Windows
XP Professional
PC
XP Professional
PC
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Windows
XP Professional PC |
Starting with Windows 2000 and Windows XP, users must log into their computers and into the Wellesley College Windows Domain. This is a different approach from the past, and this document will answer some of the questions with this process.
NOTE: The following information applies only for Windows XP computers that are managed by the college and not for personally-owned Windows XP computers.
Return to Welcome to Windows XP at Wellesley College
CONTENTS
1. What is a Windows Domain?
A Windows Domain is a group of Windows NT and Windows 2000 file servers and other computers which share user and security information. Wellesley college has a domain which permits us to access file servers such as NTM and Alice. To use these file servers, you must log in to the Wellesley domain using your domain account; when you are finished using your computer, you should log out of the domain and any servers to which you are connected. You do not need to log in to the domain in order to print or use Internet applications such as Internet Explorer or FirstClass.
All college-owned computers are members of the Wellesley domain.
2. Why do I have to log into my computer?
By logging into your computer, you identify yourself to the domain using a unique identifier. This allows the domain to recognize you as a member of the Wellesley College community, and it can allow you access to any restricted file servers which you have permission to use.
3. What is a domain account?
A domain account is an individual user's identification to the domain. You use your domain account to log into the Wellesley domain. Every user will have a username and a password. Your domain account is different from your FirstClass account, although your 8-letter (or less) username will be the same. Your domain password can and should be different from your FirstClass password.
4. How do I allow others to log in to my computer?
For faculty or staff computers, you must specify who may log into your computer. You may allow any number of Wellesley domain users to log into your Windows XP computer by adding them as users. Make sure you are logged in with your domain account before adding new users (your domain account should have Administrator privileges on your computer).
Note: Once someone has logged into your computer, a new profile will be created for him or her. This profile includes a new Desktop, My Documents folder, bookmarks, and other settings. For more information on Windows Profiles, go to What is a Windows Profile. Other users who log into your computer will not be able to view or access your Desktop or personal files.
- Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts.
- Click Add....
- In the User Name field, enter the user's Wellesley College domain user name (i.e., wwendy).
- In the Domain field, enter WELLESLEY.
- Click Next.
- Make sure that Standard User is selected for access level. The person who logs in with this account will be a member of the Power Users group and will only have Power Users privileges on the computer.
- Click Finish.
If programs behave oddly, or if Access Denied or permissions error messages appear, the person who is logged in may not have sufficient privileges to do what she or he needs to do. Ask the owner of the computer (who has Administrator privileges on the computer) to change your account's access level privileges (it should be set to Power User).
If you are the owner of the computer and you wish to allow other users to log onto the computer, you should only add Power Users or other Administrators. These are the only two settings that Wellesley College has thoroughly tested and can support.
5. How do I change my password?
To maintain the security of your domain account, you should change your domain password whenever you have reason to suspect that another person has learned your password.
Your domain password should be between 6 and 8 characters in length and have at least 2 numbers interspersed in between the characters. It is not possible to set a domain password less than 6 characters long. For security, your password should consist of a combination of letters and at least 2 numbers, for example: ca3nar8y or bobc42at. For more information on how to create a secure password, read the documentation on What is a secure password?
To change your password on campus only:
You will first need to enroll with the Password Station.
1. Enter your Wellesley Username and click on “Continue” button.
2. You will be prompted to enter your current Domain password, click on “Continue” button.
3. Select your challenge question from each drop down list, each question and answer must be unique. They are not case sensitive. Make sure you select answers that are LONG-TERM Memory based and that you will not forget in 6 months, such as the street you grew up on. When all questions are answered click on “Continue” button
4. Congratulations you are enrolled and you can now change your password and manage your domain account.
6. What if I forget my password?
If you forget your domain account password, and you have not enrolled in Password Station (see above), you can have it reset if you contact the Help Desk at Extension 3333.
7. What is my Windows Profile?
Your Windows profile holds all of your personal user settings on a given computer. When you log in for the first time on a computer, it is created for you. After that, it is loaded when you log on using your domain account, and includes user-specific settings such as what programs you have in your desktop, the color of the background image, your mouse settings, and your printers.
Your user profile is stored in a folder on the hard drive, at C:\Documents and Settings\username.
8. How do I backup my work?
When you save your work to the hard drive on a Windows XP machine, it is stored with the rest of your user-specific information under C:\Documents and Settings\username. You can use the My Documents folder within that folder to access the documents you have saved there. By default, a shortcut to My Documents is placed on the Desktop.
It is a good idea to save all files to a source other than your hard disk as well, such as a floppy disk or a zip disk.
9. How do I share files on my computer?
Please follow the instructions at http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/FileSharing/Windows/.
10. Why should I log out of my computer?
While your computer is logged into the domain with your domain account, anyone at the computer will be identified as you, and can gain access to private server directories. For this reason, you should always log out when you are leaving your computer unattended. To log out:
If the Log Off option does not appear in the Start menu:
Shutting down your computer will automatically log you out.
