Plugging in...
The Tutor installed an ordinary wireless all-in-one printer with Apple AirPrint capabilities this week. (Apple AirPrint means iPads and iPhones can print to it). Although the installation on the Mac AirBook laptop went smoothly, testing the print capabilities was a bit more challening.
The printer worked perfectly communicating with the laptop, printing was easily and quickly accomplished from multiple programs, including email and the internet. Just when the Tutor thought it was safe... testing commenced via the client's iPhone and iPad. First print from each was successful. Not to rest on our laurels, we attempted a second print from each. The printer was producing an error on the screens of both the iPad and the iPhone stating "printer is out of paper". And clearly it was not. It had a solid half inch of new printer paper, properly fanned and seated in the print tray. The laptop continued to print normally, without any errors stating the printer was out of paper. Hmmmm.
The printer had two paper trays, one for 8.5 x 11 paper, the other for 4 x 6 to photographs. Not having any 4 x 6 photo paper, the Tutor proceeded to measure and cut a few pieces of 4 x 6 printer paper and inserted them into the photo paper tray. Crossing fingers, which by the way sometimes works... the iPad and iPhone were once again asked to find the printer and print. They both did quickly and without error. But, we already had a one time printing success that morning. So we printed again. Perfection. Not only did the "out of paper" error disappear, but the printing was directed to the 8.5 x 11 paper, not the photo sized paper, as we hoped.
Interesting and misleading error. The iPhone and iPad do not have any printer settings, none, nada. Hard to imagine why both of them were finding an empty photo paper tray that they didn't want to print to anyway. Thank you, Apple.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is there paper in ALL trays, and is it turned on?
Unplugged
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
Hard Drive Bashing Party Anybody?
Plugging in...
The procurement of a new computer always leaves the user with the dilemma of how to safely dispose of the "old" computer. Not safely as in not harming the Earth (that, too will be addressed) but safely as in how do I remove all my information. DELETING is not the answer because, well you don't really want to know all the technical details, but it the information on the hard drive can be recovered if only deleted.
Two things factor into a solution. Do you want the computer to be usable by someone else, or is it ready for the glue farm?
If the answer is that it's ready for the glue farm, then we have a hard drive bashing party. Literally. We remove the hard drive from inside the computer, and have at it with a screw driver and a hammer, and any other tools we choose to use to destroy it. Then whatever remains of the hard drive can be recycled as metal. The rest of the computer including cables, power cords, keyboard, monitor, etc can be recycled no charge at many local stores: Staples and Best Buy are options.
If the answer is you would like someone else to use it, then we have more work to do, and no Hard Drive Bashing Party for you. Look for another blog entry that addresses the complete removal of the data on the hard drive, with the hard drive left intact for a second life.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, and is it turned on?
Unplugged
The procurement of a new computer always leaves the user with the dilemma of how to safely dispose of the "old" computer. Not safely as in not harming the Earth (that, too will be addressed) but safely as in how do I remove all my information. DELETING is not the answer because, well you don't really want to know all the technical details, but it the information on the hard drive can be recovered if only deleted.
Two things factor into a solution. Do you want the computer to be usable by someone else, or is it ready for the glue farm?
If the answer is that it's ready for the glue farm, then we have a hard drive bashing party. Literally. We remove the hard drive from inside the computer, and have at it with a screw driver and a hammer, and any other tools we choose to use to destroy it. Then whatever remains of the hard drive can be recycled as metal. The rest of the computer including cables, power cords, keyboard, monitor, etc can be recycled no charge at many local stores: Staples and Best Buy are options.
If the answer is you would like someone else to use it, then we have more work to do, and no Hard Drive Bashing Party for you. Look for another blog entry that addresses the complete removal of the data on the hard drive, with the hard drive left intact for a second life.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, and is it turned on?
Unplugged
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)