Hunting a driver
Today’s challenge: install a new printer with the least impact on the client. By impact, I’m referring to the perception that any kind of change in the workplace is a major crisis, requiring handholding for all the wrong reasons.
The workgroup has been waiting for their new printer, impatiently. With the trays on back order, no option but to bide their time. Today, I unboxed the printer and three extra trays. Found a free IP address (more difficult every year). Deployed the drivers (that is geek speak for making a server actually serve as something other than a space heater). And finally, arranged with the head of the workgroup for a proper moment to actually move things around.
Hold on. Test first. And in proper printer fashion, I learned that the drivers were not exactly as advertised. My fourth tray; missing in action. Time isn’t important when dealing with new technology, so my afternoon involved trying the various flavours of driver available from the manufacturer. And full of frustration, I called the hotline. Cut to the chase, as they say, convincing the phone support person that I knew what problem I wanted solved (not an easy task, when people live and die by their scripts).
I have new drivers to test, after the long weekend. We’ll see.
And in counterpoint, another user came by with one of those wireless mice that work… sometimes. I’m not sure, but the problem might be the mouse, or the transceiver, or the software, or the USB ports on the laptop, or the phase of the moon.
