Windows XP Labs Tips and Tricks

[Jul 17, 2008 14:02] The feature in Xpressions that notifies a user by email when they receive a voice mail is currently not working. Siemens is aware of the problem and is working on it. This does not affect any other aspect of Xpressions.

Use the hints below to help you use machines and applications, and save and print documents, in our Windows XP-based computing labs.

Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started
  2. Application Hints
  3. Saving Your Document
  4. Printing to Public Laser Printers

Getting Started

Never press the "reset" button on these machines unless the computer completely freezes.

  1. Turning on/resetting your computer

    1. When you sit down at your workstation, if your computer and monitor are off:
      1. Press the power buttons on both the computer and the monitor. The power button for the computer is usually in the center of the machine's front panel. The power button for the monitor is usually on the bottom right-hand corner of the monitor's face.
      2. The computer will beep and then load Windows XP. Please wait until the computer loads the Windows XP desktop. (The desktop is the screen where you can select the programs you want to use).

    2. If your monitor and computer are already on:

      1. Click the Start button Start button on the bottom left-hand corner of your screen.
      2. From the "Windows XP Workstation" menu that appears, click the "AUTO-Logon" item. This item will close the Windows XP desktop and then copy some files from the server to reset the machine's applications back to their defaults. It will then reopen the Windows XP desktop screen.

    3. Problems with your machine

      If your computer does not boot up or gives you a series of error messages upon bootup, reboot it using the steps above. If it still does not work, please inform the lab consultant immediately. If no lab consultant is available, you can call the ITC Help Desk at 4-3731 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) or email repair@virginia.edu. Please identify which machine is not working by its tag name and the specific problems that you encountered.

  2. Application Hints

    This section provides a quick reference for using some of the applications on an XP lab machine. If you need more assistance in using your application, please ask the lab consultant or call the ITC Help Desk at 4-3731 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Note: If you double click or select from the Start menu an icon that looks similar to: Generic Windows Icon the computer will display a "shortcut" error. Please see the section above on resetting your machine for instructions on how to do it properly.
    1. Version Compatibility
      Some versions of ITC's software may be later or earlier than a version installed on your own computer. If you make changes while using a newer version of software, the older software may not be able to read the file anymore. (For instance, Office 2000 files are incompatible with versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint older than Office 97). Most software packages, however, are "backward compatible," meaning that a newer version of the software can read an older version's format. You should make all the changes on the machine on which you created the file to prevent compatibility problems and then save the file in a format that the programs in the lab can read.
    2. Computer Viruses and Microsoft Macro Viruses
      ITC has installed the Norton Anti-Virus (NAV) program in the XP labs to clean viruses from infected diskettes. To use NAV:
      1. Click the Start button on the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and select Programs from the Start menu.
      2. Highlight "Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition," then click the Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition icon.
      3. A small dialog box will appear on your screen. From the buttons on the left-hand side of the dialog box, click Scan a Floppy Disk. In the list of scanning options on the right-hand side, make sure there is a check in the box beside the disk you want to scan. You can scan either a floppy disk or a Zip disk.
      4. Click the Scan button in the lower right corner to scan your disk. If NAV detects a virus on the disk, it will offer to disinfect the affected file(s). Click disinfect to remove the virus.

  3. Saving your document

    1. File names
      You should save your document with your UVa Computing ID as part of the file name so that you or ITC can identify your document when you print it. For more information about printing in the labs, see the Printing and Copying Services web site.
    2. Saving to the hard drive
      All the hard drives of the lab XP machines contain a directory called LOCALDATA. This directory is the only directory in which you may place your files. It is there for temporary storage of files only. The directory's contents are not secure, meaning that anyone else who sits at that station after you has access to read, change, or delete files you put there. Moreover, lab computers purge LOCALDATA daily, deleting all its contents. ITC recommends that you do not save your work to the computer's hard drive if you will need it later.
    3. Saving to your floppy disk
      All the applications in the XP labs default to saving their files into the LOCALDATA directory. To save to your floppy disk instead:
      1. Click the directory name field beside the phrase Save in: and then click 3 1/2 Floppy(A:); or in the File name field add "a:\" before the file's name. You may alternatively save your files to a Zip disk.
      2. Change the name of your file, if desired, in the File name field.
      3. Click Save to save your file.

        Windows Save As Dialog Box Picture

© 2008 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

The information contained on the University of Virginia’s Department of Information Technology and Communication (ITC) website is provided as a public service with the understanding that ITC makes no representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information, including warrantees of title, non-infringement of copyright or patent rights of others. These pages are expected to represent the University of Virginia community and the State of Virginia in a professional manner in accordance with the University of Virginia’s Computing Policies.