Information Systems

Welcome to Windows XP

Table of Contents

If you have any questions or encounter any problems, please call the Helpdesk at (425) 352-5275.

Applications

Your computer has been installed with Windows XP, the latest security updates, virus protection software, and the most recent versions of our standard software installation.

Do you have additional licensed software that you would like installed on your computer? Contact the helpdesk by email at helpdesk@uwb.edu or by phone at (425) 352-5275, and we will set up a time for installation.

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Logging onto your Computer

Logging off Windows XP


Logging off is necessary each time you finish using a UWB computer. If you don't log off, then anyone can use your computer and have access to your data and personal information.

To log off:

Please, Do NOT Shut Down Your Computer

Log off your computer at the end of the day, but do not shut down your computer. When computers are on overnight, Information Systems can push the latest virus updates and Windows patches over the network, thus ensuring your computer is safe from viruses, worms, and hackers.

Accessing Your Files on the Mercury File Server

  1. Click Start on your Task bar, and then click Run.

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  1. In the "Run" window, type \\mercury, then click OK.

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  1. Double-click on your department's folder.
  2. You should now see your folder, double-click it to open it. You can now access any previously saved files or move new files to this folder.

Creating a Desktop Shortcut to your Mercury folder

We recommend that you create a desktop shortcut, which makes it simpler to access and save files directly to your Mercury folder. Saving your files on Mercury is one of your best defenses against loss caused by viruses, worms, and software or hardware failure.

  1. Open your department's folder, locate your folder, click once on your folder to highlight it, then click on File on the menu bar, and then click Create Shortcut.
  2. A window will pop up that says, "Windows cannot create a shortcut here. Do you want the shortcut to be placed on the desktop instead?" Click Yes.
  3. Close the department folder window.
  4. An icon with your name will appear on your desktop that will look similar to this:

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  1. You may want to create a shortcut to your department's public folder so that you can share files with other people in your department. Just follow steps 1 and 2 and highlight the public folder instead.

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Saving New Files as You Create them

Saving files directly to your Mercury shortcut, as you create them, is the best method for ensuring that your files will be safe.

When you are in an application and you want to save a file:

Configuring Outlook XP

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When you launch Outlook, you will notice that it has been configured to recognize your username and account. Your email, calendar, and contacts are readily available. However, you will need to configure some of the settings. If you have any problems with Outlook, call the helpdesk at 425-352-5275.


Customizing the Outlook Bar and the Folder List:

These two screen components help you navigate through the various components of Outlook. You can turn either or both of them off in the View menu. Getting one of them off your screen will allow more room for viewing your messages. We recommend leaving the Folder List open as a navigation tool, as it gives a little more detail than the Outlook Bar, but the choice between Folder List and Outlook Bar is ultimately a matter of personal preference.

Click on View, Outlook Bar to remove the Outlook Bar from your screen.
Click on View, Folder List to remove the Folder List from your screen.

Repeating the process brings them back.

Configuring Outlook to Send Outgoing Mail as Rich Text and Configuring Outlook to not use Word to Edit E-mail Messages: Outlook XP automatically assumes that you want to compose your email in HTML. Since Pine and other email programs do not read HTML, we recommend that you configure Outlook to compose email in Rich Text.

1. Open Outlook.
2. On the menu bar, select Tools, Options.
3. Click on the Mail format tab.
4. Click on the drop down arrow next to "Compose in this message format:" and select Rich Text.
5. If you wish to not use Word to edit your e-mail messages, go to step 6, otherwise click OK and you are done. 6. Outlook XP is automatically configured to use Word to compose your e-mail messages, which is a big change from Outlook 2000. You may find that you do not want to use Word. Click on the box to the left of "Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages", this will remove the check.
7. Click OK to close this window.

Adding your Signature File: If you had a signature file and you saved it, you can add it back to Outlook. Outlook will then automatically include your signature at the end of each email message you send. If you did not save your signature, you can type up a new one.

  1. On the menu bar, click Tools, Options.
  2. Click on the Mail format tab.
  3. Near the bottom of the page, click on Signatures button..
  4. In the "Create Signature" window, click New.
  5. In box 1, enter a name for this particular signature, such as your first name.
  6. Click Next.
  7. In the signature text box, enter the information for your signature.
  8. Click Finish when you're done.
  9. In the "Create Signature" window, click OK.
  10. In the "Options" window, click OK.

Enabling Automatic Spell Check: If you wish, you can configure Outlook so that it automatically spell-checks each email message when you click the send button.

  1. On the menu bar, click Tools, the click Options.
  2. Click on the Spelling tab.
  3. Place a check next to Always check spelling before sending.
  4. Click OK.

Adding another mailbox to your profile: If you had access to another mailbox in Outlook 2000, contact the helpdesk, and they can assist you with adding the mailbox in Outlook XP.

Junk Mail and Rules: You do not need to configure your Outlook rules (also known as filtering) because Outlook stores the rules on the Exchange Server. They will automatically function in Outlook XP.

Calendar and permissions: Calendar settings are also stored on the Exchange Server, so you do not need to configure your calendar.

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Importing Bookmarks and Favorites

Mozilla Bookmarks:

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  1. Launch Mozilla.
  2. Click Bookmarks on the menu bar, and then click Manage Bookmarks...
  3. When the Manager Window opens, click Tools on the menu bar and then click Import.
  4. In the "Import bookmark file" window, navigate to your Mercury folder and open it. (If you created a Mercury shortcut on your desktop, click on the desktop icon on the left hand side of the window. Then double-click on your folder.) Locate and double-click the bookmarks.xxhtml file. This will take you back to the Bookmarks window.
  5. Close the "Bookmarks" window. (Click the red X in the top right corner of the window, or click File then Exit.)

Mozilla Cookies: Please call the Helpdesk at (425)352-5275, and a technician will assist you.



Internet Explorer Favorites:

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  1. Launch Internet Explorer.
  2. Click on File on the menu bar, select Import and Export...
  3. At the "Welcome to the Import/Export Wizard" window, click Next.
  4. At the "Import/Export Selection" window, click Import Favorites, then click Next.
  5. At the "Import Favorites Source" window, select Import from a file or address, then click Browse.
  6. In the "Select Bookmark File" window, navigate and open your Mercury folder. (If you created a Mercury shortcut on your desktop, click on the desktop icon on the left hand side of the window.) Then locate and double-click the bookmark.htm file.
  7. In the "Import Favorites Source" window, click Next.
  8. In the "Import Favorites Destination" window, make sure favorites is highlighted, click Next.
  9. In the "Welcome to the Import/Export Wizard", click Finish.

 Internet Explorer Cookies:

1. Launch Internet Explorer.
2. Click on File on the menu bar, select Import and Export...
3. At the "Welcome to the Import/Export Wizard" window, click Next.
4. At the "Import/Export Selection" window, click Import Cookies, then click Next.
5. At the "Import Favorites Source" window, select Import from a file or address, then click Browse.
6. In the "Select Bookmark File" window, navigate and open your Mercury folder. (If you created a Mercury shortcut on your desktop, click on the desktop icon on the left hand side of the window.) Then locate and double-click the cookies.txt file.
7. In the "Import Favorites Source" window, click Next.
8. In the "Import Favorites Destination" window, make sure favorites is highlighted, click Next.
9. In the "Welcome to the Import/Export Wizard", click Finish.

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Configuring Your Printer

  1. Click on Start, then click Settings, then click Printers and Faxes.
  2. Double-click on Add Printer, which is found under "Printer Tasks" on the left side. This will launch the Add Printer Wizard. Click Next.
  3. In the "Local or Network Printer" window, select A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer. Click Next.
  4. In the "Specify a Printer" window, select Connect to this printer. Click Next.
  5. It may take a moment for the "Browse for Printer" window to display the items in the "Shared printers:" window, please be patient. Then:
    a. Double-click on UWB.
    b. Double-click on Hera.
    c. Double-click the printer that you want. This is a long list of printers that are named by their building and room number. You may want to select the printer that is closest to you.
  6. In the "Default Printer" window, select yes if you would like this to be your default printer. Click Next.
  7. In the "Completing the Add Printer Wizard" window, click Finish.

Creating Program Shortcuts on your Desktop

You may want to create a shortcut to the programs you most frequently use:

  1. Make sure you do not have any windows open.
  2. Click on Start, and go to Programs.
  3. Navigate to the program icon.
  4. Click and drag the program icon onto your desktop.

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