IT "updated" our computers /shudder cringe

[Pulsar]

Well, our IT guys finally joined the new millenium and upgraded our computers and OS's. We're now running MS Windows 2k Pro.

Only problem is, we have a HUGE network (think 10000+ computers) and the printers are labeled in this fashion:

//rep0002/building/5098/pr12341223

With pr12341223 being the name of given printer.

Now I used to be able to handle that scheme, because after adding a printer to your workstation you could simply right-click the icon and rename it to a more sensible name in the Start->Settings->printer menu.

Now, either a feature of Win 2k (which I doubt) or a feature of our wonderful IT department has chosen to remove the option to rename our local printer icons to new names.

Now I won't go so far as to call them Morons, because this may yet be Microsoft forced idiocy, but I have my doubts. Can anyone shed some light on this issue for me and suggest a program, (I was originally thinking Tweakui etc) that would allow us to put some sanity back into our local printer icons?

 

[ktwebb]

So what happens when you go to the Printer's properties? or has that been disabled?

 

[Pulsar]

We can go to properties, but every option has been grayed out, and you cannot type anything new, or change anything.

However, I think I found a way around this and I need to know what you guys think.

I got the IP adresses of the printers, and installed them as local printers with an IP adress and a name. That allowed them to be local, and local printers are allowed to be renamed under win 2k. Any drawbacks to doing this? Am I going to circumvent something I shouldn't?

 

[WeeWolf]

I install one of my network printers at work as a local printer as well and have not had any issues with it at all. Whether or not your IT department would like that you've done it the 'non standard' way is a question for them.

 

[Buddha Bart]

"I got the IP adresses of the printers, and installed them as local printers with an IP adress and a name. That allowed them to be local, and local printers are allowed to be renamed under win 2k. Any drawbacks to doing this? Am I going to circumvent something I shouldn't?"

Thats what I'd have done. As long as it works, enjoy. Just remember to never ever be the guy to report a printer problem, even if it has nothing to do with your setup.

bart

 

[Saltin]

If you have an Active Directory, that would explain the behavour.

Network Printers are published to AD and then added to destops from AD. You can't change the printer name in this case.

Your IT dept named the printers in a syntax they understand, but is troublesome for users. They should have thought about that ahead of time.

 

[Smilin]

You might consider working WITH your it department instead of against them. You don't want to get yourself on "the list". Just suck it up and remember the names - I mean jeez how many printers do you print to?

 

[gaidin123]

I would talk to your IT people and ask them if there's any way to rename the printer to something more to your liking. The only benefits of having you go through a server side print queue is when you, the user, sends a several hundred MB print job accidentally, the IT monkeys can cancel it for you while your computer is hosed. Well also driver uniformity and early toner/ink/maintenance if the IT people choose to monitor that stuff.

Gaidin

 

[Dan0368]

You guys think of us as monkeys?

 

[spidey07]

That sounds about right for such a large network that is administered via a large directory.

With thousand of printers they have to keep track of there has to be some kind of naming convention that is aways followed. So the IT monkeys came up with a method.

It is a little unusual though. Lots of times people use location-building-floor-office-model location

NASH-FC1-203a-HP5000

That way you immediately know exactly where in the globe the printer is.

 

[gaidin123]

Sorry, I don't mean IT monkeys as an insult. I am what I would call an IT monkey. We support a somewhere between 500-1000 users on a large campus and some of the things we do a trained monkey could do imho. Though the more complex stuff makes me feel that I earn my paycheck.

Gaidin

 

[mobogasm]

like previously stated in such a large environment it is nearly impossible to not name the objects in ad in this manner (or a similar one). this is where descriptors come in handy in ad. you can search by many other things rather than name if the creators of the objects added the descriptions. ie site, model, etc.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

everyone hates what us IT do. yet when they need our help desparately they beg and whine and try to be our friend

 

[Tallgeese]

Originally posted by: lilcam
everyone hates what us IT do. yet when they need our help desparately they beg and whine and try to be our friend

Yep. NOTHING pisses me off faster than f-wads who like to blame IT as the reason aforementioned f-wads can't get their work done on time.

Then those same pieces of cr@p want free troubleshooting when their snot-nosed brats load spyware shite and virus-laden cr@p all over their home computer until it doesn't work and they can't get to pr0n sites anymore.

Damn...I need a vacation.

 

[Saltin]

With such a large amount of printers, I'm suprised they didnt take advantage of AD's printer location ability. It's been a long time since I messed with it, but you can make it really easy for user's to find the closest printers based on subnet information and naming convention.

 

[mboy]

Originally posted by: Tallgeese

Originally posted by: lilcam
everyone hates what us IT do. yet when they need our help desparately they beg and whine and try to be our friend

Yep. NOTHING pisses me off faster than f-wads who like to blame IT as the reason aforementioned f-wads can't get their work done on time.

Then those same pieces of cr@p want free troubleshooting when their snot-nosed brats load spyware shite and virus-laden cr@p all over their home computer until it doesn't work and they can't get to pr0n sites anymore.

Damn...I need a vacation.

Hehehehehehe, thats why I dont give free advice @ work (only to those who do me favors) and charge for my troubles
Fk'em

 

[Pulsar]

Well, so far I haven't heard anything negative about about the way I've set up the printers. I've got no beef about how they named them as long as I can RENAME them on my machine. And as for the person who asked, I print to any one of 14 different printers. Short of tacking a key that says which printer number is which printer, naming them a little more descriptively is a far better option.

And before anyone asks:
Small Plotter (3 feet wide)
Large Plotter (9 feet wide)
Color laserjet
B/W laserset
Small Poster Printer (4 feet wide)
Large Poster printer (10 feet wide)
Vinyl graphics cutter

We have the same printers in our sister building that I also print to if I'm doing a job over there. Some of this crap won't fit in my car =/.

Oh, and as for the the fellows who asked me why I don't work WITH our IT department - I'd work with them if they were half way reasonable. They recently outlawed all PDA software on computers because it allows syncing to advantgo servers. And we're an engineering firm.

 

[spidey07]

Flame on...

You are an IT department's worst nightmare. You have no respect for the people doing what is best for the company and have your own mioptic views in mind.

I have something for you to try - call up your HR department and tell them they are complete idiots because you cannot devise your own payscale. Same principle. "I don't like the way I have to do expense reports because our accounting department are idiots and not reasonable" "I want to take my laptop and load any software and connect to any network I want"

Good luck. Also there's this new modern invention called post-it notes where you can write stuff down and possibly draw an arrow to another data point creating something called a table that will allow you to quickly reference printers by whatever name you wish.

Flame off.

-edit- sorry for the harsh words but as a Director I have to put up with this kind of crap everyday. And my answer is always the same...we do this because it allows us to do more with less, if your department wants to pay for a few extra headcounts then I'd be glad to oblige your request...otherwise deal with it.