Geek Squad... Errr.. Geek Fraud

I'm a college student as you all know, and today, in my business ethics class, we had a presentation from a student who happens to be an employee for Geek Squid.. that adolescent computer tech wannabe taskforce that Best Bought has on staff. I know this, because he pretended to know what we was talking about when our professor couldn't get the projector working and after unsuccessfully jiggling wires, returned to his seat. He had, however, prefaced his "work" with "I work for the Geek Squid... yadda yadda". Anyways, so you may say, "So what, he couldn't figure out a proprietary projection system at your university... that doesn't mean that the Squid is a Sqam..." I would agree with you, aside from him acting like a pompous prick, I wouldn't have given the situation of him a second thought... until today. He just finished his presentation, and he brought his own computer to hook up to the projector (probably loaded with spyware and porn dialers, but far from the point). Attempting to get his laptop working with the system, he grabbed the D-SUB15 VGA patch cable, held it in the air before connecting it and asked our professor, "Does this get sound too?" Wow, here's a winner. Any competent computer user that has ever done any kind of cable connecting knows the answer to that question. I definitely do not want this breed anywhere close to my computer or the computer of someone I love.

How to restore your music from your iPod with iTunes

There are many articles about how to restore music from your iPod using 3rd party software, but I've never seen an article detailing how to do it with the official iTunes software.

1. Make sure your iPod is set to "Manual Update" in iTunes before connecting it to a new install of iTunes. Otherwise, iTunes will begin "syncing" the two (deleting the music from your iPod).
   
2. Make sure your iPod is configured for disk usage by putting it in "Disk Mode". You can use the "Enable disk usage" checkbox in iTunes or do it manually.
   iPod/iPod Mini
   
   iPod Shuffle
   
3. Set iTunes to also copy songs added to your library.
4. Set iTunes to organize your library if you want (suggested).
   
5. Next, change your Windows Explorer in Windows XP options so that you are able to view hidden files and folders.
   
   Note: This step works for a variety of different operating systems, however, I do not have a different system to give instructions for. Just change your File Browser's view settings to show hidden files.
1. On the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.
6. Make sure your iPod is connected to your computer. Navigate to the drive letter that is assigned to your iPod (i.e. X:).
• Goto: X:\iPod_Control\Music
• Press {CTRL+A} to select all of the folders that you see here.
• Click and drag the selection and drop it into iTunes. iTunes will then begin copying your music into your music library and renaming them according to the ID3 tags that they hold.
7. That's it! In the end you get your music from your iPod properly named and organized in your new iTunes installation. Enjoy.
   

Dell Tech Support from an Optiplex-Optimist

This blog was written in response to another's post about the horrible technical support that Dell provides. Written below is my expert opinion, as I work with computers for a living. Also, to those skeptics, who say that I got special treatment because of where I work, I say this, "There are plenty of computer illiterate (read: "stupid") people out here that have problems with their Dells everyday, and there is no way, they (Dell) would ever be able to know people like that or someone like me by our work location." Dell was able to deduce my level of skill and adapt what type of technical support I needed.

I work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and we have a contract with Dell, where we may purchase their machines at a slighty lower cost. I assume, however, that we call the same tech-support number as everyone else and have the same on-line support as you do as well (I just grabbed them off the support web-site, so by assume, I mean "I know"). Recently, I had a problem with one of our machines not turning on and after submitting the problem via their online support website, I was greeted by someone who seemed to be American (in speech) and we quickly diagnosed the problem. Since we decided that the issue was either in the motherboard or PSU, and at the time I couldn't test either to determine which was at fault, she promptly shipped both items to me, overnight (via DHL) and included a return mailing sticker. I had the PSU replaced within 10 minutes of the package's arrival and sent the replacement motherboard back with the broken PSU, no problem.

Most people only complain about Dell's tech support, but rarely have I heard good things, I just wanted to share my personal experience with their tech support. However, my overall opinion is subject to change at the next time I need to call on them.

Here is the entire transcript (ver batem) copied from the email that they conveniently send out after an online tech session. Calling tech support is so 20th century...

This is an automated email sent from Dell Chat. The following information is a log of your session. Please save the log for your records. Your session ID for this incident is XXXXXXX.
Time	Details
06/01/2006 12:19:53PM	Session Started with Agent (RTS "JANE DOE")
06/01/2006 12:20:08PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty Chat Support. Please give me 1-2 minutes to retrieve your service tag information"
06/01/2006 12:20:42PM	Wes Alvaro: "Hi, My Optiplex GX260 isn't turning on."
06/01/2006 12:21:16PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "One moment please."
06/01/2006 12:22:33PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Thank you. May I also have your phone number and e-mail address?"
06/01/2006 12:23:05PM	Wes Alvaro: "865 xxx xxxx xxxxxxxx@ornl.gov"
06/01/2006 12:23:40PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Is this a new or existing case?"
06/01/2006 12:24:30PM	Wes Alvaro: "New."
06/01/2006 12:24:49PM	Wes Alvaro: "The power button just glows orange, I assume it's a motherboard or power supply issue."
06/01/2006 12:25:30PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "I am sorry for the inconvience you have had, Wes.PLease give me a moment."
06/01/2006 12:28:37PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Thanks for waiting"
06/01/2006 12:30:33PM	Wes Alvaro: "no problem"
06/01/2006 12:32:49PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Have you tried the normal troubleshooting FAQ for when the computer does not turn on?"
06/01/2006 12:33:37PM	Wes Alvaro: "Yes, I have the machine just ceases to function at all, no fans, no lights, no noise, just an orange glow from the power button is all I can get from it."
06/01/2006 12:34:25PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Have you tried starting the computer without the ram installed?"
06/01/2006 12:34:55PM	Wes Alvaro: "Yes, I have done all of the normal troubleshooting techniques."
06/01/2006 12:35:44PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "I believe it may be the power supply. Do you have a spare power supply that you can test?"
06/01/2006 12:35:50PM	Wes Alvaro: "Not at this time, I don't have any spare ones taht I can try, no"
06/01/2006 12:36:03PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "In that case, I can send you both a replacement motherboard and powre supply."
06/01/2006 12:36:18PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Once you receive the parts, will you be needing a technician to install them?"
06/01/2006 12:36:26PM	Wes Alvaro: "No, I will be able to handle the install."
06/01/2006 12:37:38PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Alright, then, you can mail the spare parts back when you are done."
06/01/2006 12:38:37PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "What is you mailing address?"
	...
06/01/2006 12:41:55PM	Agent (RTS Jane Doe): "Is there anything else I can help you with today, Wes?
06/01/2006 12:42:55PM	Wes Alvaro: "No, that's it, thank you"
If you require further assistance, please visit us at support.dell.com

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Modern, Cool Nerd
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