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Computing@Rensselaer
Fall 2001
Division of the Chief Information Officer
.cio
About This Document…
Welcome to Rensselaer!
Here at Rensselaer, computing plays a major role in the everyday educational experience, and students and faculty alike have access to a broad range of computing tools for their coursework. You'll find that many courses use computing extensively in their curricula, and you'll also use computing as a tool to access library collections and services for your coursework and other information needs.
But there are so many new things to try to remember!
Don't panic! In fact, relax. We have tried to anticipate as many of your questions as we possibly could, and have put together this document in hopes of answering them. **
The first section of this document will help you start using your recently acquired laptop computer.
The remaining sections provide general information about computing here at Rensselaer.
All entries in the Table of Contents have been hotlinked to help you navigate to specific sections of this document more easily. You'll also find other hotlinks within the text that allow you to cross-reference other sections of the document, access URLs, and even direct e-mail to the DotCIO staff.
Therefore, please refer often to this user's guide! We think you'll find it to be a useful source of information to which you can return again and again.
The Staff of the Division of the Chief Information Officer (DotCIO) *
* The Division of the Chief Information Officer (DotCIO) was recently formed as a result of the reorganization of the former Computing and Information Services (CIS). Because some departments are still in transition and some of these reorganization-related changes will take time to accomplish, you may continue to see references to CIS -- and/or its related departments -- in this document, as well as on many of our existing printed and electronic publications for a while. We'll appreciate your patience during this transition period!
** The information in this document is current as of August 20, 2001.
About This DocumentFall 1999
v
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT……
Introducing Your Laptop
Unpacking the Box
Hardware Features
Setting Up the Laptop
Software Features
A Brief Description of Your Laptop's Disk Drive
Test-Driving Your New Laptop
Installing Software
Uninstalling Software
Caring for Your Laptop
A Brief Software Tour
Displaying Complete File Extensions
Starting Programs
Switching between Programs
Closing Programs
Maple 7
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Connecting to Other Host Computers via SecureCRT
Web Browsers: Netscape and Internet Explorer
Getting Help and Additional Information
The ThinkPad Button
Help Desk Locations
Documentation
RPInfo
Short Courses
The Kiosk
rpi.computing.news Usenet newsgroup
The DotCIO Homepage
An Introduction to the Rensselaer Computing System
About Your RCS Account
Choosing and Changing Your RCS Account Password
Using Your Account Responsibly: Some Words of Wisdom
Appropriate Account Uses
Prohibited Account Uses
Using Electronic Mail
Setting Options for Various E-Mail Programs
Using the Student Information System (SIS)
Using WebCT: Web-Based Coursework at Rensselaer
Logging in to a Public PC
Finishing Up and Logging Out
Mapping a Network Drive
Sharing Files across RCS
Printing
Public Printers
Printer Naming Conventions
Printing Allocations and pagestatus
Choosing a Printer and Printing from Public PCs
Installing a Network Printer on Your PC
For More Information…
Resources and Services
Computing Labs and Classrooms
The Campus Computer Store
Academic and Research Computing
Rensselaer Computer Repair
Telecommunications
The Rensselaer Libraries
Scanning and Digital Video Capabilities
Campus Computing Network Information
Facilities Overview
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about UNIX but Were Afraid to Ask…
Establishing a UNIX Session
Communicating with UNIX
Managing Your RCS Account
Printing
UNIX Files and Directories
Some Basic UNIX Commands
For More Information About UNIX…
Some UNIX Workstation Basics
Using a UNIX Workstation
Glossary of Acronyms and Terms
Useful URLs, E-Mail Addresses, and Phone Numbers
INDEX
Table of ContentsFall 2000
1
Introducing Your Laptop
Unpacking the Box
The laptop computer you've just received is an IBM ThinkPad T22 Model 2647-6EU/RSU. As you unpack the box, please take a few minutes to make sure you have -- and hang onto -- the materials listed below.
Materials to Keep
Laptop computer
Power cord and AC adapter
Floppy diskette drive
IBM Li-Ion battery pack
Bag containing an extra TrackPoint cap, a telephone cord, and a security screw for the laptop's hard drive
Getting Started -- Microsoft Windows 98 Manual (Second edition)
IBM ThinkPad T22 Setup Guide and Checklist for Unpacking
IBM ThinkPad T22 Service and Troubleshooting Guide
Miscellaneous advertisement documents and brochures
Hardware Features
Front View
- The system status indicators consist of a series of indicator lights, and show the computer's current status in green or orange. (A close-up view of the system status indicators appears on the following page, along with a list of their descriptions.)
- The power switchturns the computer on and off.
- The battery, standby mode, and UltraBay status indicators. Full descriptions of these indicators appear on the following page.
- The bay latch allows you to eject and remove the Ultrabay 2000 device, should you ever need to replace it.
- The eject button ejects various storage devices, such as DVD or CD-ROM drives, from the Ultrabay 2000 device (6).
- The Ultrabay 2000 deviceaccepts storage devices, such as a DVD drive or a CD-ROM drive.
- The TrackPoint pointing stick is a built-in pointing device that provides a function similar to that of a mouse.
- The TrackPoint buttons work with the TrackPoint stick (7) and provide functions similar to those of mouse buttons.
- The ThinkPad buttonprovides you with built-in, one-button access to information you need, along with ThinkPad portals for mobile solutions, service, support, and more.
- The volume and mute buttons allow you to control the volume level on your laptop.
Note that your laptop also comes equipped with the ThinkLight feature that makes it easy for you to see your keyboard in low-light conditions, such as when you're giving a presentation, or if you're using your laptop on a plane.
The System Status Indicators
- Device Access indicator. This will appear in green while data is being read from or written to the hard disk drive, the diskette drive, or a drive in the Ultrabay 2000. Do not put the computer into standby mode or turn off the computer while this indicator is on.
- Numeric lock indicator. Indicates that the numeric keypad on the keyboard is enabled. To enable or disable the keypad, press and hold the Shift key, and then press the NumLk (Scrlk) key.
- Caps lock indicator. Indicates that the Caps Lock mode is enabled.
- Scroll lock indicator. Indicates that Scroll Lock mode is enabled, and you can use the arrow keys as screen-scroll function keys. Note that the cursor cannot be moved with the arrow keys while this function is enabled, although not all applications support this function.
- Power on indicator. Indicates that the laptop is powered on and ready to use. This light remains on whenever the computer is powered on and not in standby mode.
- Battery indicator. When green, this indicates that the battery is fully charged. When blinking green, it indicates that the battery is being charged, but has enough power to operate the machine. When orange, it indicates that the battery is being charged but that the power is still low, and when blinking orange, it indicates that the battery needs charging.
- Standby indicator. When green, this indicates that the computer is in standby mode. When blinking green, the computer is entering either standby or hibernation mode, or is resuming normal operation.
- Ultrabay indicator. When green, this indicates that a device, such as a CD or DVD, is installed and in use in the drive. When blinking green, it indicates that the Ultrabay device is in the process of being detached. When not illuminated, this indicates that the Ultrabay 2000 drive is not in use.
Rear View
- The security keyholeallows you to connect the security cable, which you received with your laptop, to help prevent it from being stolen.
- The video-out (S video) connector allows you to connect your computer to an external television receiver.
- The serial connector allows you to connect a serial mouse, serial printer, or serial device and to transfer data between devices.
- The parallel connector allows you to connect a diskette drive, a Centronics interface printer, or some other parallel device, and to transfer data between devices.
- The external monitor connectorallows you to attach an external monitor.
- The modem connector is used for connecting your computer to a telephone line.
- The Ethernet connector is used for connecting your computer to a local network. Please note that you should not connect your telephone line to this connector.
- The power jack allows you to connect the AC adapter cable.
- The universal serial bus (USB) connector allows you to connect any device that conforms to the USB interface. Many recent digital devices comply with this new standard.
- The external-input-device connector allows you to attach a mouse or external numeric keypad to the computer. You may also attach an external keyboard to this connector using an optional keyboard/mouse cable.
Bottom View
- The built-in stereo speakersprovide the sound for your laptop computer.
- The battery pack is a built-in power source for the computer, whenever you do not have an AC adapter available.
- The battery-pack latcheslock or release the battery pack.
- The docking connector allows you to connect your laptop to a Thinkpad Dock or ThinkPad Port replicator.
- The mini PCI card slot contains a card that acts as both your modem and Ethernet card.
- The dual inline memory module (DIMM) allows for memory expansion. (The system has 256MB of memory standard.)
- The PCMCIA card slotsaccept PC cards. (Note that your machine has both an upper and a lower card slot.)
- The PC card eject button ejects the PC card from the PC card slots (7).
- The infrared port allows the computer to communicate with other devices that have infrared data-transfer capability.
- The stereo headphone jack, a 3.5mm diameter jack, allows you to connect a stereo headphone or external speakers.
- The stereo line-in jack, a 3.5mm diameter jack, allows you to connect an external stereo audio device.
- The microphone jack, another 3.5mm diameter jack, allows you to connect a stereo microphone.
- The hard disk drive consists of the computer's large-capacity, built-in hard disk drive.
- The LCD latches open the laptop cover when pressed.
Setting Up the Laptop
Recording Your Windows Product Key
Before you begin setting up your new laptop, take a minute to turn it over and locate the Windows Product Key that appears on the special laminated sticker on the bottom of your machine.
Enter this product key information at the top of your Laptop Configuration/Installation Checklist, and also copy it down on the "Introducing Your Laptop handout" that you received with your laptops. You will need it to initialize -- or if you ever need to re-install -- Windows.
Connecting the Pieces
Connecting the Power Cord
To connect the power cord, first insert the two-pronged "jack" end of the power cord into the matching receptacle of the AC adapter, then plug the other end into a standard electrical outlet. Insert the yellow-coded plug on the AC adapter cord into the matching yellow-coded power jack (labeled as #8 on the rear view on page 7) located on the back of the laptop.
Connecting the Network Cable
Insert one end of the grey network cable into the Ethernet connector receptacle at the back of the laptop (labeled as #7 on the rear view on page 7) until it clicks into place, and the other end of the cable into a laptop jack.
Opening the Machine
There are two small spring-loaded latches (LCD latches, labeled as #14 on the bottom view on page 8), on the front of the laptop, toward either side of the machine. Use your thumbs to push these two switches out away from each other, toward the sides of the laptop. Then, still holding the switches outward, push up the lid of the laptop.
Powering on the Laptop
To power on the laptop, push the round power button (labeled as #2 on the front view on page 4) located above the keyboard and to the right of the system status indicators (labeled as #1 on the front view on page 4).
Entering the Required Information
When the laptop has powered up completely, a Windows 98 Setup Wizard window will appear, asking you for some user information. You must enter your name in the Name: field. In the Company: field, you may either keep "Rensselaer" as the default, or leave the field blank altogether. Click the Next button at the bottom of the window.
A License Agreement window will appear. After you have read the terms of the agreement, select the option saying that you accept the terms of the agreement, and click the Next button to accept those terms.
Another window will appear, asking for your Windows product key information; type the product key in the fields provided. (You don't have to use the Tab key; the cursor will automatically move from field to field as you type. Similarly, you don't have to press the Shift key to enter capital letters; letters will appear as capitals automatically.) Double-check what you have typed to make sure you have entered the product key correctly, then click the Next button.
A Start Wizard window appears. Click on the Finish button to continue starting Windows 98.
Wait a moment for the Supply Rensselaer Credentials window to appear. Enter your assigned RCS userID -- which consists of the first five letters of your last name, the first initial of your first name, and possibly a digit or two to make it unique-- in the top field of this window. Enter the name of your dorm building as your workgroup name. (The system will require you to enter a workgroup.) Off-campus users should enter offcampus as their workgroup name.
Click the OK button.
THE LAPTOP WILL NOW AUTOMATICALLY RESTART. WAIT A FEW MOMENTS FOR THIS PROCESS TO COMPLETE.
Connecting to the Network and Obtaining Your Adapter Address
When the machine finishes booting, an Enter Network Password window will appear; your RCS userID should already appear in the Name: field. Enter your RCS password (remember, your password is case-sensitive) in the Password: field, and click OK.
A Set Windows Password window will appear. Your RCS password will have already been entered in the New password: field. (It will appear as a string of asterisks.) Enter your RCS password again in the Confirm new password: field and click OK.
The Welcome to Windows 98 window will appear. At this point, either click the Close ("X") button in the upper right corner of the window, or the Close button, to close this window. (Clicking on the Continue option would start up a guided tour of Windows 98, but please don't do this now. However, you should go back and go through this guided tour later.)
Double-click on the Winipcfg icon in the lower right corner of the desktop. An IP Configuration window appears. If the adapter is listed as PPP Adapter in the top field of the window, click on the small drop-down arrow beside that field and select the 10/100 Mini PCI Ethernet Adapter option . When you do this, the remaining IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway information will appear in the appropriate fields.
Record the machine's adapter address (shown in the Adapter Address field) on your Laptop Configuration/Installation Checklist.
(Please note that whenever the network connection does not appear to be working, left-click on the Release button and then on the Renew button to obtain a new IP address.)
Left-click on the "X" in the upper right corner of the IP Configuration window to close it.
You should now be connected to the network.
Software Features
An Overview of the Included Software
Your laptop has come pre-loaded with a number of software packages, including:
Microsoft Office XP Professional -- Microsoft's Office suite of Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Frontpage, and PowerPoint packages will provide you with word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, HTML, and presentation capabilities, respectively.
Maple 7 -- This symbolic algebra package allows you to integrate, differentiate, solve equations, and plot functions.
SecureCRT 3.3 -- This package provides a secure connection to the RCS UNIX systems.
Microsoft Visual C++ -- This package provides a C++ programming/development environment from Microsoft. The rest of the Visual Studio package, including Front Page 2000, J++, FoxPro, and Visual Basic, is available on CD ROM at the VCC Help Desk.
LabVIEW -- National Instruments' LabVIEW package provides data acquisitions and control, data analysis, and data presentation capabilities. Please note that only sub-sets of this package have been pre-installed on your machine; you can obtain the remaining components on CD from the VCC Help Desk.