Category: Blog

I applied for a job with my district that pays more but also requires a ton more hours and a lot more responsibility.  Wasn't even sure I would still be a computer scientist if I took it.

Basically I waited too check on what happened to late.  The hiring manager told me he hadn't received the resume and cover letter and that I should check with HR.  HR told me that they knew Groupwise had been eating resumes but didn't know whose.  They sent my stuff to the hiring manager, and he said that he had already finished interviews and had paperwork ready for downtown.

I like my job except for 8th period, and I have a new plan.  I take my notebook, a portable desk, and a rolling chair and sit behind the most annoying children.  The way to get rid of me?  Get to work, I come back if they start being annoying.

So after creating a "recovery" disk, I had it delete the partions, and then the system wouldn't boot at all.

The weird part is that the Toshiba system would never read it's CD, but I could read it with an external CD-rom.  However, the system also wouldn't boot off of it with the USB.

So I loaded a generic XP Home version, ran all of the Toshiba drivers from the CD (using the external USB CD-Rom, moved the files back and installed iTunes. 

Hopefully he is happy.  It sure is working better than it did when I got it.

Well, the good news, is that I have all his data backed up on an external drive.  The bad news is that the Toshiba Utilities disk won't boot, and the Recovery disk boots, but only gives me choices that make no sense:

Reinstall some sort of Express Movie thing, Delete all the partions, or uninstall the Express Movie thing.

I tried the first, and there were no changes.  I deleted all the partions, and there is a small C: partition, I suspect recovery stuff, and the computer won't boot.  I'm on Plan C; now.  Install Windows XP Pro, and then see what I can do with the Recovery stuff.

It's reformatting the deleted partions, which is 76317 MB of disk space, and I'm doing the regular formmating as I don't want any of the Malware to remain.

FUN!

Our school has been hit with a bunch of virii — and one of the victims is one of our administrators.

I am doing something I NEVER do, which is to fix a personal computer.  Not sure why, probably the challenge. 

When my computers got hit, I reimaged, but I am trying to do this one with as least damage as possible.  I did lose a few weeks of files, but probably nothing important.  This one isn't backed up but he realizes he might lose everything.

So here's what I've done, and where I'm at.

First the problem:

When you turn on the computer and you attempt to log in you are immediately logged out.  This also occurs in safe mode.

What I've done:

1. Did a search on Windows XP logs in and logs off
2. Followed the directions on that page, didn't work.
3. 1.  Those directions said to copy a file.
4. Downloaded a copy of Windows XP Pro from MSDN, as at the very least, I can use that to wipe the hard drive and reimage the laptop.

The Good News:

He has the Toshiba Recovery disk but it won't boot.  Doesn't seem to be a bootable CD.

Right now:

I'm following the directions at http://saveme.danfischbach.com/ which I found doing the above search.
I've got a Vista Recovery Disk and his Save Me files downloaded.

AND IT WORKED!

I am able to boot into the computer, and do stuff.  My next step is to scan everything with some portable tools, uninstall his virus checker and put Microsoft Security Essentials.

Thank you Dan, and I'm going to ask my administrator to throw him some money, as he did the fix.

These people are awesome!

http://www.wildcrazyfun.com/keys/

For less than $6.00 and in about 4 days (with some bad weather between us), I got a new key for my Lenovo X61 and it took about 15 minutes and a small screwdriver to install.

My husband was very so what, but it makes a HUGE difference in comfort in typing and embarrassment factor in using.

Can’t say enough good things about their service.

And in about 10 laptops, this is the first key I’ve lost.  Basically I was trying to get a test script out of the keyboard and the latch broke.  I actually still have the key, and really just needed the latch assembly, they sent the key, the latch, the holder and the rubber cup.

When I left the building Thursday, we were pretty sure we weren't having school on Friday and the power was out.  We also had a major snow storm — at least major for Dallas.

I honestly expected to come in with the power still down — quite a few customers are still down in Dallas but my husband figured our neighborhood would be up quick since we are on a major street and half a block from another one.

He was right — we had street signs down — but the electricity was on.  Even my room lights were off, but I can't remember if I had them on or off — I suspect on as I was expecting to see a class.  Of course, the computers were all still off.

The great news is that all system were up this morning, and we have a ton that can go down.  My dean's wireless at home was down and I suggested she power cycle when she got home, but that's as far as I can go for her.

Thanks TAC!  As I know a ton of stuff went down when the power went off.   I also don't know which centers where actually down over the weekend, but we had a lot of people without electricity, thankfully not my house this time, even though I had all the emergency batteries charged.  Maybe that's why!

@weemooseus asked for a magic wand tonight.

Most people at my school think I have one.  I don't, but here's why.

9 out of 10 computer problems are solved by a reboot.  Shut the computer down, wait long enough for all capicitors to drain and turn it back one.  Actually that works 99 times out of 100 if you are running @faronics Deep Freeze.

9 out of 10 printer problems are solved by shutting down the printer, rebooting the computer, and trying again.

Most network problems are solved in similar ways.

The funnest part, is that most of the time, by the time I lock up my toys, get someone to watch my room, and go where the network is working, it's reset itself.  Of not, the reboot will solve the problem.

A lady got really upset today because I wouldn't go down to her room and bring my wand.  But it takes 10 minutes to leave the room, and I had kids to deal with.

It’s the last period of the day.

So here’s how my day goes:

• 1st Period – CS
• Super kids.  Quit a few come early.  A couple of them have families with chronic time problems.  They come in, sit down, participate in demonstrations and most get their work done.  Those who don’t do it quietly.
• 2nd Period – Math Study Skills
• Do Texas Web Tutor – small class – quiet but does do some off task talking and surfing.  Everyone gets something done.
• 3rd Period – PAWS (Study Hall)
• Seniors – have figured out the rules in days, quiet roar, hey, they have figured out how to come to school every day and get things done.  Most are passing, most of their classes.  No one “failing”.
• 4rd Period – Tech Support
• 5th Period – Lunch
• 6th Period – PreAP – Doing XNA
• Awesome
• 7th Period – Math Study Skills
• Finally got them to understand the rules, oddly losing a couple of kids who weren’t discipline problems nor regular attendees helped.  They were kids not passing the TAKS who just did and are now in Reconnect trying to get credits.  One has come back for help but during PAWS, not this class.
• 8th Period – Math Study Skills
• Driving me nuts!
• MP3 player stolen in this class the day before Winter Break
• Have had to start sending people out and rearranging students.
• Called 6 parents during class yesterday.
• One kid had his phone out, was ignoring me, I took it put it in desk drawer and it disappeared later in the class period.

I haven’t had a class so radically bad in years and so dramatically different.  Starting Monday, I’m going to ask a different administrator a day to attend.

ARGH!

I love Typepad.  I was a Movable Type user for years, had it installed on my own server, and while I liked it, it was a pain in the rear.

I would get writers block every time I had to update it.

I even tried WordPress when Movable Type went to a pay model.

By I LOVE Typepad.  So much I am a Typepad affliate and will get a referral fee for anyone who signs up.   They also pay for Movable type

Here’s why I love it:

• I don’t have to do with upgrading the system.  They change something, they do and I don’t have to.  Yeah, I can write code and do maintance but when it comes to blogging I don’t want to.
• I can post any way I want.  I can go to their web interface, use my phone, use Windows Live Writer or Adobe Contribute.  Or even Snag It.  I can even post by sending an email, and can respond to comments that way too.
• If I have a question, they answer it.
• I can use my own domain.

Create Your Blog Today TypePad

Typical dialogue:

Do you think that the district will come out and do ….

I'll be happy to put in a ticket and see.

Do you think that the district wil come out and do ….

I'll be happy to put in a ticket and see.

Do you think that the district wil come out and do ….

I'll be happy to put in a ticket and see.

At this point, I walk out of the room and think you are an idiot.

What is the point of the exercise, do you think I'm going to change my answer?  That's all I can do.  Put in a ticket and see what happens.  I also think they want me to stop and write everything down but it's YOUR lab and you get to manage it.

Oh, and this one is retiring in a few months and some days I think she already has.