Family History Center Computers

Does anyone know who I can contact to get some insight into the process for getting new computers for our stake family history centre? We sent in an order form a couple of months ago, but we haven't been successful in finding out the status of our order. We've tried calling the family history center support number, and we were told that computers were on back-order and that we would get a call back. We haven't been contacted yet.

Our stake president has emphasized family history work to a great degree, but our stake center's computers are truly on their last legs so there's been some pressure to get things running to a reasonable degree.

Does anyone know if we could get an image with the church LanDesk software on it that we could put on stake-purchased computers?

Please know that we would only like insight into what the status is. I don't mean to be demanding nor impatient. The local leaders here don't understand why we haven't been able to provide new computers and it would be good to know if we're doing all we can to get things going.

Much thanks,
Dustin

dustinaleksiuk wrote:Does anyone know who I can contact to get some insight into the process for getting new computers for our stake family history centre? We sent in an order form a couple of months ago, but we haven't been successful in finding out the status of our order. We've tried calling the family history center support number, and we were told that computers were on back-order and that we would get a call back. We haven't been contacted yet.

I don't know a number other than the standard support number. But generally if you are persistent, you can get transferred to someone who knows more about what's really going on. It may also be that your FHC director will get better service, so you might consider asking him or her to make inquiries.

dustinaleksiuk wrote:Our stake president has emphasized family history work to a great degree, but our stake center's computers are truly on their last legs so there's been some pressure to get things running to a reasonable degree.

Does anyone know if we could get an image with the church LanDesk software on it that we could put on stake-purchased computers?

You don't need an image any more. You can simply download LanDesk and other needed software here. You'll need to be on the actual Church network (in the FHC) for the installation to work properly.

dustinaleksiuk wrote:Does anyone know who I can contact to get some insight into the process for getting new computers for our stake family history centre?

From what I understand, the church only provides one or two computers to start with. The rest have to come from the stake buying them from the Family History department, or qualifying donations.

Once the computer is a part of the center, when you run LANDesk on it, it sends a inventory back to FH. As refurbished computers become available, they'll cycle out the oldest ones. I don't know of any order forms except when the FHC is buying them, either with stake funds or donations.

Also, the Director should be getting an automated inventory reports every few months in his ldsmail account. Check and make sure that everything you have is on that inventory. If it's not listed, then FH won't replace it.

If your role is a Stake Technology Specialist, make sure you have access to the familysearch consultant folders located here https://www.familysearch.org/consultant/ Go to your My Preferences link and make sure your designation is Family History Center Director... (there is a role for STS but it has limited access) you'll have access to the Training and Resources tab.

Once into that area there are nice documents to review on the process from the 2011 FamilySearch Conference

This link talks about the equipment policy introduced in 2012 http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/FHD/ ... layer.html

Basically all computers are going to be upgraded based on how busy the center is (monthly FHC report, landesk stats, etc...)

Here is a link to the latest Software/Hardware order form... everything Russell mentioned above, but the 'cascade' computers which is what you're probably waiting for is there. If this is just an ad-hoc request you'll need to get into the cascaded computer queue. If you have a replacement (for failed hardware) it'll get moved to the head of the line. Hopefully the nice busy large member area FHC's will get all their new computers quick, so us out in the boondocks FHC's can start getting new stuff.

Dealing with the initial front line support is often frustrating. The service missionaries want to be real helpful and spend a lot of time trying to figure things out. I have found that using the term LanDesk will often get you to someone technical pretty quick. But, I have also found the email address or go into their Help, and Contact FamilySearch, and use their form to generate a case, that usually does a pretty good job through email.

Thank you all for shedding some light into all this. Much appreciated!

Dustin