General Use Tips
Laptops, like any other computer, need to be shut down regularly. Leaving a computer on for an extended period of time causes problems.
We recommend:
- Shutting down your laptop at least once a week. You should be doing it at the end of your work day everyday.
- If you use a Mac computer you should shut it down whenever you are going to be switching from one Wi-Fi network to another.
- If you use a Windows computer you should also restart your computer once a week. This allows our department to send updates to your computer.
In most cases when you are experiencing an issue with your computer, the first step in troubleshooting is to restart it.
Stuck on Black Screen
Occasionally your laptop may go into a mode known as Deep Sleep. This can be identified by: Your computer screen being black, the keyboard and power button being lit up, but the computer screen will not turn on. This happens when a computer has been left on but not used for a long time.
To fix this:
- You will need to hold down the power button for 15 seconds to turn off the computer. You will want to count out the seconds or set a timer.
- Once the power is off you can turn it back on and resume using your computer like normal.
Software Installation and Updates
Software installation and updates for popular programs can be installed on your own. Check Self-Service on a Mac, or Software Center on a Windows computer, to see if the software is available there. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.
If the software you are looking for is not listed you can submit a help ticket to have one of our techs install the program here.
If you are having issues with a particular program we recommend looking to see if we have any troubleshooting guides for it. Those can be found here. If the articles do not solve the problem, or we do not have an article for the issue you have, please submit a ticket here.
Any ticket submitted will be required to include an asset ID number for the computer. This allows us to identify which computer needs work. This number can be found on a sticker that says "Property of Skidmore College". If the computer is a laptop, the sticker will be on either the top or bottom of the laptop. If the computer is a desktop, the sticker will be on the back of the monitor, usually in the top left corner.
New Laptop Reminders
When you get a new laptop there are some things that you will have to set up again.
Some of these items are as follows:
- Outlook desktop signature.
- If you are on a Windows computer you will also have to re-add the Zoom Plug in. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.
- Setup connection to Datastor. Instructions on how to set up this connection again can be found here.
- Reinstall Department Printers. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.
- Web Browser settings.
- If you are using a Mac, and you will have to have one of our techs approve any screen share or web cam permissions. You can submit a ticket for that here.
- If you are using a Windows computer, you will have to update your display settings if you use external monitors.