Frustrating Data Collection...Stupid Machines

I'm having trouble collecting data for this summer's research project. Three of the five machines that are supposed to be collecting data aren't working. We also have two machines that are converting the data into a usable format and one of those isn't working and one just now started working after not working all last week (so we're behind on that point also). It's days like today that turn me toward being a technophobe. Yes, I know that it's almost certainly user error, but that doesn't change the fact that it's the machines fault. To make matters worse, the tech person for my division doesn't really know these machines that well, so he isn't particularly helpful on this project (although he is normally amazingly helpful). So the other professor and I are basically on our own. Aggghhh.

The end is in sight!