Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated 8/2004

Table of Contents


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Main computer lab home page

How do I get an account for the Chemistry lab?

The lab is for chemistry majors and students in chemistry courses only. You must get an application form from your current (or most recent) chemistry instructor or from the box in PS-202. A chemistry instructor must sign your form. You may turn your completed application (front of two yellow sheets) in to the "computer lab" mailbox in PS-219 (department office). Your account will normally be available in less than 2 days. Your instructor my be able to give you access to a temporary account to use, in the mean time. Your login ID will be your first initial, middle initial, last name (all one word, lower case), and initial password will be "happy", but you will have to change it the first time you log in. Very rarely the login ID will already be taken, and you will be notified to use an alternative ID. Your account will  expire after two quarters of dormancy, or at the end of the academic year.
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Where can I save my files?

Each student account (other than the generic account) has disk space on the server for saving your work. The server is backed up weekly, and you can access this space by logging in to any workstation in PS-202 or PS-319. Your personal folder shows up as the "H:" drive (in save or save as dialog boxes), and many applications save to this space as a default. Only you can read and write to your personal space. Files may also be backed up on floppy disk (A:) or a Zip (removeable) disk (D:) that must be formatted for Windows computers, or on a thumb drive. It is always a good idea to back up all saved files on your own disks (floppy or Zip) in addition to the server space. Saving on the C: drive is not a good idea, as this local drive is only accessible from the same workstation, and subject to being overwritten if there is a software problem.
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How do I print?

By default, all print jobs will go to the laser printer in PS-202 (or in PS-319 if you happen to be working there!) After selecting "print" in any application, a print dialog box appears. In this box, an alternative printer .
Please use discretion in printing: if printing privileges are abused, free printing may be discontinued. Also remember, all print jobs are logged and can be reviewed by the system administrator, and you are limited to 35 pages per week. In extenuating circumstances additional pages will be temporarily provided.
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Who do I talk to about problems encountered?

All problems should initially be reported to the student assistant (message in the box in the department office or on the board in the computer room). The student system administrator (currently Jeremy Marion), the faculty administrator (Kimberley Cousins), the staff liason is Ken Makino (Chemistry stockroom) and the CNS technician (Ken Poarch) maintain the lab. You can mail any suggestions for improvement to Dr. Cousins (kcousins@csusb.edu). Immediate technical problems are best dealt with by logging out, then logging on to another workstation, or by contacting the chemistry stockroom (PS-331).

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What are the rules of the lab?

If you wish to review the "User Rights and Responsibilities" signed when you got an account, click here.
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I forgot my password, now what?

Your password will have to be re-set to "happy" by the system administrator. Fill out the "Forgot my password" form in the computer lab, and leave in the computer lab mail box in the department office (PS-219). It will normally take 2 days to re-set the password. In the mean time you can use the generic account only (available from your instructor).
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This project is supported in part by an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF-ILI # 9851333)

Kimberley Cousins.
Copyright ©kcousins. All rights reserved.
Revised: August 2, 2004.