Academic Computer Center

Computer Lab Manual

January 2005
Revised: February 2006

Created by: Stacey Katz

With the help of the computer technicians of Dawson College
The Academic Computer Lab Manual ©2005 Dawson College

Network User Agreement

I understand that I am being given an account to use the Dawson College Network in
order to facilitate my work at Dawson. By logging on to the network I agree to abide by the
following:

• I will not use this account for commercial or illegal purposes.

• I will not use this account to send or post spam, abusive, libelous, hateful, illegal or
dishonest messages.

• I will not use this account to misrepresent myself, others or Dawson College.

• I will not use this account for activities, such as but not limited to, music or video
downloading or uploading which cause congestion or disruption to systems or
networks.

• I will not allow anyone other than myself to use this account.

No one at Dawson or at any other domain or node shall be liable for direct, indirect,
incidental, special or consequential claims and/or damages arising out of my inability to
use any and/or all of the components of or linked to the Dawson Network.

Failure to meet the conditions of this agreement may result in the suspension of
your access to the network.

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Table of contents

Network User Agreement ........................................................................................................... 2

The Academic Computer Labs .................................................................................................. 4
Lab rules ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

How to Logon .................................................................................................................................. 5

New Students ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Returning Students............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6

How to Logoff.................................................................................................................................. 7
Other computer resources.......................................................................................................... 9
How to print....................................................................................................................................10
How to add money to your printing account......................................................................12
Security ............................................................................................................................................15

Please Note: The pictures and graphics are for illustration purposes only.

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The Academic Computer Lab Manual ©2005 Dawson College

The Academic Computer Labs

Do you need to do some research on the Internet?

A place to type and print an assignment?
Want to check your e-mail?

Dawson College has more than 50 computer labs and workrooms for students, faculty and
staff to use. The two primary areas for students are the 2F labs with the Academic
Computer Center located at 2H.12 and the 5B labs with an office at 5B.5.

The software in each lab includes Microsoft Office, web browsers, graphic utilities and
other software depending on the primary use of the lab. Most computer labs are primarily
used for scheduled classes. You should never enter a lab in which a scheduled class is
being held. Read the schedule outside the lab or read any notices posted on the door before
entering. If no class is scheduled into a lab then you may enter the lab. You are expected
to be using the lab in support of your course work and not for recreational purposes. As
well, certain labs may have their unscheduled time made available only to students in
certain programs. Please respect this and find another lab to work in. The schedules and
configuration of the labs can be found at either the 5B office (5B.5) bulletin boards or the
Academic Computer Center (2H.12), as well as near each lab.

5B.1 is always open as a free time lab.

The following is what you need to know in order to use the computer labs. More
information is available at either the Academic Computer Center (2H.12) or the 5B
(5B.5-1) lab office.

For security, your valid I.D. Card (or a copy of your official current schedule
and ID) is required for most services from the Computer Center.

Lab rules.
 No food or drinks of any kind (including water)
 No internet chat of any kind (IRC, ICQ, AOL, MSN etc.)
 No games
 No hardware can be connected or disconnected in our labs, with the exception of
USB drives
 No downloading or uploading of MP3, JPG or MPEG files not directly needed for
your work at Dawson

If you are having problems or questions, please go to either the Computer Center (2H.12)
or the 5B (5B.5) office. An attendant will help you.

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The Academic Computer Lab Manual ©2005 Dawson College

How to Logon

You will need your:

Username: student ID number
Password: First time users use your birthday (ddmmyy) for the first logon only

Hitting “Cancel” key will bring you right back to this screen

New Students
If this is your first time logging on, you will be notified that your password has expired
and asked if you want to change it? Click “YES” or “OK” and create a new password (8
characters minimum – letters & numbers are ok).

Please note, you MUST change your password now!

Enter your new password in both boxes then click the “OK” button. If you click “Cancel”,
you will NOT be able to logon again until your password is reset at the computer center.

Your new password must be at least eight (8) characters long.

Do not use your birth date again
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Returning Students

If you are a returning student, you will also be asked to change your password at least
once a year. You MUST change your password or you will not be able to logon to the
network.

The procedure is the same as for new students when you are told your password has
expired at logon. Otherwise, you can change your password at any time by following the
instructions later in the Security section of the manual (Page 14).

If you do not change your password you will not be able to logon again, and you will have
to go to either the computer center (2H.12) or the 5B office (5B.5) to get your password
reset.

DO NOT REUSE AN OLD PASSWORD WHEN ASKED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS SOFTWARE IS REQUIRED IN ORDER

TO USE THE COMPUTER LABS.

FOR ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE, READ THE SOFTWARE’S HELP
FILE OR ASK YOUR TEACHER.

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How to Logoff

Click on the “Start” button

Click on “Shut Down”

The Shut Down dialog box will appear and the rest of the screen will darken

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The Shut Down dialog box

Click “OK”

Or if you want to restart the computer

select “Restart” from the dropdown list and then click “OK”

The computer will now shut down or restart depending on your choice

LOGOFF AFTER USING THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB OTHERWISE PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO PRINT AT YOUR EXPENSE AND ACCESS YOUR FILES.

WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF THIS HAPPENS, NOR WILL ANY REFUNDS
BE GIVEN.

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Other computer resources

Once you have logged onto Dawson’s computer network you should find two useful
network drives:
The H: or home directory is a place for you to store your files.
The academic program you are in determines the amount of space in your home directory.
Students have between 10 and 30 MB.
The S: or shared directory contains files from your teacher for you to use during class.

Your Home directory is the drive with your username

(7935400 in the picture)

• CD burners are in all the 2F and 5B labs.

• Scanners are available in the 2F labs at the teacher’s station

SAVE YOUR WORK FREQUENTLY

MAKE COPIES ON FLOPPY DISK, CD OR USB KEY

FOR ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE, READ THE SOFTWARE’S HELP
FILE OR ASK YOUR TEACHER.

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The Academic Computer Lab Manual ©2005 Dawson College

How to print (black & white and colour).

Each lab has a black & white printer

As of September 2002, the black & white printer costs 5¢/page. The colour printer
costs 50¢/page.
Printing to the black & white printer is straightforward. Open the application (i.e. Word or
Excel) and either click on the small printer icon on the tool bar

Each lab has a Black & white printer

The popup will indicate the printer; for example, this will print to the printer in room 2F-26.

or alternatively, from the menu; select File/Print

Then click “OK”.

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Your work will print on the printer named in the dialog box.

For example: this will print to the printer in room 2F-26

Printing to the colour printer is also easy. Select File/Print from the menu (as above) and
from the dropdown list select “2H12-clrq” and then “OK”. Your work will print to the
colour printer located at the Computer Center (2H.12). It will take a few minutes for your
work to be printed so please be patient.

Colour printing is available from all the labs.

The colour printer is located at The Academic Computer Center, room 2H.12

If you want to print to the black & white printer again, you must select it the same way
you selected the colour printer.

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How to add money to your printing account

When you started the semester, money was added to your printing account. The amount of
money varied depending on your program. You can add money to your printing account at
any time.

In order to add money to your account, you will need either your student ID card or a print
card. (The Print Shop, 2E-1, can help you if you have a problem with either of these cards).

Step 1

On the wall near the 2H Computer Center,

there is a black ITC card reader. This can
be used to add money to your print or ID
cards.

There are similar machines in the 2C wing

and in the library.

The ITC machine in the 2C wing also sells

print cards.

Insert your card before you insert any money

This machine does not provide change

Please follow the instructions on the

machine.

Step 2

After you have added money to your

card, go to either 5B.1 or the Computer
Center (2H.12) and you will find
computers called Print Managers with
card readers (small black boxes)
attached.

WE DO NOT PROVIDE CHANGE FOR PRINTING

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Step 1
With the print manager displaying this screen…

Insert your ID or Print card into the card reader;

black stripe down in the direction of the arrows.

Follow the arrows

Notice the arrows

Step 2
Enter your Username and Password and then click OK.

This is an example

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Please be patient while the system searches for your account, it may take a few minutes.

Step 3
You are deducting money from your card and adding it to your account.
Type in the amount you would like to add to your account, then click the “Add” button.

Your Printing Balance: How much money is currently in your printing account
Balance on your card: How much money is left on your card
Amount to Add: Using the arrows, specify how much money you want to move from your
card to your printing account

Your card will be returned to you after you click the “Add” button

If you would like to verify your printing account balance, double click on the large black dollar sign
on the desktop. Your print balance will be displayed.

WBalance Icon on the desktop

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Security

You are responsible for the security of your password. Please remember to keep it
confidential. Sharing your username and password with anyone else makes you liable for
anything they may do. As well, please remember to logoff your computer when you have
finished using it.

LEAVING THE COMPUTER LOGGED ON MEANS THAT OTHERS WILL HAVE ACCESS
TO YOUR FILES AND PRINTING ACCOUNT.

You can change your own password at anytime by typing “password” from the Start/Run
command. “Password” will ask for your old password and ask that you type your new
password twice.

These are the steps:

Step 2 (This is an example)

Step 1

Step 3

Step 4

The pictures are for illustration purposes only

Your password MUST be at least 8 characters long; a mix of letters and numbers is okay.

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If you select a password of less than 8 characters, you will not be able to login
again until your password is reset at the Computer Center or 5B office.

DO NOT REUSE AN OLD PASSWORD WHEN ASKED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

Your account will remain active for as long as you are a student at Dawson. You will be
asked to change your password at least once a year.

If you are having a problem with your password, go to the Computer Center (2H.12) or the
5B (5B.5) office for help.

Your valid I.D. Card (with a current semester’s sticker) or a copy of your official current
schedule (available from the registrar’s office) and ID is required for most services from the
Computer Center.

ID card validation stickers are available from the Security office 2E.14

WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LABS, NOT TO TEACH YOU
HOW TO USE THE COMPUTER OR TO TEACH YOU THE SOFTWARE

FoxTrot by Bill Amend

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