Improvised solution to IT problems

It was some two weeks ago that I blogged about my computer being work-shy since a fire in a university data centre. I figured it would all have been sorted by now! But no. Things got worse. 

The next day neither of the solutions that had sorted me out before worked. So I was back phoning the IT helpdesk. And they said: unplug everything including the network cable, leave it for five minutes, then plug everything back in, leave it at the login screen for an hour, and then you should be fine again. So I did.

I had this enormous pile of marking to do, and this was really something I could do without! But what was I going to do? When I had plugged my computer back in, I decided to go to the computer room of the master students, down the corridor. That's not ideal; I can't talk to these computers, so I have to read off the screen and then make notes on paper. I would then later dictate these notes to my computer when it was working again.

There was only one student there who didn't seem to mind my presence. But I was aware I shouldn't be there! But I also had a few options.

When I came back after an hour, my computer indeed worked, and I could resume my normal business. But it was annoying. And it happened again.

The next step was that the helpdesk said the problem basically came through the network cable. If I was just not using one, that would circumvent the issue. So they were going to get a Wi-Fi adapter ready for my computer, that I would have to pick up from main campus. They also said that there were people working on the root of the problem, but it was unclear how long that would take. So this at least would keep me going until it was properly sorted.

The next time the problem presented itself, I switched my computer back off, unplugged the network cable, switched it back on, connected the adapter to the university’s Wi-Fi, and I was rolling! 

It would be nice if this problem would get properly solved. But for now I can work again with not too much inconvenience. And that matters…

The temporary solution