This week I dealt with learning to troubleshoot newer issues while continuing with trouble tickets that I now have experience in handling. One common assignment I had to deal with is the imaging of new computers. What I found interesting is how no two computers are alike. For example, I started the process for three new computers out of the box. Of the three one was successful but two failed in the initial process and had to be reimaged again. No one can seem to explain why some might fail during the encryption process while others develop an unhealthy SCCM client.

One fun assignment I completed this week was the installation of a conference room computer. This project has been ongoing for the past two weeks. Being able to consult with the customer and provide recommendations on hardware configurations and setup was fulfilling. The biggest challenge was trying to coordinate with contractors for the assembly and installation of the podium that would house the computer, then communicating where we needed holes drilled for cables. As for the computer, the configuration went smoothly. It is interesting to see how conference room computers are configured to have profiles automatically deleted from the device after a user logs off. This process ensures that profiles don’t clutter the hard drive and take up space.

On my professional development side, I’ve been bombarded with so many different options on where I might want to go with my IT career. My supervisor Sheila creates additional opportunities for my growth by giving me assignments that put me in touch with other people in the research facility that I can question about other specialized areas of IT. They’ve ranged from project managers, database administrators, and even VR software developers. This week, I give myself a four out of five since I was ill and not functioning at full capacity.