GGIT Support Personnel
Kate Blane: kblane@uga.edu

Computer Ethics

1. FAQs: http://www.uga.edu/ucns/tti/Computer_Review/Summer98/
   compsec.html
2. http://www.uga.edu/compsec/summary.html - this is the summary of the computer policy at UGA which you are responsible for. Please be familiar with this document.

Use of lab computers

1. Do not install programs on the PC without the approval of the GGIT support. Only lab 119 is available for graduate students to customize settings and install web programs/plug-ins /screensavers.
2. These are not personal computers but lab computers that are kept standardized. Please feel free to email GGIT support with suggestions for software additions to the lab computers. These will be incorporated as possible. For example: Do not install WinZip. This is a shareware program and needs to be purchased. Please use Skinny Zipper, a freeware program, which is installed on all the lab computers.
3. Please remember to log off the computer you are using. This will help prevent the loss of your files on H: drive. Do not store any data on drive C: Periodically, drive C: will be erased.
4. To start with, each student is allocated 200MB. This amount can be boosted upon request. To check your disk space, open the My Computer icon on the desktop and click on H: drive. The amount of disk space reported "used" is incorrect (reporting on total drive volume and not individual space).However, the amount "free" is correct and tells you how much disk space you have left.
5. Please remember to back up your important data often and keep at least two separate archives. Floppy diskettes are not reliable medium for long-term storage. They are susceptible to age, heat, dust and bending. However, floppies are provided in the lab for temporary and short-term storage. Please help yourself.
6. If a lab computer is not working properly, try rebooting the computer. It is a good idea to reboot the computer before you start especially if you plan to use memory intensive programs such as ArcGIS, Arcview, and CorelDraw, etc. Since the lab computers are on 24-7, they often get glitches and memory fragmentation from constant use. If a reboot does not help please email one of the GGIT support people and/or fill out a problem report on the lab door.
7. Lab computers run power management software that shuts down the monitor if the computer is not used for a while. If the monitor is black, press the space to reactivate. Sometimes this takes a few minutes. Otherwise check to make sure the CPU unit is on.
8. The lab computers are on the Internet. The departmental server, Pangaea, is just one part of the Internet. The lab computers use Pangaea for file sharing and printer sharing. If Pangaea is down, the lab computers can still be used but your H: drive cannot be accessed nor will you be able to print. Pangaea being down is different from the network being down.
9. Each lab does not have the exact same software. This is too expensive to maintain. Hence, some of the labs get "hand-me-down" software. One instance is Rm. 153, which runs CorelDraw8, whereas Rm. 313, 321 run CorelDraw9. Older software will not open files from newer software as a general rule. Therefore, CorelDraw 8 will not adequately open CorelDraw 9 files. However, CorelDraw9 will open CorelDraw8. This general rule applies to most software. One exception is Word 97 and Word 2000.

Viruses and Hoaxes

1. Every effort is made to keep the lab computers virus protection current. The virus protection used is F-Secure. This program is site licensed and is available for staff and students to install on their home computers http://www.uga.edu/sitesoft Please be extremely careful about opening emails that contain attachments since this is a major way that viruses are spread.
2. Please do not perpetuate the spread of chain letters and/or hoaxes. Many hoaxes continually circulate around the web spread by well-intentioned people. If you receive an email warning you about a virus for instance, please make sure that it is legitimate before emailing this to all of your friends and acquaintances. A couple of URLs to check for hoaxes are:
   1. http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/nethoaxes/index.ht
   2. http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/
   3. http://www.vmyths.com/
   4. Or simply go to the google search site: www.google.com and put the name of the virus in the search box. This should pull up some URLs for you to check out

Printers

1. You are welcome to change the paper in the printers and the toner cartridges in the laser printers. Paper and a spare toner cartridge for each laser printer are in the cabinet marked Supply. If there is no paper, please check with your TA who will supply paper for the lab.
2. There are boxes in each lab for recycling paper. (TIP: A lot of the used paper has only a few lines on it. This makes good paper to use with home printers, etc. Feed the paper in one sheet at a time to avoid paper jams. The paper is slightly rolled from the laser unit and hence will jam. Used paper also is good for notes/phone messages/kids coloring.)
3. Please return the used toner cartridge to the box and place back in the supply cabinet. The used toner cartridges are recycled.
4. The ink cartridges for the color DeskJet printers (Rm. 153, Rm. 313) and the color laser cartridges for the HP2500 (Rm. 321) are replaced by GGIT support.
5. Be careful when using transparencies. Only use transparencies rated for that particular printer e.g. transparency for laser printer, transparency for ink jet.
6. Please do not use the printers as photocopiers. Photocopiers are available in the main Geography office, Rm.204
7. It is not acceptable or allowed to use the printers for personal use. Be especially careful about printing from the web since many sites contain 10 to 100s of pages!
8. If your print job does not print, please do not continue to resend the job as this indicates a problem with either your print job or the printer. Check the printer by clicking on Start, Settings, Printers. Then double click on Printer that you sent your job to. Delete all entries and try resending the job.
9. A large format plotter is available in Lab313.

Problem reports

1. PLEASE INFORM GGIT SUPPORT OF ANY PROBLEMS (or suggestions). We do not check individual computers for problems. If you are having a problem then the next person will too. Fill out a problem report form either on the lab door or at the back of the room. It is important that you put your user ID, the date and time, and mark the PC on the form. Sometimes what looks like a PC problem may be a problem with your account or related to a time of day. I also like to personally email and thank each person who fills out a problem report.

Drinks and food

1. Do not eat or drink around the lab computers . Please clean up after yourself as a courtesy of the next user. The janitors are reluctant to clean around the computers in the lab for fear of disturbing the equipment. Please do not assume that someone will clean up after you.

Backup important files

1. If your data is important to you, be sure to back it up. CD Writers and Zip drives are available for your use but you must supply your own CD disks and zip cartridges. . Not all computers have CD-RWs and zips. Generally the back one or two rows of a lab will have CD-RWs. The first/third rows will have Zip drives. Rm. 321 and 313 have 250MB zip drives. These will read both 100 and 250 MB disks. Rm. 153 and Rm. 119 have 100MB zips. These will read ONLY 100MB disks
2. Directions on how to use the CD-RW drives so that the CD will work in most CD drives is located either on the door (or by the phone in Rm. 321). This program is called Easy CD Creator. You can also reference this document on-line: How To Write CDs.
3. The other CD writer program is called CD Creator (very similar names!). This program is used to format a CD-RW (not CD-R) so that it is easy to move files to and from using drag and drop. However the CDs created in this way are only compatible with CD-RW drives.
4. It is important to format your zip drives and give them unique names (instead of letting it default title). If you don't do this, your zip disks are susceptible to getting overwritten and your data will be unrecoverable (due to a bug in Win2000 and Iomega software).

Volume restrictions and temporary drive space

1. There is a 200MB volume restriction per user on the H: drive. This should be adequate for most uses. If it is not, please let the GGIT support know and we can boost your disk space
2. You can also temporarily use the d: drive on the local computer. However, all files on lab computers are subject to deletion at any time! DO NOT STORE ANYTHING ON C: DRIVE. The C: drive on the computer with a duplicate drive image periodically erases drive.

Screen cleaner

1. Screen cleaners are available on the counter or in the supply closet. Please do not use whiteboard marker cleaner. However, the bottle marked Clean Sweep is OK to use.

General information for Graduate Students

Graduate carrel lock combinations change once a semester. You will be notified before the change occurs. You can also request a change. The graduate carrels are Rm. 120, 149, B30 and B31

• The software on the lab computers are purchased. Licensing is different depending on the software. Some software is site licensed by the University and is truly available for anyone affiliated with the University to install. These are found at: http://www.uga.edu/sitesoft
  All other software is individually purchased. Lab software is not available for home installation nor is it accessible via the Web.
• Technology fee money was used to replace all the lab computers last year. There is a sticker on every equipment purchased with technology fee money.
• There are 4 main email listservs for the department:
  Ggyfac-l@listserv.uga.edu
  Ggystf-l@listserv.uga.edu
  Ggygrd-l@listserv.uga.edu
  Ggyugrd-l@listserv.uga.edu
• Please let GGIT support know if your email changes. Mail forwarding is always an option.
• Computer courses are offered through Training and Development. Graduate students are allowed to take these if not filled by the staff. http://www.busfin.uga.edu/staff. Training and Development also offers videos and CDs for check and training. Please do not expect the GGIT support to have in-depth knowledge of each piece of software.
• There are resources available to you as graduate students with approval from your major professor. These include laptops, digital camera and digital camcorder.
• As TAs, please remind your students of all the computer policies. Students add at different times because of drop/add

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