SteveB_NI

Idea has became a non-runner. We're going to get a series of new photocopiers etc for the new school build, but for the meanwhile it's cheaper to continue using our current printers. Now time to put an order in for toner.

That would be a certain Computer components website, with a nice blue background on the discussion forums wouldn't it? Sorry, off topic!

I've just spent a lovely 1hr 30mins or so on the phone to Dell tech support. My problem: no connection via wireless on my Inspiron laptop. I've tried everything apart from replacing wireless (prob built onto motherboard) - drivers reinstalled, etc. The problem is we have had a managed service (C2K for those familiar with N.Ireland schools) put on these laptops, so we're quite limited as to what can be done / installed. 39 other laptops were fine, but 1 failed It's not funny having to explain to a foreign call centre worker that I can not access the full Windows commands, nor can he remotely support me due to the managed service. Time to use the collect and return service we paid for I think! Sorry

I've had to phone Dell twice recently... 1st call was to fix a dodgy display - amongst the stuff I had to try was to stroke the laptop with a magnet (got some funny looks that day!) and also try to run a diagnostic program. He didn't seem to understand when I told him I would love to run the program but I can't see a thing! After 40mins he agreed with me it may be a faulty connection, and told me to open the laptop (I didn't want to do this beforehand incase it affected warranty). I unplugged the display cable and re-attached - job done. Total time: 1hr. 2nd call was to report a keyboard with various broken keys - well sticky keys. Again they tried to get me to run a diagnostic program. I apologised to him, and instead asked for a replacement keyboard to be sent out, which I am able to fit myself. Total time: 15mins (including queue time). Accidental damage cover is great

Yes, leasing them for a short time initially to see the benefits if any. We can phone the supplier for toner at any time too, which would be of benefit during periods of heavy use. (read: all the time!) You're lucky not having to touch photocopiers, I get asked to photocopy work for staff members, and fix paper jams etc even though I am an ICT Technician (by job title at least).

Following a meeting last week, the topic of colour laser printer usage costs came up - and a suggestion was made to shift users from printing to colour laser printer to colour photocopier. Apparently this will cut costs by a great deal. What do you use? Colour laser or Colour photocopier? The plan would be to network the colour photocopier, and teachers (and selected students) can send jobs to it, similar to the current set up with the HP 4600's. Collating scary figures at the moment....

Thanks very much!

I'm trying to find a way to automate the marking of a piece of classwork, using either MS Word or Excel. Basically the plan is to describe a question for the user, and then accept their answer (its done multiple choice, so a single number will be given as an answer). The file then gets sent to the teacher. When the teacher opens the file, they want to be presented with an answer, either "correct" or "incorrect" preferrably with a total. I'm thinking along the lines of Macros here if I go down the Word road, but if I go with Excel I could do a number of "if" statements (which check each field against a set of answers) which are triggered by a macro. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Yup plan to get loads of post-it notes, notepads and pens (I can't hold onto pens thanks to other members of staff / pupils!)... I wasn't here this time last year so I don't really know what I should be aiming to buy... I did have a fair idea though!

I'm compiling a list of equipment, peripherals etc for personal work use which I may require over the coming year.... Any ideas? I've got the following items currently on the list: USB Hub / Card reader CD-R stock I already have a set of tools so don't need them...

I decided to concentrate my time yesterday on repairiing the shared printer server - got that booting up ok, and tested the printer from all workstations and it's all ok. (So far). A fresh copy of Windows 98 would be ideal - I have had to put off further work until the higher priority tasks are complete, but is it just a case of boot disk in, and install Windows? or is there a repair option?

Good idea - I was tempted to go down the second pc and secondary hard drive route but the linux boot CD would be a good time saving option, especially as I have a boot cd right beside me. I'll give it a go after lunch today, and hopefully be able to fully re-install Windows 98 before the end of the week. I'll not be able to lock down the pcs in that time as much as I'd like but it would be a short term solution.

I forgot to mention, I'm tempted to install a fresh copy of Windows 98 on all the machines, and pretty much return the lab to the original state (not using the daft image CDs). But.... I lose all the pupils work on the hard drives. I can't install my zip drive / CD RW due to the winlock

A dept in my school is equipped with legacy low spec Windows 98 workstations, with a printer accessible to all workstations via printer sharing. They all have internet access. I have just received a call from the teacher telling me that no workstation can print to the printer.... they are all locked down using Winlock etc which unfortunately has been built onto the build disks (don't ask ... ) so I can't check the printer configuration settings, or even re-allocate the printer. The pupils have been saving their work onto the workstation individual hard drives, and due to the printer issue cannot print this work. Floppy disks apparently don't work (I don't see why not, as I have seen the drives in action earlier this year), and they cannot email work home as the network connection is slow enough! There is not enough licences available on our Windows XP disk to allow upgrading to Windows XP throughout the entire lab (regardless of whether we can find enough extra RAM sticks). The coursework (put on all the machines in Word documents) is due to be completed within the next month. I have no idea what would be the best solution for this room, could anyone give me some ideas?

That didn't work round here. The kids found out who was doing it and start scrapping in the school yard. While I appreciate the intention, vigilante justice is prohibited by our anti-bullying policy. Hence why I said "blinkered view" by members of staff

You could always do what was threatened in my previous school (not by me - but by other members of staff who had a blinkered view on things) - refuse to replace the mice, and keyboards and just leave them broken until the pupils get the idea. In my current school the pupils are fantastic and treat our equipment with respect.... all girls secondary school too.

Although I am employed as an ICT Technician, I do a fair amount of photocopying / document binding as required by other departments... Today we have went through approx 25/30 reams of paper between photocopiers within the office and printers within the classrooms.... (excluding the admin office) this strikes me as being rather high for a term day! Out of interest, how does this compare to the amount of printouts / photocopying in your respective schools?

Thanks, The plan is to use the project to further my knowledge of PHP and MySQL, so I could look into features like reminders of overdue equipment, and also a facility where a large number of laptops can be borrowed at once using a single class ID (save time when handing out laptops). I was thinking of using it to manage printer cartridges / toners, where I can produce statistics of how often a printer requires toner (for re-ordering purposes) and where problem areas are for wastage etc. Thanks for your suggestion. Steven

As I have an interest in web design and development including PHP, MySQL etc, I am always looking for new "projects" to experiment and further my knowledge. At the school in which I work, we lend out various resources to pupils and teachers throughout the day, over night and even over holidays - things such as laptops, digital cameras and video cameras. I was thinking of bar coding each item, and when someone borrows it they scan the bar code, and enter brief details such as their name, time from / to etc. I could link the scanning system in with a booking system, which will alert borrowers if their time is clashing with an existing booking. what do you all think?