1. Why is my wireless connection unreliable?
2. What are viruses and how can I avoid them?
3. How do I change my network password?
4. How do I change my e-mail password?
5. How should my workstation be defragged?
6. What is a browser?
7. How can I block senders from delivering e-mail to my account?
8. I received an e-mail with an attachment named winmail.dat (or ATT00008.dat).Why am I unable to open it?
9. I am unable to send e-mail because I am over my quota.
10. How to forward mail to another account using web mail (iPlanet Messenger)?

1. Why is my wireless connection unreliable?

The laptop computers on campus are networked using radio frequency. Each laptop has a built-in antenna or transceiver (similar to a transistor radio) and receives its signal from an "access point". The greater the distance from the access point, the weaker the signal will become. Radio waves can not penetrate metal or water. If you are in a classroom and you can improve your signal by shifting your laptop, chances are you may have been behind a metal file cabinet. Wireless is a slower medium in comparison to ethernet. If you have the option, a wired connection will always be faster.


2. What are viruses and how can I avoid them?

A virus is a programming code that is designed to cause damage and is disguised to appear to be a normal program. Most viruses are also designed to clone themselves if they find a network environment where they can move onto other computers. The potential damage in these cases can be limited if the workstation is not operating under the control of an administrator. All campus workstations are equipped with Norton Anti-Virus software. The software, although installed locally, is managed by our server which receives updated cures or "definition files" on a live basis. The system is designed to automatically scan your workstation late at night. If you are in the habit of powering off your workstation you will not receive the scheduled virus protection. As a result, we recommend logging off your workstation or re-booting but NOT shutting down.

3. To change your network password:

  • After you have logged onto your computer (the campus domain) press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
  • Click the change password button.
  • Type in your old password.
  • Type in your new password (it is a good idea to make your password at least 5 characters long).
  • Type the password again to confirm it. Click OK.
  • Click OK to confirm the change, and then click Cancel to close the Windows Security Dialog Box.
4. To change your E-mail password:
  • Open a web browser and connect to Web Mail: http://sagan.frc.mass.edu
  • Type in your e-mail user name (the name is what is listed before the @frc.mass.edu in your e-mail address)
  • Type in your e-mail password (this is different from your network account password)
  • Click on the Options button located on the toolbar.
  • Click on Password.
  • Type in your old password.
  • Type in your new password (make your password at least 5 characters long.)
  • Type your new password in again for confirmation. Click OK.
  • Click Inbox to return to your e-mail.
  • Remember that if you normally use Outlook or another mail client, you will have to update your e-mail program to reflect the changed password.
  • Your system will prompt you to enter the correct password when it attempts to check for new mail with the expired password.


5. How should my workstation be defragmented?

As files are added and deleted from the computer's hard disk, the amount of continuous available space on the hard disk decreases. If a file saved to the hard disk is larger than the available block of space, the computer splits the file among sectors of the hard disk. When the files are "fragmented," the computer must search the hard disk each time the file is accessed to find all the file's parts, which slows the response time. Bigger hard drives and better operating systems (such as Win2000) have reduced the necessity to frequently run defragmentation programs If your system is performing poorly and you would like to run Disk Defragmenter, please call the Helpdesk and arrange for a technician to analyze your workstation.


6. What is a browser?

Short for Web Browser; a software application used to locate and display Web pages. The two most popular Web browsers are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The main distinction between the two is the manner in which they interpret HTML and Java Script.


7. How can I block senders from delivering e-mail to my account?

  • In Microsoft Outlook 2000:
  • Right click on any unwanted message.
  • Go to "Junk e-mail" on the menu that appears and select either the Add to Junk or Add to Adult Content Senders List.
  • You can edit your Junk e-mail lists by clicking on the "organize" button located on your toolbar.
    From there you should select the following links:
  1. Junk E-Mail
  2. Click Here
  3. Edit Junk Senders


    8. I received an e-mail with an attachment named winmail.dat (or ATT00008.dat). Why am I unable to open it?

This problem is caused when the sender's mail client (i.e. Outlook) is configured to send mail in "rich text" or "html" format. It can be resolved by requesting that the senders re-configure their mail client to send mail in "plain text". The message should arrive in a legible format if it is sent following the changes outlined below.

In Microsoft Outlook 2000:

  1. From the TOOLS menu select OPTIONS.
  2. Select the "Mail Format" tab.
  3. Set the drop down menu to plain text
  4. Select "OK"
  5. Compose a new message and send the document again.


9. I am unable to send e-mail because I am over my quota.

 
Users who are storing e-mail on the mail server (Sagan) have a 50MB limitation on space. This group includes people who use Web mail exclusively and/or people who use the IMAP protocol. To check the status of your server space log into Web mail and click on "options". There you will find out statistics on your mail space.

This space can be managed by either deleting unnecessary e-mail or moving it to your Personal Folders which are local (residing on your computer not the mail server). Messages can be clicked-and-dragged to any of the mail boxes in your Personal Folders, as illustrated in the screen shot (on left). Keep in mind that attachments have a tendency to eat up most of your free space.

10 . How to forward mail to another account using web mail (iPlanet Messenger)?

Once logged onto webmail, click on options on the toolbar.
Next, click on settings.
Scroll to the bottom (under mail forwarding), type in the address you want to forward to (one address per line).
Click on Save Changes, and you’re done.


 
 
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