RTFM or PITDC?

Kim called while I was having breakfast. I was scheduled to teach a digital photography class that afternoon, with a doctor’s appointment in the morning. Not doing any tutoring or troubleshooting that day. I adjusted my morning to help him get his printer working, because he’s one of my best clients and the printing was *really* urgent.

Plenty of ink in his HP 5510 All-in-One. Printer Setup Utility was configured as it should be. I restarted MacBook Pro and HP, and checked cables in rear of HP for proper insertion.

I unplugged his USB hub, and all its cables, and then !! noticed that HP was not using the hub to communicate with MacBook Pro. Instead it was plugged into (have you guessed it yet?) Kim’s Ethernet port. That would explain why HP wouldn’t print.

Once HP was using USB via hub to connect to MacBook Pro, printing began without incident. Kim tried to strangle me because I wouldn’t say whether he or his wife was to blame. I think I know the culprit, but family harmony and continuing employment are top priorities for Nemo the Computer Tutor.

In the afternoon, I couldn’t get my PowerBook to display via my classroom’s overhead projector. The college techie politely reminded me to use my adapter dongle, which I had neglected to insert between computer and projection cable. I was humbled.

Lesson: always FIRST make sure every cable is connected to its proper port, before contacting tech support. You’ll feel smart, save money and time, and keep Nemo out of trouble.

If RTFM means “read the f[riendly] manual,” then PITDC means “plug in the d[arn] cable.”