Getting Your Network Drives Squared-Away

Are your network drives set up correctly? Many users have outdated network drives set up in their profile, prohibiting the server system from setting up the current network drives for them.
Go to “My Computer” and take a look. If you are unable to get into to any of your network drives, those drives need to be disconnected. Most likely, the servers that those drives once resided on have since been retired.

To disconnect a network drive, simply right-click on that drive in the My Computer window and select “Disconnect”. (There may be a lag of up to a minute…this is normal.) The link will be removed from your profile. Now, the next time you log in, our servers will be able to map the correct network drives for you.

Outlook vs. Outlook Express

Despite their similar names and the fact that they’re both made by Microsoft, “Outlook” and “Outlook Express” are completely different programs. Outlook has an orange icon; Outlook Express has a white-and-blue icon. We only use Outlook. Do not under any circumstances run Outlook Express. Doing so will make configuration changes to your email account that will make it impossible for you to access e-mail, contacts, calendar, public folders, and the Global Address List. We recommend deleting any Outlook Express icons that you might have in your Start Menu to ensure that you don’t accidentally run Outlook Express. To do so, simply right-click on an Outlook Express icon and select “Delete”.

SmartBoard Dos and Don'ts

The SmartBoard is not to be used as a dry-erase board. Please do not attempt to use markers of any kind (dry-erase or otherwise) on the SmartBoard surface. If you would like to use the board for illustration, simply turn on the PC and projector and log in as “powerpoint”. Then you can draw on the screen using the special SmartBoard “pens” that are in the SmartBoard tray. It isn’t necessary to launch any particular program to do this.

"I can't print!!!"

We did some major upgrades to our server structure this weekend that included address changes to all of the network printers. If you now find yourself unable to print to a network printer, you will need to reconnect to it. Here's what you need to do:

1. Go to Start / Printers and Faxes
2. Select Add a printer in the left column
3. The "Add Printer Wizard" will start. Click Next.
4. Ensure "A network printer..." is selected and click Next.
5. Ensure "Find a printer..." is selected and click Next.
6. Now we’re going to search for a printer, but we’re not going to enter in any search criteria, so click Find Now.
7. A list will appear that contains most of our network printers. Double-click on the network printer you want to connect to.
8. It will now ask you if you want this to be your “default printer”. Select Yes or No as appropriate. (In most cases, this will be your default printer.)
9. Click Next, click Finish, and you’re done!

If you are still unable to print after doing the above 9 steps, please let me or one of my identically-named cohorts know about it.