Of Networks and Mapped Drives (or "Plug It In, Plug It In")

[ptstech.livejournal.com]

(x-posted to my LJ)
Dear $Luser,

Yes, you need to plug the cable back in when you get back to your desk.
No, it was not just a one time thing.
Yes, you have to do it every time you come back.
No, I am not at all certain how that would be inconvenient.
Yes, I am correct.
No, I am quite sure that your way would not, and indeed did not, work.
Yes, I am aware that you are having trouble remembering it.
No, I'm not sure why that is, but I can remedy that.
(looks for branding iron)

I smell opportunity...

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't exploit the failings of fellow tech's... but sometimes you gotta wonder what monkeys are they employing?

So... End of shift, Monday. My first day after training. [ie, death by powerpoint presentation]
It being the beginning of the month the Bills have hit the Doormats for $MegaUtilityCompany which I have the dubious honor of being a lowly CSA for. [hey, it's a paying gig, and times are tight] And it's holy hell o the floor because $MUC just hiked the prices and announced a whopping big profit at the same time.

Half an hour before end of shift...and a deathly hush suddenly descends as the computers all lock up. Not a BSOD event, but network wide it all just goes into Guru mode, and of course nothing can be done because we have these spiffy new phones that don't have buttons, just a length of Cat6 connecting them to the Boxen.

"

Oh yeah

" says the floor manager, "

it's been doing that about this time of day ever since they updated the net.

Might as well pack up and go home."

Hmm... thinks I, and on a hunch checked the network clock, sure enough, Windows had done it's usual nasty trick of resetting to default GMT, ie, not DayLight savings when updated. [yeah, we're in Britain] Which meant that the servers were running backups half an hour before end of shift, not half an hour afterwards... and thus a tad busy to actually do anything else.

Floor managers reaction when I point this out;
"

Ohhh, I'll mention that to the I.T department! They've been trying to fix this for weeks!

"

*headdesk*

Methinks I may be moving sideways into the I.T dept at earliest opportunity. I suspect there may be an opening there soon, if not several. Besides, I could use the extra bananas!