Computer Lab. Week 1 - Introduction to the PC Network

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This is the last tutorial sheet to be handed out in class. It is up to you to print them in the future.

This is a lab class. Meet in the appropriate computer lab (either B1.53 or B1.54).

1. Log On

Log onto the PC Network. If you haven't logged on before, use the Student Online username and password on your Statement of Enrolment form. Make sure that the Log on to: combo box has STUDENTS selected.

2. Changing your Password

Passwords provide protection against unauthorised use of your account. Unauthorised use of your account could include: deleting or copying your work, sending malicious email etc. Passwords should be kept secret and be hard to guess; don't use commonly used words or names. Ideally passwords should be at least 8 characters long, contain at least 1 numeric character and 1 special character and not be commonly used words.

Passwords on the PC Network must be at least 8 characters long.

If you wish to change your password:.

  1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete
  2. Click on the Change Password... button
  3. Type in your old password in the Old Password: text box
  4. Type in your new password in the New Password: text box
  5. Type in your new password again in the Confirm New Password: text box
  6. Click the Ok button to save the password changes or Cancel to leave your password as it was
  7. Make sure you remember your password! If you forget your password, go to the Student IT Support room (B1.28) with your student ID card and account username and tell them what has happened.

3. The H: Drive & Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer allows you to manage your account, directories and files/documents.

  1. Start Windows Explorer. Select Start > Windows Explorer. A dialog box titled Restrictions may be displayed, ignore this and click its OK button.
  2. Select the H: drive (this is your Home Folder/Directory). This may be shown as: Disconnected Network Drive (H:) or My Home Drive (H:)
  3. Note: My Documents doesn't work, use the H: drive instead.
  4. Create a new folder for this subject e.g. ProgEnv (or something similar). To do this select File > New > Folder. Name the new folder ProgEn. Look inside your ProgEnv folder (it should be empty)
  5. Make two new folders within ProgEnv called Assignments, and Tutorials. These folders can be used to organise the work in this subject.

4. Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is used to view web pages. Another browser available is Mozilla Firefox.

  1. Run Internet Explorer. Select Start > Internet Explorer.
  2. Go to the home page for the Computer Science & Computer Engineering Department (Bendigo Section). Note: there is no "www" in the web address for the Department. Its web address is http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/
  3. Unfortunately the way the PCs are configured, you are unable to save Favorites permanently (or make desktop changes etc), they won't be there next time you log in.
  4. The Home page (the page that is displayed when you first run Internet Explorer), is set to the Home page for students at La Trobe Bendigo and cannot be changed.
  5. Find the CS&CE (Bendigo) subjects web notes pages by following the Subject Notes link on the left side of the page. Click on the link. Most IT subjects will have some form of web notes.
  6. Select the Programming Environment  home page by clicking on the name of the subject. Select the link for the current semester. The home page for CSE1PE Programming Environment should be displayed.
  7. At the left of the page is a menu that includes links for important items such as the Latest News, Timetable, Assignments, Guides etc.The rest of the page has the lecture schedule with links to lectures and tutorials.
  8. Keep an eye on Latest News. The date the latest message was added is shown next to the link. Keep an eye on this as important information will be put there from time to time. Click on the Latest News link. Read the news.
  9. Click on the Back key until you get back to the Subjects web page
  10. This shows the subjects offered by the department, when they are likely to be offered and what prerequisite subjects must be done before doing the subject.

5. Email Account

All students are automatically allocated email accounts. Your email account can be accessed from any web browser. The web-based email service is administered from La Trobe, Bundoora. Your email address should be something like: 

your-username@students.latrobe.edu.au     

e.g. ta2smith@students.latrobe.edu.au

To access you email account:

  1. You require your Statement of Enrolment form which contains your Student Online Username and Student Online Password
  2. Start Internet Explorer
  3. Go to the web address:
       https://owa.latrobe.edu.au
  4. Enter your username (userid) and password as printed on your Statement of Enrolment. Ensure STUDENTS is selected for the Domain.
  5. You have the ability to change your student on-line password. If you do, remember your new password.
  6. You can also create new mailboxes which can help you organise your email

Try sending and reading email:

  1. Work with the person next to you.
  2. Ask them for their email address. Their address is something like:theirUserName@students.latrobe.edu.au
  3. Try sending them a piece of test email.
  4. Can you read the email they sent you.
  5. Can you send yourself email?
  6. See your tutor if there are any difficulties.

6. Disk Space

You are limited to a maximum of 50MB of disk space on the PC Network. This is an upper limit, you are probably better keeping it under this as temporary files may use up some of your disk space at times.

To find out how much space you currently have used:

  1. Start Windows Explorer
  2. Select the H: drive
  3. Right mouse click on the H: drive and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
  4. Used space: shows how much space you have used. The amount of space remaining in your account is also shown.

7. Subject Web Notes

Return to the subject web pages. Have a look at the structure of the web pages and learn to find you way around them.

  1. Go to Home page for the subject.
  2. Click on the Lect link for the first lecture in week 2 Introduction to Software Development .
  3. Near the top of each page are links to higher level pages and the current page. Home always takes you back to the subject home page.
  4. Changing the size of text in Internet Explorer can make it more comfortable for you to read web pages, or save money by using less paper when printing out web pages.
  5. Change the text size to Smaller. Select View > Text Size > Smaller
  6. Change the text size to Smallest.
  7. Change the text size to a size that suits you
  8. Return to the subject Home page.
  9. Click on the link for Tut in week 2. This will be needed for the next tutorial class.
  10. Click on the Home link to go to the subject home page.
  11. Have a look at Tutorials, Assessment, Guides etc.

Lecture notes and tutorials will be available well before they are required in class. It is strongly recommended that you print them out, and read the lecture notes before the lecture.

Have a look at the next few lectures.

8. Printing

  1. There are a number of printers located around the campus. Most labs will have a printer.
  2. Before you can print you need to register for a La Trobe Transact account and add money to the account. You can register at the Library.
  3. Money can be added to your account at reload stations located in the Library and the Business building (under the central stairs). Follow the instructions on the small display located on the front of the machine.
  4. To print to the printer in the current lab select File > Print.
  5. Different printers can be selected from within applications at the Print dialogue box (File > Print). The printers are named after the room they are in e.g. bp-business-154 is in Business room 1.54, ben-studentserv-241 is in Student Services room 2.41.
  6. Before the job is printed a dialog box is displayed showing the job (the name of the file to be printed), the cost, number of pages and the printer it is to go to. Click on the Print button in the dialog box to print or the Cancel button if you decide not to print. If you click the Print button and there isn't enough in you Transact account you will be informed of this and the print job will be cancelled automatically.
  7. You can find out your current account balance when you print or from reload stations or photocopiers or on-line.
  8. You can check transactions and your account balance on-line at:
    http://cg-websrv.commfac.latrobe.edu.au/transact/transact_student.php
  9. Printing costs 11c per sheet.
  10. See the La Trobe Transact web page for more information on printing.
  11. If you haven't done so already, print out lecture 3 and tutorial 3 for the subject as you will need them in the next classes.

9. Mozilla FireFox

Mozilla Firefox is a free alternative web browser to MS Internet Explorer. It is fast and has an uncluttered interface. Try it. It has a tabbed interface that allows you to display multiple web pages in a compact and easy to navigate manner. Select File > New Tab or Ctrl+T  to get a new tab (page). To switch between the pages select the appropriate tab, these are shown just below the toolbar.

  1. Run Firefox (Select Start > All Programs > Mozilla Firefox > Mozilla Firefox)
  2. To search for articles of interest on the web, a search engine is used. One of these is called Google. It can be found at: http://www.google.com.au/
  3. Search for something of interest on Google, perhaps to do with a hobby or sporting interest.

10. Logging Off

You must log off  when you have finished using the PC. Remember to wait for the confirmation message to finalise logging off, or someone else may use your account.

To log off:

  1. Click Start > Log Off
  2. Click the Log Off.. button

Written by Tim Whitfort.