Public PC Login Issue
PROBLEM: users UTORid and password suddenly don't work. Public PC responds as if it is incorrect. (may occur on more than one PC)
SOLUTION: If the network cable of the public PC is removed and put back, and you hit 'Cancel' at the login prompt, the PC logs in fine afterwards.
But for us to track this problem and resolve it, I need to know the time of the incident and the PC number.
So please call me immediately if i'm here.
If i'm not around, you may try the solution yourself (email/phone me the day/time/PC#)...or put an out of order sign on the PC and email or phone me.
This problem is extremely rare now, but may still occur. Jeff - Feb/08
Messages and news about public equipment at Gerstein Science Information Centre.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Copycard Errors
Be it a TCard, Staff Card, Visitors Card or Department on Account card, various errors can occur when cards are used for copying or printing.
For all card errors:
1. Dirt on the chip can cause errors so first try wiping it with something cotton.
2. Push down on the chip while wiping it. Sometimes parts of the chip 'pull up' a bit causing errors.
3. Always try it in more than one card unit before being certain of the error you are seeing. (the three copiers by ILL have newer units and may be more reliable for what the error really is)
Card Expired
All cards have a hidden internal expiry date.
The expiry date is set for about 5-6 years so we usually don't see it as many users are not here that long.
When this appears, send the user to the TCard office for a replacement.
Card Flagged
This means the card reader they last used to print or copy something, has tagged the card as having an improper transaction. (e.g. user was not properly charged)
I see a lot of users pulling their card out of the unit before it says to. This may be the cause of most 'card flagged' errors.
When this appears, send the user to the last card unit they printed or copied with...or to the TCard office to have it fixed.
When a flagged card is inserted into the correct card unit, it will be kicked back out without any indication it was fixed. In other words...it won't lock into the unit and say "Card Flagged" or show the value on the card. Always put the card back in after it gets kicked out like this. In that way you can be certain that is was fixed.
Invalid Card
I cannot recall hearing any specific 'meaning' for this so I simply consider it a general error or fault in the chip.
Most times I find cleaning the chip fixes the problem.
When cleaning does not resolve this, send the user to the TCard office to have it fixed.
Be it a TCard, Staff Card, Visitors Card or Department on Account card, various errors can occur when cards are used for copying or printing.
For all card errors:
1. Dirt on the chip can cause errors so first try wiping it with something cotton.
2. Push down on the chip while wiping it. Sometimes parts of the chip 'pull up' a bit causing errors.
3. Always try it in more than one card unit before being certain of the error you are seeing. (the three copiers by ILL have newer units and may be more reliable for what the error really is)
Card Expired
All cards have a hidden internal expiry date.
The expiry date is set for about 5-6 years so we usually don't see it as many users are not here that long.
When this appears, send the user to the TCard office for a replacement.
Card Flagged
This means the card reader they last used to print or copy something, has tagged the card as having an improper transaction. (e.g. user was not properly charged)
I see a lot of users pulling their card out of the unit before it says to. This may be the cause of most 'card flagged' errors.
When this appears, send the user to the last card unit they printed or copied with...or to the TCard office to have it fixed.
When a flagged card is inserted into the correct card unit, it will be kicked back out without any indication it was fixed. In other words...it won't lock into the unit and say "Card Flagged" or show the value on the card. Always put the card back in after it gets kicked out like this. In that way you can be certain that is was fixed.
Invalid Card
I cannot recall hearing any specific 'meaning' for this so I simply consider it a general error or fault in the chip.
Most times I find cleaning the chip fixes the problem.
When cleaning does not resolve this, send the user to the TCard office to have it fixed.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Public PC Login For Users From Another Campus
If a student comes to us from another campus and needs to log into our public PCs for the first time...they have to register despite the fact that they have already done so at their own campus.
But the registration process is different for those with a UTORid on their card.
1. If the UTORid is on the users card, they must go to Robarts Information Commons Help Desk.
There they are issued a secret activation key to complete the process. It cannot be issued here, nor can they use any such key given to them at another campus.
2. If the UTORid is NOT on the users card, they can register here from our locked Public PCs.
Direct them to the button in the lower right corner of the public PC login form that states"UTORid Activation and help...".
If a student comes to us from another campus and needs to log into our public PCs for the first time...they have to register despite the fact that they have already done so at their own campus.
But the registration process is different for those with a UTORid on their card.
1. If the UTORid is on the users card, they must go to Robarts Information Commons Help Desk.
There they are issued a secret activation key to complete the process. It cannot be issued here, nor can they use any such key given to them at another campus.
2. If the UTORid is NOT on the users card, they can register here from our locked Public PCs.
Direct them to the button in the lower right corner of the public PC login form that states"UTORid Activation and help...".
Thursday, June 22, 2006
UTORdial Connection Issue Due to Microsoft Update KB911280
Library students, staff, or faculty who attempt to connect to the Internet from home using UTORdial may experience problems if they are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP and have installed the update patch numbered KB911280.
The solution is to uninstall the patch.
Refer users to the Information Commons help desk. Best thing would be for them to phone 978-HELP from home...but it is probably as simple as uninstalling any program. The update should be visible from the 'Add/Remove Programs' function.
More information is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911280
Library students, staff, or faculty who attempt to connect to the Internet from home using UTORdial may experience problems if they are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP and have installed the update patch numbered KB911280.
The solution is to uninstall the patch.
Refer users to the Information Commons help desk. Best thing would be for them to phone 978-HELP from home...but it is probably as simple as uninstalling any program. The update should be visible from the 'Add/Remove Programs' function.
More information is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/911280
Friday, April 07, 2006
Public Photocopiers - Double-sided copying.
It is possible to do this but it is awkward and more likely to produce a jam.
Putting a piece of paper through a copier twice is more likely to cause a jam when the paper has just come out. I think this is because of the tremendous amount of heat used to bond the ink to the paper and the resulting curl on the paper. So if the page is not nice and flat like a fresh piece...it doesn't go through the copier as well.
To do double-sided, there is a feeder tray on the right side of the machine. It is folded up, so must first be pulled out and down to open it.
The risk here is, the user has no way on knowing 'how' they must place the sheet in the feeder so the copies will come out on the correct side or position on the paper. So tell them they can do it if they don't mind wasting a few copies on 'experimenting' with how to position the paper.
It is possible to do this but it is awkward and more likely to produce a jam.
Putting a piece of paper through a copier twice is more likely to cause a jam when the paper has just come out. I think this is because of the tremendous amount of heat used to bond the ink to the paper and the resulting curl on the paper. So if the page is not nice and flat like a fresh piece...it doesn't go through the copier as well.
To do double-sided, there is a feeder tray on the right side of the machine. It is folded up, so must first be pulled out and down to open it.
The risk here is, the user has no way on knowing 'how' they must place the sheet in the feeder so the copies will come out on the correct side or position on the paper. So tell them they can do it if they don't mind wasting a few copies on 'experimenting' with how to position the paper.
Monday, October 17, 2005
New 'Office' PC by the Information Desk Area
In order to better accommodate users in wheelchairs, we have purchased another license for Microsoft Office.
The 'sitdown' public PC (019) closest to the Information desk 'public print station' is now the same as all the Wallace Room PCs.
A sign has been posted over it to explain it has the office suite of applications on it, and that those in wheelchairs have priority use of it.
In order to better accommodate users in wheelchairs, we have purchased another license for Microsoft Office.
The 'sitdown' public PC (019) closest to the Information desk 'public print station' is now the same as all the Wallace Room PCs.
A sign has been posted over it to explain it has the office suite of applications on it, and that those in wheelchairs have priority use of it.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Log Out From The Wireless Network
It is unecessary to log out from the UTORcwn wireless network.
This is done automatically by the network after 30 minutes of inactivity by the user.
But, if a user does want to manually log out, they just go to this web page on their laptop and it is done as soon as the web page opens: logout.wireless.utoronto.ca
It is unecessary to log out from the UTORcwn wireless network.
This is done automatically by the network after 30 minutes of inactivity by the user.
But, if a user does want to manually log out, they just go to this web page on their laptop and it is done as soon as the web page opens: logout.wireless.utoronto.ca
Multipage Printing Issue
Some Gerstein PCs are unable to print PowerPoint documents using the multipage feature.
It only happens on non-Office public PCs using PowerPoint "Viewer".
Multipage printing is working in all other situations on non-Office and Office PCs.
The only way to tell that it won't print using multipage is when one selects the job to print at the print station. So users are accidentally printing it out and being charged more than they expected.
Please fill out one of our 'vouchers' for them as reimbursement if they complain.
The alternative is to get the user on one of the 'Office' PCs and have them save the PowerPoint document to its hard disk drive, then open it with PowerPoint.
From there, the multipage option will work.
Some Gerstein PCs are unable to print PowerPoint documents using the multipage feature.
It only happens on non-Office public PCs using PowerPoint "Viewer".
Multipage printing is working in all other situations on non-Office and Office PCs.
The only way to tell that it won't print using multipage is when one selects the job to print at the print station. So users are accidentally printing it out and being charged more than they expected.
Please fill out one of our 'vouchers' for them as reimbursement if they complain.
The alternative is to get the user on one of the 'Office' PCs and have them save the PowerPoint document to its hard disk drive, then open it with PowerPoint.
From there, the multipage option will work.
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