Frequently Asked Questions
1. HOW TO LOG ON:
USERNAME = frc + ID#
Example: frcpn27PASSWORD = mmddyy of your Date of Birth
Example: January 6th, 1984 = 010684DOMAIN = STUDENT 2. HOW TO ACCESS YOUR WEB PAGE:
Note: Web page space is not given automatically!
You must request space for your web page at the Student Help Desk (HH G17). To construct your web page: 1. Log on to the Student Domain
2. Double-click My Computer
3. Double-click the icon named: web pages on ‘Cs-helpdes\space\Inetpub\wwwroot’ (W:)
4. Navigate to your folder
To view your web page: 1. Open Internet Explorer
2. In the address field, type: http://cs-helpdesk.student.framingham.edu/web pages/frc####/index.htm Replace frc#### with your ID number.
3. HOW TO ACCESS YOUR HOME DIRECTORY:
Note: Your home directory now contains items saved on your Desktop and in My Documents.FROM ON-CAMPUS:1. Log on to the Student Domain
2. Double-click My Computer
3. Double-click the icon named: frc#### on ‘cs-helpdesk\space\Inetpub\ftproot\students’ (Y:)4. Navigate to your folder
FROM OFF-CAMPUS:1. Open Internet Explorer
2. In the address field, type: http://cs-helpdesk.student.framingham.edu3. Click the link to Browse your home directory. If the logon screen fails to open the first time, click Refresh.
4. Enter your user name, placing the word student in front of your user name and enter your password. See diagram below.
5. Navigate to your home directory
4. WHY CAN'T I LOG-ON THE NETWORK?
- Is the caps-lock on? The password is case sensitive.
- Is this the first time you are logging onto our network this semester? In between the Summer and Fall semesters the passwords are changed back to “password”. Try using “password” as the password and the network should then indicate that your password has expired. It will then have you change it to a password of your own choosing (type your new password in twice).
- Have you attended classes for 2 consecutive semesters? If you have not attended FSC for 2 consecutive semesters then your account is not active. You must go to the Student Helpdesk and fill out an application for student network accounts. You must bring with you a valid FSC student I.D. card or a paid student bill and a driver’s license. It will take between 24-48 hours for your account to be created.
5.
HOW CAN I PRINT TO A NETWORK PRINTER?
Your printer must be set up and installed on your account (user profile).
CLICK THE START BUTTON
CLICK SETTINGS
CLICK PRINTERS
DOUBLE-CLICK ADD PRINTER
CLICK NEXT TWICE
CLICK THE BUTTON NEXT TO “TYPE THE PRINTER NAME…”
CLICK NEXT
CLICK THE PRINTER YOU WANT TO USE (see below)
CLICK NEXT TWICE
CLICK FINISH
NOTE IF YOU WANT TO TYPE IN A PRINTER NAME,
THE PRINTER NAMES FOR THIS LAB ARE:
\\fsc-citrix\hhg20pr1
\\fsc-citrix\hhg20pr2
\\fsc-citrix\hhg20a
6. HOW DO I ACESS MY FSC STUDENT E-MAIL ACCOUNT?
Point your browser to http://stumail.frc.mass.edu
Your username is frc + your student ID number
Unless you have changed it, your password was mailed to you by ITS when your e-mail account was first created
Download this form if you would like to configure Microsoft Outlook to send and receive e-mail. 7. WHAT IS MY E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD?
Your e-mail address is firstname.lastname@stumail.frc.mass.edu.
You may also retrieve this information by pointing your browser to fscinfo.frc.mass.edu/login.asp entering your username and password.
8. I DO NOT HAVE A STUDENT E-MAIL ACCOUNT, CAN I GET ONE?
Yes, e-mail accounts are created automatically and students have the power to create their own passwords. Click Here for step-by-step instructions. If all else fails please ask a Student Helpdesk employee for assistance.
9. WHY AM I UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET?
Below is a list of troubleshooting steps you can take to identify the problem. If you are still having problems please contact the Student Helpdesk at X 5950.
- Is the Computer Plugged into a "network cable" (CAT5 UTP cable with RJ-45 connectors)?
- Is this cable plugged into a network jack? (Not a telephone Jack)
- Is the other end of the cable plugged into a NIC card? (Not a modem)
- Are the pins inside of the jack bent or missing?
- Does the NIC have both Link and Activity lights? (Link should be solid; Activity should flash)
- If another computer is working properly, does it work when plugged into your jack?
10. HOW TO FORWARD MAIL TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT USING WEBMAIL (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.
11. WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE LAB?
- Always remember to log off your machine before leaving.
- NO FOOD or DRINK is allowed in the lab at any time.
- Save often and make back-ups (save to your Y:/ drive)!!
- Please be courteous and respectful towards your colleagues, i.e. talk quietly.
- Respect the lab and the equipment.
- The use of cell phones is prohibited.
- Print only what is NECESSARY.
- Use of machines for academic purposes takes precedence over use for recreational purposes.
Please adhere to the above rules at all times. Using the lab is a privilege which may be revoked if these rules are not followed. Thank you.
12. DO I HAVE TO COME TO CAMPUS WITH A LAPTOP?
Yes. Starting back in Fall 2002, Framingham State College began requiring all incoming freshman to own a wireless laptop. Beginning Spring 2003, Framingham State College began requiring all transfer students to own a wireless laptop.
13. DO I HAVE TO BUY THE RECOMMENDED LAPTOP?
Every incoming student to Framingham State College is required to own a wireless laptop. The college negotiates with top vendors to make available high quality products at a very discounted rate. These laptops are fully supported by Framingham State and guarantee compatibility with our network. The added value of the service is tremendous. Students purchasing machines outside of this program must rely on their own support for any problems encountered. For the 2003-2004 academic year, approximately 93% of all incoming students purchased a laptop through this program.
14. HOW CAN I PURCHASE THE RECOMMENDED LAPTOP?
You can purchase the recommended laptop (Dell Latitude D600)
online or over the phone. Click
here to order the laptop online. To order the laptop
order the phone call 888-987-3355 and reference this member
ID US30373665.
15. WHAT ARE THE LAPTOP SPECIFICATION AND COMPONENTS?
Please check back soon for updated information
16. IF I ALREADY HAVE A LAPTOP, CAN I USE IT AT FRAMINGHAM STATE?
Yes. If it meets the minimum specifications. Also, check the minimum specifications of the operating system and other software.
Operating System Minimum: Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional. These are the ONLY operating systems allowed on the campus network.
- Processor: Pentium 4 or M 1.4GHZ (or higher)
- Memory (RAM) Recommended: 256MB (or higher)
- Hard Drive Minimum: 30GB or larger
- Media Drive: CD-RW or CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive
- Floppy Drive: 3.5 Floppy drive
- Networking10/100, a.k.a NIC (Network Interface Card)
- Wireless: 802.11b/g Card with 128-bit encryption (Microsoft brand cards are incompatible with our network)
- Cables:Category 5 ethernet cable
- Software: We are a Microsoft College so the labs as well as most of our faculty and staff computers are loaded with Microsoft software.
- Virus protection. The college uses Symantec's Norton AntiVirus.
17. WHAT OPERATING SYSTEM DO YOU RECOMMEND?
In Fall 2003 FSC upgraded all desktops and laptops to Windows 2000 and therefore recommends that all students run the same operating system. The recommended laptop for 2004-2005 will come with Windows XP Professional. Any Microsoft Windows version prior to Windows 2000 will not work on our network (this includes Win 3.x, Win9.x, Windows ME and NT versions). Windows XP Home Version, will also NOT work on our network. However, Windows XP Professional will work on the FSC network.
18. WHAT VERSION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE DO YOU RECOMMEND?
We recommend Microsoft Office 2000. This is the version of Microsoft Office that is loaded in the computer labs as well as faculty and staff workstations.
19. HOW DO I SELECT AND CONFIGURE A WIRELESS CARD?
If you are purchasing the recommended laptop, it will come with an integrated wireless card, meaning it is already installed in the laptop. If you have a laptop that does not have a wireless card, you must purchase a card that complies with the IEEE 802.11B standard that supports 128 bit encryption. Make sure that your card is compatible with your operating system. Make sure to ask your vendor. Once you have purchased your card and installed the software, you may bring it to the Laptop Helpdesk for configuration.
20. WHAT KIND OF ETHERNET CARD DO I NEED?
You must purchase a 10/100Mb Ethernet card. Instructions for configuration will be available here and a handout can be picked up at the Laptop Helpdesk. You will also need an Ethernet Cable (CAT5 patch cord/RJ45 connector).
21. WHY BACKUP MY DATA?
Any one of the following occurrences could mean the loss of important work unless personal files are backed up:
Accidental Deletion: One of the most common problems with any personal computer is that people occasionally delete files accidentally. There are utilities available to help undelete files, but these tools are cumbersome and not 100% reliable. If a file is deleted, it is much easier to restore it from backups than it is to try to locate and recover the file using a utility program, particularly when away from campus or in the middle of an exam.
Hardware Failure: Hard drive failure can occasionally happen. If the hard drive fails, there may be no way to recover any of the data on the drive. If those files are not copied to a backup diskette or other media such as Zip, CD, or Server Space allocated to you upon creation of your user account, all work may be lost.
Laptop Swap: Since the laptops are under warranty, if there are hardware problems with the laptop that cannot be fixed locally, we may have to place a service call. To ensure that you have a working laptop, we well most likely swap laptops. If your files are backed up, the transfer to a new one will be easier.
Theft: If someone steals your laptop, valuable files get stolen as well. A laptop can be replaced, and honors thesis cannot.
22. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BACK UP MY DATA?
The frequency of backups is often based on the importance of a file, with important documents backed up more frequently than less important files. A good rule of thumb is to backup your data whenever you have done enough work that you would not want to repeat if your changes were lost.
23.
HOW DO I BACK UP FILES TO THE NETWORK?
FSC provides each student with 100 MB of storage space on
the network. You must be on campus and logged into the student
domain to take advantage of this.
Your student account has a 50MB limit for files that can be
placed on your desktop. If you go over this limit you will
be unable to access your profile. In the event that this happens,
we (ITS Staff) must then access your account and remove files.
Music files, video files, large applications and games should
not be saved here and may be deleted.
"Y" Drives (your home drives) also have a 50 MB
limit and are to be used for academic purposes only. This
space is designed to be used for storage of important, school-related
files. It is provided to all students to backup files to protect
against hard drive failure. The Y drive is backed up nightly,
so in the extremely unlikely event of a server crash, no more
than one days worth of work will be lost. Use of this drive
for storage of MP3 files, software installs (i.e. setup.exe),
large applications and games is prohibited!
24.
HOW DO I BACK UP FILES TO A CD-R OR CDR-W?
Your ThinkPad and Gateway is equipped with a CD-RW called the D:/ drive, meaning you can read CD’s and write to blank CD’s. These are especially good for large amounts of data. This process can take in excess of one hour per CD of data written. A CD-R or CD-RW can hold up to 700 MB of data. NOTE: A CD-R can only be written to one time, may not be edited once burned,and are less expensive than CD-RW. A CD-RW behaves like a floppy disk and may be written to an infinite number of times. Files may be edited, added and/or deleted. Not all CD-RW’s play in all CD players. Using the Adaptec Software which is a part of the standard software load, you have the ability to create data and audio CD's for educational purposes.
25.
HOW DO I USE GATEWAY'S MODULAR DRIVE? (for Gateway 450 users
only)
In order to switch between Gateway's CD-RW (D:\) and its Floppy Drive (A:\) you must first unplug the existing device by double clicking on the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon on the toolbar in the bottom right corner of your screen. Select the drive you would like to remove and click Stop. You will be prompted when it is safe to remove the drive.
You may also switch the drive by going to the Start menu, selecting Settings -->Control Panel-->Add/Remove Hardware. Follow the prompts to unplug or disconnect a device. You will be prompted when it is safe to remove the drive. Once you have received this prompt you may physically remove the device by sliding the two locks which are marked by arrows in the direction the arrows are pointing. This will safely discharge the hardware. You may now place the other drive into the laptop. |
