Problem: Drivers
One of our biggest problems was finding drivers for the new network cards and for some of the new video cards. We only had 1 working video card and no working network cards in our original computers.

Solution
A lot of searching on the internet. After much searching we were able to find the different video card drivers and that worked fairly well. We were able to find the same network card for all 5 of the computers, so we thought finding and installing the drivers would be relatively simple. We found the correct driver without much difficulty. We even installed it on 2 or 3 computers without any problem. When we went to install it on the last couple of computers, however, it freaked out on us and wouldn’t work. We recopied the drivers and tried to install them again, but it wouldn’t work. We were all pretty frustrated (D. included) and had pretty much used up an entire lab period trying to get it to work. During the next lab the driver finally worked properly and we were much relieved.

Problem: Computer wouldn’t boot from CD

Solution
First, we checked to make sure we had inserted a bootable copy of Windows 98. The boot order was incorrect, so we fixed that, but the problem persisted. A close inspection revealed the power cord was not plugged into the CD-ROM drive. Once this was fixed, the Cain (the computer) began to boot from the set-up disk.

Problem: incessant beeping noise on one computer, which refused to boot
Cain, our most troublesome computer, started up with an obnoxious, continuous beeping noise and wouldn’t finish booting.

Solution
After having checked all plugs and internal wiring, disconnected and reconnected the small speaker and experimentally hooked up a fresh hard drive, the problem persisted. Martin suggested that it sounded like the noise when someone accidentally presses several keyboard keys at one time. When I swapped in a new keyboard and turned the computer back on, the noise didn’t come back.

Problem: Computer (Cain) freezing and/or crashing during software installation, failure to boot.
Solution
We checked the wires, the compatibility of the RAM and the position of Mercury with relation to Venus in our horoscope. The hard drive was improperly jumpered, so we fixed that, with D.’s help. Cain continued to refuse to cooperate. A new hard drive fixed the problem.

Problem: Requested Software is all proprietary
Reverend Bogan wanted Microsoft Encarta and PowerPort software.

Solution: Freeware and Dumpsterdiving.
Someone brought into the lab a CD which had come free inside a box of General Mills cereal. We downloaded the Merriam-Webster Home Reference Suite and the Zondervan NIV translation of the Bible onto each of our computers. The Carmen Sandiego vocabulary game only worked with disk support, but the game was pretty crappy anyway, so that wasn’t much loss. Rachel Anne went online and found several freeware imaging programs that perform similar to PaperPort. She created a disk with these and several other programs relevant to the organization’s goals for the computer lab, and we installed them onto the computers.

Problem: Site Coordinator
We had difficulty getting in touch with our site coordinator and when we finally did, we found out that the site hadn’t done their side of the preparations. Our site coordinator didn’t really have the answers we needed and wanted us to get in touch with the Pastor.

Solution
We sent a lot of emails and finally called our site coordinator because we weren’t getting a response from the emails. Since the preparations were not done on their side, we are going to have to deliver what we have prepared and leave the rest in their hands.

Problem: Cables
T. wasn’t very good at it

Solution
Reassignment

Problem: Electrical Wiring to Computer Lab and Possible Presence of Firewall to Block Connection of Switch and Hub(???)

Solution
Reverend Bogan doesn’t seem to believe the electricity situation will be a problem since very little power is used in the room next door to the computer lab, and since the two rooms share a breaker (???) the majority of the power can be used for the computer lab without fear of a short or meltdown. We went ahead and connected all computers to a power source trusting Reverend Bogan’s opinion.

Pastor Shelby doesn’t believe a firewall stands between his office where the Hub(???) is and the Computer Lab, where the Switch lives. He has asked that we provide cable to run between the two rooms, and Martin agreed this is possible. The group will make a cable and schedule a time to break it back to Salem Baptist.

Problem: Reverend Bogan, the site coordinator, likes to talk while you are trying to get things done.

Solution: Dispatch the most talkative person in your group to his side while others in the group work.

Problem: Misplaced Printer Cable!

Solution
Search up and down in PrairieNet and hope that it is there somewhere!! Bring it back to Salem Baptist when we bring back a cable.

Problem: A. Couldn’t Open the Trunk Door in Martin’s Minivan

Solution
Troubleshoot! Hit all the buttons on Martin’s keychain, some of them twice (but not the panic one at all).