Networking and Software

This is more a blow off steam than funny tale:

Customer calls and tells me they have fired two previous Techs because their network and pc's are constantly down. So I go and check it out. 6 Computers, Win 95 Network and all but 2 of the pc's are delapidated.

I explain that first problem is the server they use for their Database Matchmaker service (temp employment agaency) is not equipped to handle all the traffic, and 2nd trouble is that the owner pc as well as 2 others are in very bad repair and need work or replacement. I ask for the requirements or info on the software used. We don't have any BUT THE SALESPERSON ASSURED US 4 YRS AGO THAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR WINDOWS PEER-TO-PEER NTWORKING.

So I say okay. I bring the owners computer up to speed with a new PII and replace Network hardware etc. She says we'll replace the server next.I say okay, but the server only has a 533mb hd and 53.85 drive space left with 16mb ram!

So after all of this we plan a new server for 2 weeks from now. I get three calls over one day that the Matchmaker software is not functioning on the network and the last call they threaten "jokingly not to pay my bill".

I finally get in touch with the manufacturer of the software. They fax me all the info on the software and all the requirements.

1. DForce does not Reccomend this software on a Windows 95/98 Network!
2.If you do it this way you do so at your own risk and the server must have at least a Pentium MMX 300MHZ with 128MB Ram, 2GB HD (SCSI)
3. They EXCLUSIVELY reccomend either Windows NT or Novell Netware.

I called the owner with the info and she didn't belive that the faxes I got came from the company. So I drove in and showed them to her. She swears by what the salesperson told her. I asked how much she paid for this software. 2500.00 she says...I say well what do you think their gonna say? Duh! I then tell her she owes me an apology and a check now or Im pulling all my hardware out of there. Well it was only a joke and we'll pay the bill. I say yes you will!

Moral of the story: Always find out all info of software etc.! Boy have I learned a lesson!

Whew thanx to all who read and let me blow off my steam.

No, thank you. You probably saved me losing money in the future.

When people ask me, "What is the toughest part of being a consultant?"
The answer is always,"Getting the Client to tell you the truth."

If we didn't have to drag information out of people, our jobs would be easier. I have learned, if someone is unwilling to put all the cards on the table upfront, they are not worth working for.

What I love is needing to do a reformat and:

1. Company critical software is/are:
a. Pirated
b. from a company that went out of
business a long time ago and there
are no upgrades or patches.
c. lost and no-one knows where the disks are, or we have the disks, but don't know where the install key is.

(How bout this one:"A guy that worked here for a while brought this in and we have been using it for years now.)

d. (like you saw) from a company they are paying $500. per month to use a program written in 1992. And the sales guy has to install it.

Jeez.

DE

I own a Small computer Shop.
Well I am Right In the Middle Of 2 Computer Shops.. ( 2 miles away from them each direction) Well Them 2 are Playing Catcher & Pitcher.. One Build and repairs For The Other. They both under price me on alot of deals. ( which is Okay it comes with the Biz)
But you see when I sell my computers my customers are getting what they bought. If its a AMD 350 Thats what they getting. Not a AMD 300 pushing 350. Or when the customer comes in and ask me for prices on New Computer and Ask me what software will it come with. They get upset when I say only Windows If you Buy it. They come out and say. well Joe Blow Down the street is cheaper and it has all this software on it.
I tell them well if thats what you want go ahead and buy it from them. They Leave I sit on my Chair and think how I will charge them more after they buy there computer and there will be no one to fix it but me once Microsoft comes and knock on there doors.