Freeing up some space on the C Drive may make things run a little quicker on your computer. If you're feeling comfortable, throw a little de-frag action in there too.
For Windows XP
Control Panel -> Performance & Maintenance
-> Free up space...(delete temp files)
-> Re-arrange items (defrag)
For Windows 7
Control Panel -> System & Security -> Administrative Tools
-> Free up disk space, select C drive
-> Defragment your computer (analyze first)
Monday, May 6, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Windows XP and Windows 7 and installing printers
The library is slowly switching over from Windows XP computers to Windows 7 computers. This is great and the process has been fairly smooth. Except when it comes to installing printers. Our Windows XP computers have a 32-bit operating system; our Windows 7 computers have a 64-bit operating system*. I don't completely understand why but this difference causes some issues with the drivers.
The solution, once it was found, is actually very easy.
Devices and Printers -> Add a Printer -> Add a local printer
Create a new port -> Local Port -> Next
Here you want to type this: \\computername\printer but of course you will use your computer name (the computer that the printer is physically attached to, not the computer that you're installing the printer onto) and your printer name. For my purposes it looked like this: \\REFSTANDPAC\HPColorLaserPAC.
After this you will pick your printer brand and model. We were installing an HP Color Laserjet 2605 computer which wasn't listed so I chose the drivers for the HP Color LaserJet 2700 series and it worked. Maybe in this case close is good enough.
*How to determine what you have: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218
The solution, once it was found, is actually very easy.
Devices and Printers -> Add a Printer -> Add a local printer
Create a new port -> Local Port -> Next
Here you want to type this: \\computername\printer but of course you will use your computer name (the computer that the printer is physically attached to, not the computer that you're installing the printer onto) and your printer name. For my purposes it looked like this: \\REFSTANDPAC\HPColorLaserPAC.
After this you will pick your printer brand and model. We were installing an HP Color Laserjet 2605 computer which wasn't listed so I chose the drivers for the HP Color LaserJet 2700 series and it worked. Maybe in this case close is good enough.
*How to determine what you have: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
I'm back
Hello again, it's been a few years hasn't it. After completely ignoring this blog, and even the concept of blogging, for a while it struck me on my way in to work this morning that I was on to something way back when. So, here I am again, taking a slightly different approach to this. Since 2009 when I last posted I've become the Tech Coordinator at the DFL. Great job, lots of great staff and patrons, beautiful community, close to the beach, yada yada, roughly 70 computers that potentially need daily attention. Oh yes, I'm also the head of a very busy circulation department. And I have one other staff member who helps with tech stuff, for 5 hours a week.
So, can we all help each other? If I post what I'm up to and keep it current will you, readers, comment with your suggestions as well? Or even better, write about your success stories as you hunt and peck your way through a solution. So we can all learn - together - what if I press this key?
So, can we all help each other? If I post what I'm up to and keep it current will you, readers, comment with your suggestions as well? Or even better, write about your success stories as you hunt and peck your way through a solution. So we can all learn - together - what if I press this key?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I know, I know, it's been a long time. I won't even bother to say that I'll try to post more frequently.
Jumping right in....here's what's on my mind. Most librarians I know are doing a great job helping patrons find the materials they need. Lately I've been thinking about teenagers and their horrible lack of Internet searching skills and what librarians can do to help this. If even half of our interactions with these kids can include a quick instruction on Google searching, database searching, heck, even letting them know that databases are available, then we would - slowly - make a difference. It's too easy to spoon-feed these patrons. It takes a lot less time to do it ourselves, but in the long run, it will make our jobs easier and more rewarding if we teach these skills.
Jumping right in....here's what's on my mind. Most librarians I know are doing a great job helping patrons find the materials they need. Lately I've been thinking about teenagers and their horrible lack of Internet searching skills and what librarians can do to help this. If even half of our interactions with these kids can include a quick instruction on Google searching, database searching, heck, even letting them know that databases are available, then we would - slowly - make a difference. It's too easy to spoon-feed these patrons. It takes a lot less time to do it ourselves, but in the long run, it will make our jobs easier and more rewarding if we teach these skills.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Social networking......love it hate it
So I'm sitting here on a Friday afternoon waiting for a girlfriend to come join me in a glass of wine and I'm thinking about my love/hate relationship with social networking. I just can't wrap my head completely around the concept of living that publicly. I don't have it in me to post "going to grocery store now" or "having my third cup of coffee". It's not that I'm ashamed of my life, I just don't think anyone really cares what I'm doing. And I'm wondering if it's just a personality issue. I am by nature a private person. I'll tell my closest friends anything they want to know but I tend to want to keep my little business to myself. Do the people I work with really need to know every move I make on my days off? Do my friends want to know all the things I do when I'm at work? I doubt it.
At work I've got the library Facebook page up and running. Everyday it seems we get new fans. I Twitter regularly with library events and as with Facebook, our following grows daily. And I always get excited when I track the numbers. But shortly after the excitement comes the feeling of, "so what". I need to figure out why this is important to the library. It is increasing community awareness, but weren't those people aware of us already? Are they just blindly jumping on the social networking bandwagon without truly understanding why they're doing it, like me? I'm waiting for an epiphany here. If someone can enlighten me please do....
At work I've got the library Facebook page up and running. Everyday it seems we get new fans. I Twitter regularly with library events and as with Facebook, our following grows daily. And I always get excited when I track the numbers. But shortly after the excitement comes the feeling of, "so what". I need to figure out why this is important to the library. It is increasing community awareness, but weren't those people aware of us already? Are they just blindly jumping on the social networking bandwagon without truly understanding why they're doing it, like me? I'm waiting for an epiphany here. If someone can enlighten me please do....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
It's hard to put into words the feelings I had throughout the day. I woke up early, even by my standards, and before I even realized what day it was I felt a sense of urgency, like something very important was going to happen. This is one of those days that we will all remember for the rest of our lives.
I was fortunate to be involved with the Inauguration Watch Party at the library, helping with set-up, milling about talking to members of the community, and assisting with blogging. There were people from all generations - toddlers to octogenarians - and as has happened so often in the past few months I was so proud to be living in this country. It was so moving to see an elderly man, and a woman whom I assume was his daughter, pass a hankie back and forth while watching the ceremony. The level of emotion in the room was palpable, people were cheering and clapping and as President Obama was taking the oath of office I didn't see a single person who wasn't deeply affected by his words.
If nothing else comes from this presidency I hope these feeling of community, of hope, of actually having a future we can look forward to last. The mountains we, as a country, have to climb are enormous but I truly believe that we are now, finally, in good hands.
I was fortunate to be involved with the Inauguration Watch Party at the library, helping with set-up, milling about talking to members of the community, and assisting with blogging. There were people from all generations - toddlers to octogenarians - and as has happened so often in the past few months I was so proud to be living in this country. It was so moving to see an elderly man, and a woman whom I assume was his daughter, pass a hankie back and forth while watching the ceremony. The level of emotion in the room was palpable, people were cheering and clapping and as President Obama was taking the oath of office I didn't see a single person who wasn't deeply affected by his words.
If nothing else comes from this presidency I hope these feeling of community, of hope, of actually having a future we can look forward to last. The mountains we, as a country, have to climb are enormous but I truly believe that we are now, finally, in good hands.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Tech talk series will be continued....
Yes, it's been a while and again I'll make the promise to be better at this. I've decided to change the focus of this blog, or more accurately, take away any focus and use it to talk about anything and everything instead of just tech stuff. Last night was my last Tech Talk presentation, although there is one more scheduled for next month I won't be doing it. We're bringing in an actual presenter to talk about digital photography something even I couldn't "wing" if I wanted to. I have, however, decided to continue the program throughout the year. We'll meet monthly and leave the topic open to the participants; they'll bring their questions, discoveries, etc and we'll go from there. Feedback has been great so far and I think, even though attendance is somewhat low, that there is a need for this forum and over time the group will grow.
Yesterday I registered for my next class, Information Seeking Behavior. This is the third time I've signed up for it - for some reason it scares me and I keep dropping it. Time to bite the bullet though and get it over with. The torture starts on the 26th, so I'm planning on reading for pleasure as much as possible between now and then, knowing that there just won't be any time for that once the class starts.
At work we're gearing up for the Inauguration Watch Party. If you're in the area please come - it will be a day to remember. We're setting up blogging stations and have arranged to have some press coverage so aside from the fact that this will be one of the most important days in the history of our country it should be a great opportunity for the library to get some good PR.
And finally, my latest favorite Firefox add-on: is.gd. Turns long urls into small, manageable ones very easily. Try it, you'll like it.
Yesterday I registered for my next class, Information Seeking Behavior. This is the third time I've signed up for it - for some reason it scares me and I keep dropping it. Time to bite the bullet though and get it over with. The torture starts on the 26th, so I'm planning on reading for pleasure as much as possible between now and then, knowing that there just won't be any time for that once the class starts.
At work we're gearing up for the Inauguration Watch Party. If you're in the area please come - it will be a day to remember. We're setting up blogging stations and have arranged to have some press coverage so aside from the fact that this will be one of the most important days in the history of our country it should be a great opportunity for the library to get some good PR.
And finally, my latest favorite Firefox add-on: is.gd. Turns long urls into small, manageable ones very easily. Try it, you'll like it.
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