Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Email (these FAQs are on the email log in page)
- Equipment
- Network
- Security
- myCourses (these FAQs are on the myCourses page)
- FAQs for Faculty and Staff (these FAQs are on the Faculty Get Started page)
Equipment
Should I buy a notebook or a desktop computer?
There are "pro's and con's" to either choice.
Notebook
Pro: Portable, can be taken to class and the library and easily brought home over breaks and weekends
Con: Often difficult or impossible to upgrade; more easily damaged and stolen; more expensive for the same quality machine as a desktop model; frustrating to work on for long projects due to smaller screen size
Desktop
Pro: Easily and often inexpensively upgraded; a more powerful machine can be purchased for a much lower cost; more resistant to theft; comfortable to work on for long projects, with larger screen size, keyboards, and mice instead of track pads
Con: Take up more space; difficult to transport; cannot be taken to class or to the library
Should I bring or purchase a printer to go with my computer?
CITS recommends that you bring or purchase a printer. While printers are available in the computer labs, they can only be accessed from within the labs, so you have to save your file on a diskette and bring it to the lab to print it. For advice on purchasing a printer, please contact Rob Roy at the IT Service Center, 508-990-9654 or Rob.Roy@umassd.edu.
I've seen a lot of advertising about Macintoshes and PC's.
Do you recommend one or the other?
CITS supports both Macintosh and Windows Intel-based personal computers. The decision between Macintoshes and Windows PC's is a matter of personal preference. However, keep in mind that there may be preferences specified by your particular college or major. Be sure to check before making a purchase.
Do I have to pay extra to connect to the Internet from my dorm room?
No, there is no additional fee required to connect your machine to the Internet from your on-campus residence as long as your computer meets the minimum requirements and has an Ethernet card.
Can my roommate and I be on the Internet at the same time?
Yes, there is one Internet connection available per bed in each of the residence hall rooms.
Can I use my AOL, MSN, or other Internet Service Provider email account on campus?
Yes. Although you will be given a UMass Dartmouth email account once you register for classes, you will still be able to use any other email accounts you already possess.
Please note that official university correspondence, such as announcements about emergency closings or your COIN PIN number, will be sent to your UMass Dartmouth account, so it's a good idea to check it regularly. Your email can be forwarded to another account. To change your password or forward your email to an off-campus email address, visit https://email.umassd.edu.
Network
Can I use wireless networking in my dorm? Can I set up my own wireless access point?
UMass Dartmouth provides wireless service in designated areas on the main campus. These areas include the cafeterias, large lecture halls, common areas, etc. For a full description of all the locations where wireless is available, please go to http://www.umassd.edu/cits/wireless/accesspointmap.pdf.
UMass Dartmouth does not condone or promote the use of personal access points in the dormitories. Rogue access points may not be secure and could allow unwanted access to the campus network. You are responsible for any and all traffic generated from the port that your computer is connected to. Anyone found to have set up a rogue access point will have his/her port disabled and will be reported to the Judicial Office.
I am a student at SNESL (Southern New England School of Law) and live in the UMass Dartmouth dorms. How do I get my computer on the network?
UMass Dartmouth has a self-registration system for residents to be able to register their own computers and get online. This registration system requires that the student have a UMass email account to be able to authenticate himself/herself to the network. SNESL students do not have UMass email accounts. They are required to come in to the CITS office on the 3rd floor of the Library and sign an Acceptable Use Form. They will need to know the MAC (media access control) address of the computer that they want to register on the network. Click here for instructions on how to find your MAC address.
Security
Should I have anti-virus software installed on my computer?
Yes. Under the university’s Responsible/Acceptable Use Policy, each computer is required to have up-to-date anti-virus software actively running on any computer that is attached to the university network. The university has purchased a site license for Symantec Anti-Virus which allows every student, faculty and staff member to install it on his/her computer.
Faculty and staff should contact the IT Service Center at x8790 if they do not have anti-virus software and want it installed on their university-owned machine.
Students can download the software by logging in at http://netreg.umassd.edu. Students should contact the Residential Technical Support Center at x8040 if they have any problems or questions pertaining to the university-supplied Symantec Anti-Virus software.
What should I do if I think my computer is infected with a virus?
Faculty and staff members who think their computer may be infected with a virus should contact the IT Service Center at x8790.
Students whose computers have been infected should contact the IT Student Help Desk (x8844) or ResTech (x8040).
My computer is infected with a virus. Why was my network connection shut off?
Your connection was shut off to help protect your computer and the computers of others on the network. Some viruses allow hackers to access the infected computer without the owner’s knowledge. Other viruses probe the network looking for other computers to infect which in turn can affect the speed of the network making it slow for everyone. You connection will be re-enabled once the virus has been removed.
