a pay-to-print system, if you have no money in your account, nothing will happen when you try to print.
A student comes to us with a problem "I can't print".
We spend our time troubleshooting the problem, checking the printer, verifying that there is paper in the printer, and finally asking the student to log on and verify his print balance. "I can't do that, I can't logon" ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG
By this time the student is getting a bit upset because we can't fix the "printing" problem; he has a paper due in 10 minutes and is in a bit of a panic.
We have now spent 5 minutes trying to figure out what's wrong, only to find out that all we need to do is reset their password. This will take about 45 seconds.
It is at this point I want to throw a Fortran manual at the student's head
Sometimes we need to add paper to a printer, or the toner needs to be replaced, sometimes a printer can break.We use a pay-to-print system, if you have no money in your account, nothing will happen when you try to print.
A student comes to us with a problem "I can't print".
We spend our time troubleshooting the problem, checking the printer, verifying that there is paper in the printer, and finally asking the student to log on and verify his print balance. "I can't do that, I can't logon" ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGG
By this time the student is getting a bit upset because we can't fix the "printing" problem; he has a paper due in 10 minutes and is in a bit of a panic.
We have now spent 5 minutes trying to figure out what's wrong, only to find out that all we need to do is reset their password. This will take about 45 seconds.
It is at this point I want to throw a Fortran manual at the student's head
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Good morning A-------,
This morning you placed a call to our help-desk ostensibly claiming that you could not log-in and you were in the middle of an exam.When we responded we found your class working away watching YouTube videos on the net. The problem seemed to be that you were unable to log-in to your web based e-mail account. That service seems to be under some type of Denial of Service Attack today and the whole world is having trouble getting to their site.
If this was the case, I question your ability to diagnose computing problems. Perhaps, you should undertake some training? If you knowingly misdirected us, may I remind you of the parable about the boy who cried wolf. Our future responses could be long enough to ensure we will only find the bones.
Please, in the future, call us when you have a problem but don't inflate the urgency.
This morning you placed a call to our help-desk ostensibly claiming that you could not log-in and you were in the middle of an exam.When we responded we found your class working away watching YouTube videos on the net. The problem seemed to be that you were unable to log-in to your web based e-mail account. That service seems to be under some type of Denial of Service Attack today and the whole world is having trouble getting to their site.
If this was the case, I question your ability to diagnose computing problems. Perhaps, you should undertake some training? If you knowingly misdirected us, may I remind you of the parable about the boy who cried wolf. Our future responses could be long enough to ensure we will only find the bones.
Please, in the future, call us when you have a problem but don't inflate the urgency.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Help, My CD is stuck
This was about 10 years ago, when we still had some 486 computers without CD-ROM drives in a few of out labs.
A young lady asked for some help getting her CD out of the computer. No problem I think as I grab a handy-dandy CD removal tool, commonly called an unbent paperclip.
I ask her where she was working, she directs me to the lab with the oldest computers, those 486 machines without any CD-ROM drives i mentioned earlier.
I'm a bit confused, but I soldier on and ask her to direct me to the problematic computer.
This is going to be interesting I think to myself; The paperclip is NOT going to help.
She had managed to put the CD into the 5¼ inch disk drive.
HUH?!?!
I asked what she had done, she was just following her teacher's instructions.
When I asked why she didn't use one of the labs with the newer computers with the CD-ROM drives she told me that she had never used a computer before and didn't know any better. Why she didn't ask for help before is beyond me, but there are people like that.
I did my best to explain that we would have to dismantle the computer to get her CD out, and that it may not be usable once retrieved. She was upset and the prospect of losing her disk,
Well, not only did we have to remove the drive from the computer, a desktop case, we had to destroy the drive in the process.
She got her CD back, fortunately for her, it wasn't too damaged and worked properly in a computer with a CD-ROM drive.
Now we have a stack of CDs that people have forgotten in the labs
A young lady asked for some help getting her CD out of the computer. No problem I think as I grab a handy-dandy CD removal tool, commonly called an unbent paperclip.
I ask her where she was working, she directs me to the lab with the oldest computers, those 486 machines without any CD-ROM drives i mentioned earlier.
I'm a bit confused, but I soldier on and ask her to direct me to the problematic computer.
This is going to be interesting I think to myself; The paperclip is NOT going to help.
She had managed to put the CD into the 5¼ inch disk drive.
HUH?!?!
I asked what she had done, she was just following her teacher's instructions.
When I asked why she didn't use one of the labs with the newer computers with the CD-ROM drives she told me that she had never used a computer before and didn't know any better. Why she didn't ask for help before is beyond me, but there are people like that.
I did my best to explain that we would have to dismantle the computer to get her CD out, and that it may not be usable once retrieved. She was upset and the prospect of losing her disk,
Well, not only did we have to remove the drive from the computer, a desktop case, we had to destroy the drive in the process.
She got her CD back, fortunately for her, it wasn't too damaged and worked properly in a computer with a CD-ROM drive.
Now we have a stack of CDs that people have forgotten in the labs
Sunday, February 24, 2008
I need it full screen
I received a call from one of my clients. He has lost the menu in his web browser, and can't print something. It takes me a second, I realize that he is in full-screen mode, I tell him to hit the "F11" key to restore the menu and tool bar.
Problem solved.....NOT!!
I'm told that he knows about the "F11" trick, but that's not really his problem, why did I know that?
He tells me he needs it in full screen because he wants the picture displayed to print big.
Biting my tongue, I offer to go to his office to help him print a picture of his grand daughter; that story is for another time.
Problem solved.....NOT!!
I'm told that he knows about the "F11" trick, but that's not really his problem, why did I know that?
He tells me he needs it in full screen because he wants the picture displayed to print big.
Biting my tongue, I offer to go to his office to help him print a picture of his grand daughter; that story is for another time.
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