Filed under: Uncategorized
Rebuilding this iPod wasn’t much of a challenge. Honestly, the hardest part was deciding what I was going to do and waiting until I got all the hardware I needed. Anyway, here’s the scoop (more…)
Filed under: Communicating effectively
When I moved into my office, it came with a small two-shelf bookcase tucked into one of the walls. On that bookshelf was one shelf full of hardware and software, and one containing a collection of books, including a couple of overdue library books, a few OS/DBS books, and one useful book: Writing that Works by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson. I’ll avoid gushing about how good it is and wishing that more people here would use it. Instead, I’ll publish a few thoughts from it. Perhaps I’ll create a ripple effect that elevates the tone of workplace communication.
Regarding email:
“Cut to the point. We mean that literally. Cut. Cut ruthlessly.” Messages should be concise, complete, and coherent. If you need to provide a lot of details, place them in an attachment. In my experience as a reader of email, I am most likely to just skim over the first paragraph of a long, drawn-out email, then delete it. Short messages get read.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’m trying to make this blog automatically publish my posts to Facebook, but it’s having trouble. Grrr.
Hah! Scratch that thought!
Filed under: Uncategorized
I finished my iPod rebuild, and I’m working on the post for the whole thing. This is the first time I’ve really tried to do a nicely illustrated step-by-step on WordPress, so we’ll see how it goes. It will (hopefully) be up next week.
Filed under: Administration
In relation to the desktop support portion of my job, I’ve recently handled several ‘problems’ that are really the result of a lack of skill when it comes to using a computer, so I’ve developed this list of computer skills. I’ve created three levels: Basic, Advanced, and Expert.
The items on the list, their order, and their level are completely arbitrary, as I choose them. However, I expect that anybody working in a modern office should be able to perform Basic level skills. Advanced may be required for job function, and Expert isn’t really needed, unless you’re a tech support person. Inability to perform a Basic level skill should be remedied by training, as it hinders proper performance of any modern office job.
Basic
- physical power On/Off with the power button
- power off/restart from the Operating System
- logging on and off
- open and closing programs and files
- opening, closing, maximizing, minimizing, and moving windows
- use scroll bars
- mouse functions: movement, click, double-click, right-click, click and drag
- (laptop only) trackpad/touchpoint movement, click, double click, right-click, click and drag
- run programs from the Start menu/application launcher/application strip/etc.
- find and open files on the computer
- delete files
- copy files, using mouse techniques and keyboard techniques
- create folders
- rename folders and files
- use clipboard functions (copy, cut, paste)
- empty trash/recycle bin/etc.
- using help
- using a web browser
- word processor functions, including basic formatting (justification, font, font size, etc.)
- (laptop only) switch between internal and external displays (for presentations)
- (laptop only) connect a projector
- connect to a wired network
- (laptop only) connect to a wireless network
- connect to an already configured virtual private network
- connect peripheral devices: mouse, keyboard, speakers, printer, monitor, etc.
- change background wallpaper
Advanced:
- configure peripheral devices: mouse, keyboard, speakers, printer, monitor, etc.
- map network drives
- use any applications besides a basic word processor
- advanced word processor functions
- set up e-mail profiles
- change screen resolution
- install software
Expert:
- add or remove a computer from a domain
- physical hardware installation
I may edit this list as I see fit, or as I think of additional items to add. Meanwhile, here’s a sample computer skills curriculum. Don’t knock it because it’s for 8th graders. I know plenty of “office professionals” who can’t do all the items listed on it.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Sunday after a Scout committee meeting, I was talking with one of the committee members, and he asked me if I would like an Ipod– Yes!– “with a broken hard drive”. uhh, yeah, still yes! I’ve got more details, plus pictures on my main family blog, along with a poll to advise me on what I should do with it.
Filed under: software
Most email programs include address books that support LDAP lookups. LDAP allows you to forget email addresses and type names in the address fields of messsages, providing any matching results from the directory your server is set to query. Here at GMU, that directory is every single active GMU employee and student, making LDAP a fantastic tool for individuals who need tofrequently need to send emails to new people, but only once, and who (like me) are too lazy to bother looking up their email addresses.
To set up an LDAP directory in Thunderbird 2 , using Windows, go to Tools, Options, Select Composition, and then the Addressing tab.
In here, press the “Edit Directories…” button, and then press “Add”.
Fill in the following fields on the General Tab:
- Name: whatever you want, really, but “GMU directory” or something similar may be wise.
- Hostname: directory.gmu.edu
- Base DN: o=gmu.edu
- Port number: 389 (This should be the default.)
- Bind DN: (Leave Blank!)
- Do not check the “Use secure connection (SSL)” box.
Don’t bother changing any settings on the other tabs. Just press OK, and then press OK again to get back to the Addressing Tab.
Now, check the Directory Server: box, and select “GMU Directory” (or whatever else you called it) from the drop-down list.
That’s it! Now when you type a name in the address field, the program will automatically query the GMU directory server and return a list of individuals who match records with yours.
Other mail programs have similar cababilities, but I’m not going to explain how to use them all right now, since I’m only using Thunderbird right now.
In my job as a network administrator, I come upons situations that leave me surprised regarding the tools I need in order to do my job. Everyone expects me to use some tools regularly, especially screwdrivers.
People don’t expect me to need wrenches, yet I find that I do. That’s why we have a very nice kit of socket wrenches in our tool drawer. Everyone expects me to use duct tape. I don’t. Duct tape is not appropriate for most computer use. If I need to tie up cable, I use a cable tie. If I need to wrap exposed wires, I use electrical tape. If I need to tape something to the ground, or a desk, or a wall, I would much prefer to use gaffer’s tape.
My favorite unexpected tool is the one that sits on my workbench right behind me. Nobody ever expects to see it in the hands of an IT guy except as an implement of destruction:
The Hammer
Yes, I said the hammer. What? Have you been watching too much Office Space?
IT guys (and girls) use hammers for more than just smashing up misbehaving printers. That’s why we have two. In fact, I used my hammer more recently than I used my screwdriver, just yesterday. If it weren’t for the hammer, we would have had to throw away three battery backup units because their battieres were swollen and the battery tray couldn’t get out of the UPS. The hammer also got the batteries out of the tray, saving us about $1,200 each. Yep. The hammer saved us three thousand dollars. I’d call that worthwhile.
So, another salute for you, Mr. Hammer:
hammer victorious!
It’s recently come to my attention that there is an interesting error involving Microsoft Word and Symantec Endpoint Protection (aka SEP). Under the right circumstances, attempting to save a file directly from Word onto a USB-connected drive (flash or hard drive), results in an error:
“Word cannot complete the save due to a file permission error”
The problem doesn’t appear to affect Windows Vista users, only XP, and quite possibly, only XP installations that have been patched to Service Pack 3.
Luckily, on my network, it mostly won’t matter. About 95 percent of my clients have Symantec Antivirus (SAV), not SEP. My user’s home PCs, however, may have this version. I know at least one person does.
Thankfully, there’s a rediculously easy way to work around the problem: Save your file to your computer first, and then copy it to the flash drive. That’s it.
If you don’t know if you have either one installed, or can’t tell one from the other, just check out this page for even more details.
I had put together a post (unpublished, yet) regarding computer security. I’ll delay it in favor of this one.
One of The Rules of computer security is physical security. If someone with malicious intent has physical access to a machine, they can at least compromise the data on it, probably steal it, possibly alter it, and definitely destroy it. This is why the government freaks out so much about stolen (and lost) laptops. (I should know. I saw it happen a few times while I was at the IRS.)
What those rules don’t cover is restricting physical access among authorized users. An uneducated user (or [especially] administrator) can wreak as much havoc as any malicious attacker. This can be mitigated to some extent by using the principle of least privilege, but not totally eliminated. I can easily write a script to delete files (or change them) and embed it in a webpage (even this one). If I can convince someone browing the website to run it, it will run as whatever level of user they are. If you’re a (standard) limited user, I can deleted/change any files you have access to (Mostly your documents/data). If you’re an administrator, I can delete/change anything on the computer.
In conclusion, I’ll go back to The Rules: if you’re worried about the safety of data on your laptop, I have three words for you: Lock it up. The laptop, not the data. If you were worried about paper files, you’d put them in a locked office, file cabinet, or safe, right? Do the same thing with the computers that hold your digital files, please. Your administrator will thank you. If you have anything you really care about, back it up. If you don’t trust a site, don’t run stuff on it, and just because Google links to it, or because someone you do trust links to it, that doesn’t mean you should trust it.
