Category Archives: work
Managed network install of Google Chrome Frame
If you’re locked into using Internet Explorer on your network, for whatever reason, you’ll probably find that there are some websites that simply don’t work properly, and ask you to install a “modern browser” like Firefox or Chrome. Thing is, … Continue reading
Songs in the key of SEN software
I just had to test some software we have for SEN kids called InPrint. You type, and pictures appear over words. Like magic. So this happened. Disappointingly, no “trigger” image. Boo! Then, of course, came:
Filed under work
Powershell preventing Server 2003 to 2008 upgrade
I came to upgrade one of our servers from Windows Server 2003 to 2008 today. Unfortunately, the upgrade failed in the first stages because the compatibility checker declared Windows Powershell 1.0 incompatible with Server 2008, and told me to uninstall … Continue reading
April Fools’ Day 2011
I have a bit of a reputation at work when it comes to April Fools’ Day. Each year I inform the staff of some controversial policy change or a new way to make life hell for them, and each year … Continue reading
Filed under work
Fixing Windows Update error 8000ffff
One of our Windows 2008 servers threw a wobbly (technical term) after a power cut a few weeks ago, and although I got it working again, it wouldn’t install updates, giving error code 8000ffff each time. The usual searches of … Continue reading
Network dropping out on VMWare guest
One of our virtual servers, which runs Apache and serves up a booking database, had been having intermittent network issues. It would be working fine for a few hours, or days, and then would “drop off” the network. Rebooting the … Continue reading
How not to apply for a job working for me
I’ve been sifting through job applications for new IT technician this week. If you’re thinking of applying for a job in an IT technician role (or any role, in fact), please don’t follow some of my applicants by example by … Continue reading
Wonderful Microsoft Technical Support Fun
Fairly recently, Microsoft added a “feature” to Live Mail (formerly Hotmail, remember that?). It’s a feed of all your “social” activity, called “Messenger Social”. I’m sure it’s lovely and all, but in a school where we block everything to do … Continue reading
Adding XP printer drivers to a 2008 print server
We’re currently in the process of migrating servers from Server 2003 to Server 2008, which is proving a right old pain for various reasons. This morning’s headache was reinstalling a load of network printers on the new 2008 install that … Continue reading
Sometimes there are things that just need to escape my head.
