Andie

Welcome back, Jake! Took you a long time to dig that tunnel! The lighter side of forum posting has been restored and there is peace, goodwill and merriment in techyland once more.

In my dreams!! As SimpleSi says, the primary sector does things differently, law or no law! Actually, I can't complain, as I am on a high TA scale, and I guess that will stay as I will still have to help in the odd class - still one or two teachers and supply teachers who lack IT confidence. I did turn down the offer of HLTA status with the "bonus" of teaching all the IT classes a couple of years ago. Thanks for all your good wishes.

Thanks, but I need more information. The technet article is for XP and I am using 2000, which I believe uses a different version of Sysprep. There is no mini-setup check box and no reseal. And I don't understand how you can tell the image about the drivers when you run sysprep, even reading the article. Sorry to be so dense but Ghost and imaging has always been set up for me by the ICT provider before, and now I am without that help at all.

Are your computers on a network? We use mandatory profiles, but if you aren't on a network then that isn't possible. I know that we had a little peer-to-peer network years ago and that used a program called Winsuite, which managed the desktop icons in a standard way. I think it is still available - R-E-M or similar supplier??

Been meaning to share some good news for a while... I was employed in this school as an ICT Teaching Assistant as well as ICT Technician - the whole job being only 12 hours then (small school in the primary sector). This meant I was expected to be in all ICT classes when they were being taught as well as all the techy bits. Small network then, has now grown and I am still the only IT Support and still part time. Anyway, at the start of December I finally got permission not to have to be in ICT classes unless the teacher needed me. It has already made a big difference to my workload, and I can now plan things like improvements and get on with some of those niggly jobs that need doing but get pushed to the back of the job pile for months on end! :D

I need to take an image from one of our older PCs. These are Windows 2000. I haven't taken an image of these since our domain changed when we acquired a new Suite of XPs and a Server 2003 network upgrade. We image the XPs across the network, booting from LAN and using Learning Network Manager to manage the images. I can boot from LAN from the older computers, but, after running Sysprep (the version that came with Win2000), when I try to take an image I get a message saying there is no information about the network card and the imaging aborts before even getting underway. We have Ghost32 installed on the server. Previously, these machines were on a Viglen network. We imaged these by multicast with ghost on the server and a floppy disk in the client. We have two sets of floppy disks for the older machines, as there are two different builds with two different network cards. I guess I am missing the Ghost software from the Win2000 machines. I also imagine we are only licensed for the number of floppy disks we have for them. Is there a combination of booting from LAN and floppy disk in drive that i can use?? What are my options here?? Could I still use the Multicast method instead?? (Basic English please and as much detail as possible).

We have used a company called Utilize twice in the last 4 years (we don't have many problems), both for HP laserjet 220 printers. I and the teachers who were in the classrooms where the printers were have been very impressed with them. They are quick, polite and report back to you at the end of their visit. I think their prices seem good. Link below: http://www.utilize-printer-repairs.co.uk/repair_rates.html

Bad language also makes it difficult to use Edugeek in the workplace. A lot of us, particularly primary school techies, don't have offices that we can work in privately. I don't want to be looking something up on here in the IT Suite if there is a danger of something offensive coming up on the screen!

Both I and my teenage daughter thought it was very weak - lots of loose ends not properly tied up, lots of unexplained bits (like the young man who was shot seeming to recover without medical aid, and lasting a very long time before being rescued too!). Both of us biggish fans, but each series is a bit of a mixed bag - some very good and some rather poor. Sometimes it feels like they are more interested in how things look than in the content of the plot. But I guess that, with a lot of different writers involved, some episodes are going to appeal more than others.

You may have to install an extra template from the Office 2003 resource kit (or even download the resource kit and set it up). The bit you need is called Gal11.adm. The link below is to the Microsoft article that explains what you need and how to do it. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402401033.aspx

Right, I have finally had a chance to look at the registry settings for User Shell Folders on the server (as suggested above). The only one that is redirected is the Favorites, to drive S:, which it is possible I did by accident when trying to redirect these for the users....(hangs head in shame..) This being the server, and me being a one-person outfit with no back up except you very helpful people, I need a very foolproof way of setting this bit of the registry back to the default. I am a bit nervous of using the registry frag. It might be best just to edit this one bit of the key. But what is the default setting for this? Would it be %USERPROFILE%\Favorites?

All is now sorted out - so far, so good, at least. the laptop supplier sent another hard drive installed with XP, and once I had swapped drives I connected the SMARTboard straight away. The new hardware (SMARTboard was found and installed this time), I got a flashing green light on the board and interactivity. Then I installed the SMARTboard software and connected the board again, which properly started the SMARTboard services and got me a fixed green light. I have since installed other software and all still seems well.

The problem we had was that when a whole class was looking for clip art, and thus going online, our Internet connection had a nervous breakdown and two or three machines would just appear to hang. If we just disabled web searching for clip art, then nobody found any clip art because Office 2003 doesn't come with very much as standard. Anyway, I've fixed it thanks to all the information here. Have installed the Office XP media CD locally to clients, as it was quicker than fiddling with permissions! Found the relevant ADM template and addded it to our Office 2003 GPO, enabled Hide Web Collections (and ticked the box in the settings) and we are all sorted. Thanks folks!

I think you are actually connecting the laptop VGA port to a projector via a junction box, and the projector displays on the whiteboard (Promethean). At a loss now to see where the problem lies, though... VGA port displays fine through external monitor; another laptop displays fine through this projector - so VGA port and junction box and projector are all OK. So if the problem laptop is connected to another projector on a whiteboard and doesn't work then it must be a setting on the laptop that is only picked up through a projector/junction box and not through an external monitor??? Sorry, just trying to think it through aloud. Maybe it will help...???

Oh, boy! Don't you just love laptops and whiteboards, and the wonderful time we all have trying to work out whether it is the laptop or the whiteboard just so we can convince the supplier to fix it! You said you had connected a monitor to the problem laptop, but didn't say whether or not it worked. You also said that you had tried the laptop on another board, but it wouldn't work with that either. But the original board will work with a different laptop. So I don't think it's the board. If the monitor wouldn't display from the laptop, then I would guess it is one of two things: 1. Dual display mode has been unset on the laptop, as mentioned above (Fn + whatever function key does it on that laptop - but I'm sure you would have tried this already) or some setting for this is disabled, but you said you had copied all the settings from another laptop and that didn't work. 2. Faulty connection to second display - RGB connector pins, faulty monitor cable, or faulty hardware inside the laptop where the RGB port is attached. Also, can you tell if the board itself is picking up the laptop? On the SMARTboards there is usually a red light that turns to green when the laptop connects. This is through the serial/USB cable connection and not the monitor cable connection. If the serial/USB connection is OK, then it is definitely just an issue with displaying to another monitor (or in this case to the projector) and not an issue with other connections between the laptop and the board. Sorry if this is long-winded. I was just trying to work through what you said you had tried and what has been suggested here.

Update: after another remote session and still unable to fix problem, laptop suppliers are sending out a replacement hard drive installed with originbal image (XP and Office). Once that is in place, they are going to talk to me again - I think we are going to connect the board up without my having put any of our school software on it, possibly including SMART software (as the drivers are Microsoft anyway). They briefly said that imaging the working laptop and copying that to problem one was complicated, and I didn't pursue that as we only had a short window of time in which to run the remote session. I think the current theory is that the order in which I installed the software here on one laptop may have been different to the order in which I installed it on the other, and somehow that corrupted a driver...?? Anyway, we shall see... Steljes did get in touch, but say it is a laptop problem, which is fair enough.

ICT TECHNICIAN (REF: ICT/1) 20 hours per week, Mon-Fri, Term time only 8.15am to 12.15pm Monday to Friday (£14,197 to 14,882 pro rata) Taken from Information for Applicants: We are looking for a person with a good background and knowledge of ICT. You will have some experience of installing, configuring and supporting both desktop and file server systems in a networked environment. You should also have experience of working as part of a team or individually and be able to repair and maintain ICT equipment. Formal IT training and qualifications are desirable but not essential where previous experience has been gained working in a school environment. You will need to be proactive and prepared to exercise initiative in the execution of duties. You will be required to support teaching staff in the delivery of the curriculum and assist students in lessons. A person with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work flexibly and harmoniously with colleagues and students would suit the working atmosphere that we have created at Hampton College. School networks have become increasingly complex over the last few years and it is essential that applicants have some relevant experience to enable them to provide support to our Network Manager. The position is term-time only, although it may be necessary to work some additional hours during peak periods in the school year. As the school grows and develops further it is anticipated that hours may increase in order to meet the needs of the school, although this cannot be guaranteed at this stage. On-going training will be provided as part of personal and professional development. Closing date for applications: Wednesday 12th December 2007 Job description and application form, plus further details about the school can be found on this link: http://www.hamptoncollege.peterborough.sch.uk/vacancies.htm

Job Title: IT Desktop Technician Closing Date: 09/12/2007 Job Details: To support the Desktop Manager in the provision of assistance to the PRC client population with such problems and requirements as they may arise in the use of desktop computer hardware, supported software and systems. Please see the attached job spec for more information. Salary: £17,774 - £20,460 per annum How to Get More Information: To apply please send your CV to [email protected] stating clearly how you meet the short listing criteria or for an application form please call HR on 01733 762222. There is a link to job description below: http://www.peterborough.ac.uk/hr/docs/ITDT.pdf

Mmmm... I did think of that, but the laptop isn't on the network and my technical know-how is a bit limited on the imaging side - someone set it up for me on our workstations and I generally just follow the instructions. Also, the laptops are both new (bought end of October), so I'm not sure how I would stand with the warranty. But as the idea has now been validated on Edugeek, I will run it past the laptop suppliers and see what they think. Thanks!

Everything was running fine up until about a month ago when our server and UPS unexpectedly shut down. That caused the server to stop seeing the Standalone tape drive, also connected to the UPS. I eventually got the backups running again, but something still isn't right, as it is very slow. I have various instructions for troubleshooting on the software side (which I need to eliminate before I assume it is hardware related), but they involve either a software repair (backup exec) or updating VERITAS drivers. Neither option works at the moment as I get the same Invalid drive error.

OK, I've installed using the ADDLOCAL option instead and that appears to have fixed things for all users. Maybe a permissions thing then...??

Yes, I know you did - did you ever get your laptop sorted?? The problem sounded awful, and you said you couldn't get the cleaner software to run either. Unfortunately, I've tried this for my problem and still no good. The SMARTboard supplier has just referred it up to Steljes (the UK SMARTboard source). The laptop supplier thinks it is a corrupted driver, which probably means a Windows reinstall in the end, but we will see after his remote support session tomorrow lunchtime... Thanks for the suggestion, anyway.

Thank you. I am more reassured. I will check the registry entry, but have no idea how to ramp up the logging on Installer or even where to find the log... (I can find the log for BackupExec, though it didn't seem very helpful). I'm a primary school techie learning as I go along the hard way mostly...!

I cannot get one of our new laptops to install the drivers to connect to our SMARTboard. I keep getting a Code 28 error (which on the MS website helpfully means that the driver cannot be installed!!). We have Series 6 SMARTboards, and we have 7 other classrooms all running happily. It isn't the board, as that works with other laptops. However, the laptop won't work with any other board - same problem. We have SMARTboard Software 9.7 installed, and the operating system is Windows XP SP2. The problem laptop is one of two that were purchased at the same time, both the same model and same setup. One installs to the board fine and one doesn't. The drivers that the working laptop has installed are in Human Interface Devices in Device Manager, and both drivers are Microsoft, not special SMART drivers. The problem laptop can project OK to the board, but cannot interact with it (ie. touch screen doesn't work, etc.). When I first connected the laptop to the board and powered up and logged on, the Found new hardware bubble came up in System Tray, then, instead of the usual automatic install, the New Hardware wizard started. I have now tried various methods to force install - SMARTboard software CD in drive, XP CD in drive, uninstall driver that is faulty, and disconnect cable and reconnect cable, every USB port on the laptop (which seem OK as they will install memory sticks), the SMARTboard connection wizard. Short of throwing the thing out of the window.... (believe me, I'm tempted!). I have contacted SMART but they are in the States and wanted me to phone while in front of laptop - time difference makes that impossible. I have contacted our board supplier, who at first told me the drivers were in the PNP drivers folder in the SMART Technologies folder, but has since learnt from me that they are actually Windows drivers (he tried looking on his laptop and I was right...). I have had to go through these two first, because the laptop supplier has been difficult about sorting the problem. I am now having to spend lunch hours in front of the laptop/board (so as not to distrurb class times) while they log in remotely to try and fix it. They have suggested a Windows reinstall, but there is other stuff on there that they put on, which would mean me installing all that too - plus, as it has a Vista product key, I have been told I have to contact Microsoft to get a XP product key because of the downgraded intstall. So if anyone out there has any magical ideas, I would be very very grateful!!!!

Very helpful information here. But I am still having problems. I have copied the Office XP Media CD to a network share that all users can read. I have run the command line as administrator on the client. As administrator, I can now find lots of clipart without going online. So far, so good. But when I log in as an ordinary user, I can't find any clipart beyond the basic Office 2003 set. It still doesn't seem to be looking at the collections in the network share. Is this a permissions issue on the share or is it mandatory profiles causing this?????