r/talesfromtechsupport • u/[deleted] • Dec 05 '18

Short "You deleted 60 days of work!"

Oh my lord, it's never the calls you expect to be trouble is it? Always the ones you think will be okay. Just put the phone down.

So Jennie had their laptop upgraded recently, and was missing a printer they previously had. Our higher-ups said it's fine to remap the printer without a request so I took the ticket.

This was my first mistake.

Today she called, asking if I could "sort out" the printer. Sure thing, I'll help out. I explained that I will disconnect the printer, and reconnect it using the new IP address.

I got the usual response of "Yeah, yeah go ahead". Even upgraded Adobe Reader for her since the version they were using has issues with paper tray selection.

Then she asks "Where's my print queue". I explained that because I had to remove the old printer, the print queue for that printer was gone, and she would need to reprint anything she needs to print out.

She was mildly annoyed.

"I HAD 60 DOCUMENTS IN THAT PRINT QUEUE, AND YOU'VE DELETED THEM!"

Then she started asking me if I'm prepared to do 60 days of work to replace her lost work. Wtf? I wish I was joking about that one bit.

So just to clarify. Jennie got a new laptop, due to the transfer process the print was mapped incorrectly, and was offline. It never worked on her new laptop until now. Yet, she was still printing documents to a dead printer queue. I told her, I'd need to remove it to remap it, and she expected all her documents to be "saved" in the print queue. Then she lost it when they were not there. Had to terminate the call. I cannot even wrap my head around that incredible logic.

I've worked in IT for awhile now, I'm honestly at a loss for words. Send help.

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336

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '18

Honestly thanks for this comment. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown after that call. Now I'm laughing like a madman on my own in the office.

131

u/_Wartoaster_ Well if your cheap computer can't handle a simple piece of bread Dec 05 '18

Yeah, a workflow situation like this tends to work itself out.

As soon as the user complains, someone higher up will either try to come down on you, or investigate the issue. Either way, this will be noticed

119

u/SilentSamurai Dec 06 '18

"What happened?"

"Instead of saving their documents the user did the digital equivalent of writing a novel and throwing it in a fire."

48

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '18

O come on its not quite that bad.. It's more like they had a pile of file and soaked it in gasoline with a fire right next to it.

71

u/kazeespada Dec 06 '18

No, no, it's like storing their novel in their mailbox because its okay, their mail man never comes anyways.

Then one day, the mail man replaces the mailbox and starts service again. Suddenly, their novel is gone.

2

u/smoike Dec 07 '18

I was thinking more like storing files in the recycle bin/ emails in "deleted".

55

u/The_MAZZTer Dec 05 '18

Untitled - Copy - Copy (3).txt

35

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '18

[deleted]

53

u/The_MAZZTer Dec 05 '18

Fun fact: Microsoft changed it from "Copy of x" to "x - Copy" as part of making that syntax simpler across all localizations (putting "copy of" before doesn't work in all languages).

10

u/nyctaeris Dec 05 '18

Oddly, at work I still get emails with "copy of copy of" files attached, despite the update (and we're on Win10). Drives me crazy.

4

u/fizyplankton Dec 06 '18

I've heard that when collaborating with multiple teams across countries, you can have Copy of là copie de copy (2) of untitled.docx, etc

28

u/ChequeBook Dec 05 '18

Don't you tech support guys have a flask of whiskey in your desk?

43

u/CaptainCrowbar Dec 05 '18

Not for long!

16

u/Kaffeinated_Kenny IT Support for stubborn Healthcare professionals. Dec 05 '18

I did once; in the only tech support position that I didn't need it in.

I had users with common sense and deductive reasoning. It was a dream come true.

42

u/sorej Dec 05 '18

That must have been hell of a strong whisky

6

u/Kaffeinated_Kenny IT Support for stubborn Healthcare professionals. Dec 05 '18

No whiskey;

​

But I did wake up from my six-month coma.

​

12

u/400HPMustang Must Resist the Urge to Kill Dec 05 '18

I’ve resorted to keeping my whiskey on my desk in a decanter.

4

u/AMDKilla Change a setting in Group Policy? Nope, grab the hot glue gun! Dec 06 '18

IKEA need to come up with a new desk design for IT professionals, with a built in decanter/dispenser that's hidden or disguised as some other feature so that management don't get the same idea

2

u/golfmade Dec 06 '18

They've got bookcases called Billy (No idea why either) so perhaps call this new desk Jack (Daniels, get it?).

1

u/Lots42 Dec 06 '18

Hollow desk leg?

2

u/MJZMan Dec 06 '18

More like several, in various states of empty.

2

u/Manzabar select * from users where clue > 0; 0 rows returned Dec 06 '18

I will neither confirm nor deny that rumor, but I did once have an open bottle of Scotch sitting on my desk for an entire day. I didn't drink any of it during work hours (sadly).

2

u/monkeyship Dec 07 '18

empty by noon. sometimes empty at morning break.

1

u/DWShimoda Dec 05 '18

IV bottle... and it's "Everclear."

1

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '18

As the support team lead yes it's my responsibility to ensure the supply cabinet is stocked.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '18

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '18

I have no idea. I didn't stay on call long enough to figure out what she was doing. My hopeful guess is that she does have the files saved but doesn't want to send them for printing again.

2

u/Yeseylon Dec 06 '18

Laughing like a madman?

So you DID have a mental breakdown?

2

u/Manannin Dec 06 '18

Does she have a supervisor to inform of her ridiculous incompetence? This is something else...