Here are a few troubleshooting tips that you can complete yourself when you are having computer issues:

1. Restart the computer. This does not mean holding in the power button until it turns off, it means to go to the Apple Menu and select Restart Computer. This simple process fixes a majority of problem. Please always restart your computer first.

2. Next, go to another room, restart the computer and log in. Remember, all your files and applications are on the network, not on any particular computer. You can log into any computer in your building and have full access to all your files. If the other room works, you can submit a Help Desk request to have your computer serviced.

3. If you are having printing issues, try printing to another printer. Every building except for Westview has multiple printers that you can use. Some printing help is here.

Additional help is available online.

If you do have a problem and are submitting a Help Desk request, be sure to fill out the form as completely as possible, including what steps you have taken to fix the problem and what steps I should take to recreate the problem. If a student is having an issue, I need to know the student’s name and what steps the student does to have the problem manifest itself.

The following examples are vague and will slow down getting the problem fixed.

“The computer gave me an error message and now nothing works.”
– What was the error message?
– What doesn’t work? Specific examples are required: “Microsoft Word won’t launch” or “I can’t find Firefox”

“Several students cannot work.”
– What are the student’s names?
– What application are they trying to use?
– Which computer in what room?

“I got a message and don’t know what it means.”
– What was the error message?
– What application were you using?

The Help Desk has had 939 requests since August 1st! I want to thank everyone for taking the time to use the Help Desk and for their patience in getting requests completed. Eight hundred and forty five requests have been completed.

“Students today depend upon these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib (not to mention sharpening their own quills). We parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world, which is not so extravagant.”
PTA Gazette, 1941