As a computer repair technician’s my day will generally start at about 7:30AM. Although we only see our first clients at about 9AM there is typically a lot of research to be done. For example there may be a computer that needs a virus removed that we have not seen before. So we have to find out how to remove the virus in the shortest space of time possible. Fortunately the Internet is filled with resources for how to repair computers. Any good onsite computer technician will have a collections of websites they regular visit to keep abreast of what is new in the IT world. It is really hard to simply find the information when you need it. To be a good technician you must keep up to date.
After the research it is time to plan our routes. This involves balancing urgent computer repairs with considerations such as creating an efficient route in order to keep our computer repair costs as cheap as possible for our clients. In Sydney an efficient route is essential but ultimately the more urgent computer repairs tend to determine where we go. After working out a route and researching IT news we hit Sydney’s roads.
The first job is in Newtown. It is a retail shop that is having trouble with their back up system. Upon arrival onsite the client advises us that the computer is ten years old and the back system is almost as old. In fact the system is running Microsoft WindowIn cases like this it is best to consider replacement. Unfortunately the customer has their sales and accounting information on the computer so replacement is not an option. Looking at the backup system it is clear we are dealing with a system that has not been around for a long time. Diagnosis is easy – the tape mechanism has failed. Unfortunately, they do not make backup systems like this anymore. This means we will need to order a new Sony tape backup system - DAT 72. At the same time the client is offered a new PC. It would almost be negligent to leave them running their business on such an old computer system. The client agrees and we book in a time next week for migration of their data to their new HP computer, we will be keeping their old software.
It is now 10AM and it is time for visit number two. We are now moving to the Sydney CBD. This client is a small recruitment firm. They advise they are having trouble with their wireless network. This is serious for them because they run their software off the cloud – that is their software runs through the Internet. A quick check of IPConfig and a few other network tools at the command prompt reveals that it is a DNS issue. Lucky for the customer this can be quickly fixed. When customer service spoke to the client on the phone they though their network had been attacked by a virus and that a system crash was imminent. We login to the router, update the network settings, check that all is working. We find a firewall conflict. After fixing that we are all done.
Continued next week....
After the research it is time to plan our routes. This involves balancing urgent computer repairs with considerations such as creating an efficient route in order to keep our computer repair costs as cheap as possible for our clients. In Sydney an efficient route is essential but ultimately the more urgent computer repairs tend to determine where we go. After working out a route and researching IT news we hit Sydney’s roads.
The first job is in Newtown. It is a retail shop that is having trouble with their back up system. Upon arrival onsite the client advises us that the computer is ten years old and the back system is almost as old. In fact the system is running Microsoft WindowIn cases like this it is best to consider replacement. Unfortunately the customer has their sales and accounting information on the computer so replacement is not an option. Looking at the backup system it is clear we are dealing with a system that has not been around for a long time. Diagnosis is easy – the tape mechanism has failed. Unfortunately, they do not make backup systems like this anymore. This means we will need to order a new Sony tape backup system - DAT 72. At the same time the client is offered a new PC. It would almost be negligent to leave them running their business on such an old computer system. The client agrees and we book in a time next week for migration of their data to their new HP computer, we will be keeping their old software.
It is now 10AM and it is time for visit number two. We are now moving to the Sydney CBD. This client is a small recruitment firm. They advise they are having trouble with their wireless network. This is serious for them because they run their software off the cloud – that is their software runs through the Internet. A quick check of IPConfig and a few other network tools at the command prompt reveals that it is a DNS issue. Lucky for the customer this can be quickly fixed. When customer service spoke to the client on the phone they though their network had been attacked by a virus and that a system crash was imminent. We login to the router, update the network settings, check that all is working. We find a firewall conflict. After fixing that we are all done.
Continued next week....