Computing Science and Mathematics

CSG's FAQ - Computer Support Group's Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions that are, as the title suggests, frequently asked by students within Computing Science and Mathematics. Either follow the links to questions in related areas, or use the index to find the answer to an individual question.

Questions relating to... All CS&M labs | CS labs | Maths labs | Miscellaneous

Question Index...
Where are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs and which labs can I use?
When are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs open?
Where do I get the security code for Computing Science or Mathematics labs?
Where do I get paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
How do I print single-sided on Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
What should I do if I have a problem with the hardware or software in the labs?
What software does Computing Science and Mathematics hand out to its students for home PC use?
What software can I install on lab machines?
How do I connect to my STUDENTS domain file space from a CS lab login?
How do I connect to my CS domain file space from home via the University's VPN?
Sometimes, Internet Explorer fails to display any pages at all: why is that?
What do I do if I've forgotten my password or a security code?
Where should I save my files in the CS labs?
Why does it take so long to login and logout using a CS account?
How do I change my password in the Computing Science labs?
What happens to my CS domain lab account when I leave?
What is my username and password for the Mathematics labs?
How do I connect my device to the network?
What else should be in this FAQ?
Questions relating to all Computing Science and Mathematics labs...
Where are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs and which labs can I use?
  -   4B89: for CS Honours Undergarduate and CS 2nd-year students only.
  -   4B91: for Taught Postgraduate students only.
  -   4X2 and 4X4: for Mathematics Undergraduates only.
  -   4X5 and 4X8: for CS Honours Undergraduate students and some Taught Postgraduate timetabled lab sessions in Spring semester.
When are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs open?
  -   All of the Computing Science and Mathematics labs are open and available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except during timetabled lab sessions. Details of timetabled lab sessions should be posted on the relevant lab door. Some lab access is controlled by door code entry systems.
Where do I get the security code for Computing Science or Mathematics labs?
  -   You will be given the code for the lab during a relevant lecture. However, should you miss the lecture, you can collect the code from the CSG in 4B81. Note: you will need your student ID card as proof of identity.
Where do I get paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
  -   Paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics printers should be collected from the CSG office (4B81). Students should not use their own paper in Computing Science and Mathematics printers, as this may cause printer jams or even damage.
How do I print single-sided on Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
  -   Having selected the appropriate printer, on the `File'->`Print' dialog box, click on the `Properties' button. On the `Paper' tab, there should be a box headed `Duplex'. Select `None' in this box (noting that the `binding rings' on the paper image disappear when you do this) and click `OK' at the bottom. Then just send the print job as normal.
What should I do if I have a problem with the hardware or software in the labs?
  -   If it is a scheduled lab session, ask the lecturer or lab tutor. Otherwise, you should contact the Computer Support Group (CSG) in person in 4B81, by telephone on ext 7443, or by email to:
What software does Computing Science and Mathematics hand out to its students for home PC use?
  -   A shared volume, which contains various course-related applications, can be copied or a copy can be borrowed from Computing Science and Mathematics.
What software can I install on lab machines?
  -   None! The correct procedure for getting further software installed in the labs is to approach the relevant course lecturer and ask that the software is installed for you.
What do I do if I've forgotten my password or security code?
  -   If you forget the password for your account, or a security code for a lab you should bring your student ID card to the CSG office (4B81). The CSG will not send out passwords in response to requests from unverifiable email accounts, such as `hotmail', `msn', `yahoo', etc..
Questions specific to Computing Science labs...
Where should I save my files in the CS labs?
  -   You should save your work under your home folder (H: drive). Do not save files to the PC desktop, My Documents or the Personal folder, as these can easily become corrupted or lost and are not (necessarily) backed up. Files under your H: drive are backed up daily. Your desktop should only contain shortcuts.
Why does it take so long to login and logout using a CS account?
  -   CS accounts have a roaming profile. Information Services accounts do not. When you login, your roaming profile is downloaded from the profile server, and when you logout the local copy is compared with the profile server's copy and changes are uploaded to the profile server. As your roaming profile grows in size, the login/logout time will increase. It is therefore in your interests to keep your roaming profile as small as possible, by leaving nothing much (except perhaps a few shortcuts) on your desktop and saving files on H:, as suggested above. The huge majority of slow login/logout problems are the result of overuse of roaming-profile space.
How do I connect to my STUDENTS domain file space from a CS lab login?
1. Click on Start, right-click on My Computer and select "Map Network Drive...".
2. In the "Drive:" box, select a drive letter (W for Wide is a convention).
3. In the "Folder:" box, enter "\\Wide\users\z\xyz00123", replacing "z" with the first letter of your surname and "xyz00123" with your STUDENTS domain username.
4. If you want to be prompted to reconnect this volume at every CS-domain login, check the "Reconnect at login" box.
5. Click on "different user name".
6. In the "User name:" box, enter "students\xyz00123", replacing "xyz00123" with your STUDENTS domain username.
7. In the "Password:" box, enter the password for your STUDENTS domain account.
8. Click "OK" and "Finish" buttons, and the connection should be established at this point, and your STUDENTS domain filespace will be available below the drive whose letter you chose in stage 2 above.

Note: In a small number of cases, involving (we're told) students on joint-honours Faculty of Arts degrees, the `\\Wide\users\z\xyz00123' in step 3 above should be replaced with `\\Achray\users\xyz00123' (note that there is no surname-first-letter level here).

How do I connect to my CS domain file space from home via the University's VPN?
1. Connect to the Internet using your usual ISP (Internet Service Provider).
2. Connect to the University's VPN (which uses your STUDENTS account details). If you don't know how to do this, contact the Information Centre in the Library for details.

On Windows:
3. Click on Start, right-click on My Computer and select "Map Network Drive...".
4. In the "Drive:" box, select an available drive letter.
5. In the "Folder:" box, enter "\\smb.cs.stir.ac.uk\xyz, replacing "xyz" with your CS domain username".
6. Click on "different user name".
7. In the "User name:" box, enter "cs\xyz", replacing "xyz" with your CS domain username.
8. In the "Password:" box, enter the password for your CS domain account.
9. Click "OK" and "Finish" buttons, and the connection should be established at this point, and your CS domain filespace will be available below the drive whose letter you chose in stage 4 above.

On Mac OS X:
3. In the Finder, select "Connect to Server..." from the "Go" menu.
4. In the "Server Address:" box, enter "smb://xyz@smb.cs.stir.ac.uk/xyz", replacing both occurrences of "xyz" with your CS domain username.
5. Click "Connect".
6. Enter your CS password when challenged.
7. Click "Connect" and a new window should open to your CS filespace.
Sometimes, Internet Explorer fails to display any pages at all: why is that?
  -   This is almost always because the Information Services' WWW proxy-server isn't answering requests. To check this and work around it temporarily, select Tools->Internet Options->Connections->LAN Settings and clear all of the checkboxes. Click on `OK' twice, and try reloading the page. If this isn't successful, Something Else Is Wrong, and you should report the problem to CSG using one of the recommended methods.
How do I change my password in the Computing Science labs?
  -   Once you have logged in, type Control-Alt-Del and then click the Change Password... button. Enter your old password (the one you used to login with) and your new password (twice) in the relevant boxes, then click OK.
What happens to my CS domain lab account when I leave?
  -   No less than a month after you graduate, your CS domain lab account will be written to at least two `epoch' (kept approximately forever) backup tapes. Your account and the files you have created will be deleted.
If you are staying with Computing Science and Mathematics after graduation or even considering doing so, for whatever reason, you should report this to someone in the CSG office when you know, in order to avoid any temporary loss of availability of your account.
Questions specific to Mathematics labs...
What is my username and password for the Mathematics labs?
  -   Your username and password are the same as those that you use for Central Services computers, with usernames of the form xyz00123.
Miscellaneous Questions...
How do I connect my device to the network?
  -   Information Services provides instructions on how to connect your device to our network. This includes instructions for wi-fi on campus, networking in the residences and also off-campus.
What else should be in this FAQ?
  -   You tell us, by emailing:

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Computing Science and Mathematics


Computing Science and Mathematics

Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland UK

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