If you just want the answer, scroll down for the TLDR. Otherwise read on for a giggle at how a missing character caused so much grief. We recently had to onboard several hundred new staff in a short period due to an acquisition. Job number one, create their user accounts. Simple… The server team came to the rescue with an old script they had kicking around. It simply reads a CSV with some key data (the usual stuff, first and last name, job title, etc) and then creates the AD accounts according to some logic, along with the home folders and permissions.

Modern IT support is commonly made up of tried and tested processes and procedures occurred over time using the experience of many people. This can be a blessing and a curse depending which side of the fence you sit on. For inexperienced people this is a great help. They follow a guide from step one through to completion. Its quick, simple and the end customer receives a quick fix. (In theory anyway)