My google drive is different!!! can't find my shared with me folder

Incoming is the new shared with me folder.

With online applications the users aren't normally aware of an upcoming change. Since they are online, the application can change overnight without any user input.

The good news about the google drive is that as for now you can go back to the "old drive". Go to settings and click on leave new drive.

My tip for today:

I like the new drive. They have made some improvements to it that we just need to get used to.
Just don't panic, the shared with me folder now its named incoming and all your stuff is still there!

See you soon with more tips.

Can we go back to the old phone system???

The user resistance to change. 

We just updated our old telephone system to a new voice over IP telephone system and it has been a nightmare. Not only dealing with the telephone company but with resistant to change users.

I know its different, its going to take some time to learn it but at the same time the old system was literally  falling apart and we needed a new one.

Telephone systems cost a lot of money and it wouldn't be wise to replace an old system with another already obsolete system. It would be like buying a new PC and installing Windows ME on it.


So my tip for today:


Give yourself time to learn the new system and allow yourself to make some mistakes. You will learn to love the advantages of this new technology sooner than you think.


see you soon with new tips.

The infamous ticketing system .. a necessary evil

What happens when the telephone system goes down.

So today, i had to send a email to all our employees to inform then that our telephone system is down. We are in the process of changing the old telephone system to a new Voice over IP system ( which means telephones that use our data network), and the telephone company is still working to fix a few unforeseen issues.

the infamous ticketing system a necessary evil

And now we have users knocking at our door asking for help!

I understand it is much easier to pick up the phone and call than filling a service request. However, when using a ticketing system allow us to serve the users better as it gives us a way to track our work, we get some important information we need beforehand, gives the supervisor an opportunity to assign jobs to the right help desk person and the ticket just need to be submitted once instead of calling and getting a busy tone and having to call back.

My tip for today:

Use the ticketing system, once you do it one or two times, you will realize it is not that hard and it is fair for everybody.

See you all soon with more tips.

All roads lead to Rome.

When working with technology if it doesn't work one way, try another way. Do not get stuck.

When personal computers first started, the user used the command line to input commands one at a time and it was easier to have a written procedure to follow from beginning to end. It is not like that anymore. Now users can reach the same results following different paths or methodologies. We just need to be more flexible and creative.

A good example of what I am talking about is all the different browsers now available. For example the most popular ones are: internet explorer, fire fox, chrome, safari. There are more out there.

I have noticed that some websites work better in ie and others prefer chrome or firefox or safary. So, when facing problems with display on certain websites, it is a good idea to try a different browser.  I wouldn't recommend to have 4 different browsers on you computer but you can pick 2. I would have IE and another of your preference (chrome or firefox).

Users tend to have a preferred browser and it is just that they are used to it, their layout, colors, etc. But as i have said, in this day and time it is best to be flexible and just try different ways to accomplish the task. 

So my tip for today:  Be flexible and don't get stuck. :)

Who you gonna call?

When facing computer problems, Who you gonna call?

As a user myself, I sometimes face issues with software I am trying to use or deploy. As part of education system,  we tech people also have a helpdesk support in Frankfort we could call if needed. However, it is important to know whom to call. When it is a internal operations issue we call our helpdesk, otherwise, when it is a software application issue, then we need to call the software company support.

I  know it is a fine line and I guess as a user calling your own tech support would be the first option for most users and that is ok. 

My Tip today : There are several sources of help we could use.

• GOOGLE IT. Don't underestimate the power of "googleing".
• FAQ. In most websites they have a FAQ (frequently asked question) sections where they have posted questions and answers to common questions.
• FORUMS.  most software companies also have forums where users can go and post issues they are experiencing and they get answers from other users.

Of course when all this options fail, call me :D, but don't be like some users that work for 2-5 days and call everybody on their contact list and then, when the level of frustration is 200 (on a scale from 1-10), they call tech support.... It is hard for us too.

Hope these tips help you and I'll be back soon.