Monitor power plugs falling out

I just walked around the public computers in reference and found 3 or 4 that didn't have monitor power. In all cases, the power cord that plugs into the monitor (upside down) was loose or simply unplugged. So if you see monitors with no power (look for the little green LED light in the bottom right), check the power cable behind the monitor.  --Steve

fix for "no login server" on public computers

I'm not sure if this fix has been shared before. Franklin reports:

"Please try shutting the machine down. Let it sit powered of for around 5 minutes, then power it back on and let it sit for another 5 minutes. It should be able to logon after that."

Those steps did indeed fix one of our machines this morning.  --Steve

Public computers!

A change in policy for the public workstations from Franklin!! should make it simpler for people to add needed plugins.

I have changed the policy that controls user rights on the public workstations. Anyone who logs into the public workstations will automatically have administrator right on that workstation. This should allow users to do things like install the ActiveX control for My IT Lab, install the software for our video and voice recorders, and anything else that might require local administrator rights.

Please note that these machines are still running drive protection which wipes the hard drive on reboot. This means that users will not be able to install anything that force a reboot during installation.

Please let me know if there are questions.

Thanks,

hfmckee@uncg.edu


Franklin McKee

Logon problems with public machines

From Stacey and Brown

The bottom line on this (below) is that if the computer won't connect, we should move patrons to another machine and reboot. Only report to ERIT if rebooting doesn't work.

Here is the explanation of what is happening and why:

(Brown) Occasionally, if a machine is unable to connect, and waiting/restarting it doesn't fix the problem, then it is likely in "remediation". This is a situation where the computer in question has not met a required baseline of Windows updates or Virus Definitions. The systems group moves the machine to a separate network and runs its updates, then moves it back.

In our case, since we run software that prevents changes from occurring to the hard drive, our machines will slip out of the requisite update schedule. We're currently working on how best to mitigate this situation by shutting down the SmartShield software and running updates on the weekends only (when the library is closed). As far as our patrons are concerned, it would be best for them to attempt to logon to another available machine.

Public computers - heads up!

Due to issues related to migration, the library public computers will lose many of the now standard programs. They will have IE and Firefox browsers, Office Suite, Java, Acrobat and Flash, and by special request, EndNote, but that's pretty much it. My guess was that 95% of use will be covered by these, but that's a pure guess. The alternative to this - probably no working public computers for several days or even weeks. We will likely also at least temporarily lose the library site as the home page and the Ask Us icon on the desktop, but Franklin may be able to fix this; he's working on it and realizes these are both very important.

Franklin and his crew will be working on re-imaging machines during the next days before the Friday planned migration, so you will see them around a lot. some computers will be changing by Wed. They will be working toward improvements by fall semester. This won't affect the Superlab, so we can send people there to use any needed programs.

I think some paper signage may be in order if we get a lot of questions, since it also won't be possible to put messages on the computer desktops.

R Drive

This morning I had a student who was not able to access his R Drive. Talked to 6-Tech and ERIT and they said it is now gone. Once we are migrated they will be able to use the S-Drive.

Work around for now.

Open there email and save the file as an attachment. There are also a couple of flash drives to use (located at the coat closet door). If those are gone see Michael Ingram.

R Drive Not Available

The network "R" drive, which is everyone's personal drive is not available during the network migration - from campus IT.

No VGA message on public workstations

If you see a blank screen message window on any of the public work stations with wide screen monitors reading "No VGA Input" push the second settings button above the power switch on the bottom right of the monitor until it reads "Digital  Input" and the monitor will activate.

error message on machines

I had a problem logging on this morning with a message that said "No referrals to the user object could be found." I checked workstation only and at that point had no problems and kind of forgot about it, but we have now had the same message show up on some of the public computers in Reference during the logon process. ERIT has checked and suggests restarting if this occurs again.

Renovation and computer blogs

Check out the renovation blog for information on what's going on as the work progresses.

http://jacksonlibrenovation.blogspot.com/

Also if you have questions on computer outages, projects, etc. we have a new blog to update us on any ongoing computer projects.

https://libshare1/sites/itblog/default.aspx

Computer availability map

Good news from Franklin - and a good place to direct frustrated students when they can't find a computer.

The Libraries' public computer availability map display is now up and running. Stop by the first floor lobby, across from the Grab a Book display, and check-out where there are computers available in Jackson Library.

You can also view it from our desk at http://library.uncg.edu/pub_mach/computermap.aspx