Student Computing Guide 2011 - 2012
Please click here for a printing version of this guide
Using IT Facilities at UWE
The guide has been designed for students coming to UWE Bristol for the first time, and it can be used as a reference guide throughout the academic year for both new and existing students.
It has been written for Windows-based computers (PCs) which are primarily used at the University. After reading the guide, you should be able to take full advantage of the facilities we have on our campuses.
You will either find the technical answers you are looking for or be pointed in the right direction to find the guidance and support you require. This guide is updated and published every year.
If you wish to let us know how useful this guide is, please feel free to e-mail us at its.webpages@uwe.ac.uk
Enjoy this new academic year at UWE!
1 Introduction to computing at UWE
The University of the West of England provides via IT Services a number of computing facilities including a 24-hour PC lab, the IT Support Centre, a student portal, a printing system, a residential network service, wireless connections, a virtual learning environment, access to e-mail and the Internet, and many other services to support the IT infrastructure for students and staff of the University.
Faculties also provide Computing labs with specialised software that is specific to the faculty. All PCs run Microsoft Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2007.
For more information on the location of the 24-hour PC lab, printing facilities, the IT Support Centre and the other services, please see the relevant sections in this booklet and also visit the IT Services Web Pages.
2 Policies and regulations
All students and staff need to read and abide by the IT policies and regulations which you can find on the ITS Web Pages.
Policies are important as they define what you can or cannot do for the benefit and the protection of systems but also individual users. For this reason, students should pay particular attention to The Acceptable Use Policy for students (relating to IT).
3 Tips on using a computer comfortably
Here are some tips to help you to use a computer comfortably:
Sitting comfortably |
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Keyboard and mouse |
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Screen position |
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Software |
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Laptops |
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Breaks |
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If you see anything in a PC lab that you think is unsafe please report it to the IT Support Centre or the Faculty that provides the lab. | |
Support
4 Getting IT Support
Need Help? Contact....
General enquiries |
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Out of hours support |
Please check the IT Support Centre contact details |
Interruption of service notifications |
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E-mail, Xternal Access and other enquiries |
Please check with the IT Support Centre |
ResNet |
Please visit the ResNet web pages or e-mail resnet@uwe.ac.uk |
NetPlus |
Please visit the NetPlus web pages or contact the IT Support Centre |
myUWE and Blackboard enquiries |
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5 The IT Support Centre
5.1 Location
• The IT Support Centre is located on the 3rd level of the Frenchay Library D Block, Room number 3D028A.
• Opening hours:
- Monday - Thursday: 09:00 to 16:50
- Friday: 09:00 to 16:20
• Please bring your student ID card to gain access to the IT Support Centre
5.2 How can you get help from the IT Support Centre?
- You can visit the:-
- You can fill in our Online Help Desk Request e-mail form and we will respond with an answer
- You can e-mail us at its.helpdesk@uwe.ac.uk
- You can phone us on University Extension 123 or from outside the University on +44 (0) 117 32 83612. Our telephone lines are open 24/7 with the exception of a 30 minute break from 08:00 to 08:30 each weekday when we are closed. Times may change, please see the ITS web pages for up to date opening days and times
- You can call in person at the IT Support Centre
6 How to use the ITS Web Pages
Please see the Guidance on how to use the ITS Home Page
Username and Password
7 What you need to access the computing services
7.1 Your username
Your username will be sent to your personal e-mail address from 1st August 2011. However, for many students, this may be after the confirmation of your examination results in mid-August. Please print this e-mail at home (if you have a computer) before bringing it to UWE for registration.
If you do not have a computer at home or if you have not provided us with your personal e-mail address, you will be able to pick your username and password from your school office, when you first attend for registration.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your username and password must never be passed on to another person regardless of who that person is. The only exception being where you have logged a support call with the IT Support Centre, and in order to resolve your problem, you may be asked for your login credentials after all other avenues have been explored. In such an event, you should change your password immediately afterwards.
Please read and follow the Acceptable Use Policy for Students
7.2 Your password
As mentioned above, before starting your studies at UWE, an e-mail is issued to you. The e-mail contains a username and directs you to the password request system where you can follow the instruction on screen to receive your initial password to log in to the PCs and terminals, but to also log into facilities such as the myUWE portal, Blackboard, UWE Live Mail, and other UWE systems.
In addition to your password, you may be provided with usernames and passwords by your faculty to access faculty developed resources. These credentials will be managed by the faculty and you will need to contact your faculty for support in these cases.
7.3 Managing your password
7.3.1 Prerequisite - Setting up a questions and answers profile and changing your password
Q & A Profile
There is a system called UWE Password Manager that you can use to reset your password, should you forget it. The first time you log in to the UWE network, it is recommended that you set up your Password Manager Q&A profile. You can then use it to change your password. Without setting up this profile, you will need to contact the IT Support Centre to ask them to help you reset your password, if you forget it.
How to set up the Q & A Profile
Please set up your profile by double-clicking on the Change Your Password icon which may be placed on your desktop or within the Start Menu. This will bring up the UWE Password Manager web interface. Alternatively, you can go straight to the interface by typing password.uwe.ac.uk into a web browser's address bar. To set up your Q & A Profile, please choose the option My Questions and Answers Profile.
7.3.2. UWE Password Manager Interface
• When you get to the Password Manager interface, type in your username and click OK.
• Choose the option "My Questions and Answers Profile".
• Type in your current password and click the Next button.
• You will then be able to choose from a list of questions and provide personal answers to them.
• Should you forget your password in future and need to use the UWE Password Manager to reset your password, you will be asked two of these questions. So, please use sensible answers that you will remember!
• The third question must be specified by you. You can enter pretty much anything you like, as long as you remember what the answer is. Finally, click the Finish button. If successful, you will see a screen saying you have finished setting up your profile.
7.3.3 How to change your password
• At this stage, you can change your password, if you wish, by clicking on "Home" (in the right hand corner) to return to the login screen.
• Please log in again and use the software to change your password via the "Manage My Passwords" section.
• Here, you will be asked for your current password, and then asked to enter a new password twice.
• Enter your choice of password and click the Finish button.
• Please see section 7.6 in this guide for help about choosing a complex password.
• After you have successfully changed your password through UWE Password Manager, the change will immediately take effect in Windows, myUWE portal, Blackboard, UWE Live Mail and other UWE systems.
7.3.4 Reset your password
Resetting your password when you have forgotten it is now something all users can easily do themselves, thanks to our Password Manager system.
7.3.4.1 Reset your password with UWE Password Manager
To reset your password, you must previously have registered on the UWE Password Manager website and have chosen three personalised questions and answers. These questions will be asked by the software when you try to reset your password.
- To reset your password, first try to log in on a computer by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.
- Below the log-in dialog, you should see a link that says "Forgotten Password".
- Click that link and wait for the Password Manager site to open.
- When asked, type in your username and click the OK button.
- Once at the Welcome page, choose "Forgot My Password". (If you do not see this section of the
software, you have not set up your Q&A profile and will have to visit the IT Support Centre to
continue.) - You will be asked to answer two of the three questions that you set up when you registered with
the software. Enter your answers and click the Next button. If you answer successfully, you will
then be allowed to set a new password. - Set the password of your choice, click Finish, and close the page.
- You should then be permitted to log in with your new password.
7.3.4.2 Reset your password at the IT Support Centre
Alternatively, visit the IT Support Centre on the 3rd level of the Bolland Library on Frenchay Campus with your student ID card and the password can be reset for you.
7.3.5 Use of a Resetcode
Alternatively, IT Support may give you a "Resetcode" which you can use to reset your password via the UWE Password Manager process. To do this, you would click the "I Have A Resetcode" box instead when you access the site. Please note that your Resetcode will only be valid for 4 hours from the time of issue.
7.4 UWE Live Mail Password
For privacy and security reasons, your UWE Live Mail password is independent from your UWE system password. It is therefore important that you understand the following to avoid password issues:
When we first create your UWE Live Mail account, we use the same password as your UWE
system password.
Windows Live ID: userid@live.uwe.ac.uk eg. joe.bloggs@live.uwe.ac.uk
Password: <enter your UWE password>
The first time you use UWE Live Mail, you will be asked to complete a few profile questions, which will include changing your password.
At this stage, your passwords will be different. If you change your password using UWE Password Manager - https://password.uwe.ac.uk/QPM/User/Identification/, your UWE Live Mail and UWE system passwords will then be the same.
7.5 Other passwords
The IT Support Centre can only reset your "system" password. Other passwords may have to be reset by your faculty.
NOTE: Password security depends on creating strong passwords and protecting them. For more information, see Related Topics below: Choosing Complex Passwords and Protecting your Password.
7.6 Choosing complex passwords
The choice of computer passwords is becoming increasingly essential to protect the IT environment in which we study and/or work.
Users must be vigilant when choosing passwords so that unauthorised people do not misuse the network resources, and compromise the security of the UWE network and personal data.
For this reason, UWE have adopted a policy of complex passwords for which students and staff have to choose passwords which cannot easily be guessed or copied.
Requirements
Students and staff must therefore meet the following requirements when creating a new password or changing their existing password:
- Passwords must be at least eight characters long:
- Passwords must contain at least one character from all three of the following categories:
- English uppercase characters (eg A to Z)
- English lowercase characters (eg a to z)
- Numbers (eg 0 to 9)
- Passwords must not contain five or more characters from a dictionary word.
- Passwords cannot contain the Pound Sign £ or other unusual regional characters such as ¿,Ø, etc...
- Passwords must not contain three or more repeating characters
Tip
Random combinations of letters and numbers can be difficult to remember. To simplify this, you may wish to use a memorable word and replace key letters with numbers to meet the password complexity requirements; eg reMem63r, chAr4cter5, a5tron0My etc...
Warning - Do Not Use Special Characters!
Some users may be aware that they can use special characters such as ¢¥ ©®_μ® and so on.
However, the use of special characters is not advised, as some systems, that UWE Password Manager synchronises passwords with, cannot accept these characters in passwords. They will reject your request to change your password. Please ensure that your password consists only of characters from the following set of characters (note that £ is deliberately missing from this list):
!#$%&()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~
If you manage to use a character not in this list for your password, please reset your password at the earliest opportunity using only characters in the list above.
7.7 Protecting your passwords
To ensure security, passwords must be used carefully. The following will help protect your passwords:
- Never write down your password.
- Never share passwords with anyone.
- Never use your password for another purpose.
- Change your password every 60 to 90 days.
- Change your password immediately if you think it has been compromised.
- And set your UWE Password Manager Q&A profile to allow you to reset your password.
You should also be careful about where you save your password on your computer. Some dialog boxes, such as those for remote access and other telephone connections, present an option to save or remember your password. Do not select that option.
PC Labs
8 Computing facilities
8.1 Application software provided by IT Services
IT Services provide and manage the following Core Applications which are available from our PC Labs:
- Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint Designer, Picture Manager, Publisher, InfoPath).
- myUWE (portal)
- Blackboard (accessed via myUWE)
- UWE Live Mail
- Internet Explorer
- Adobe Reader
- Windows Media Player
- Minitab
- SPSS
Please also refer to section 9.2 to see additional applications listed in the Start Menu.
The myUWE portal, Blackboard, UWE e-mail services, etc. are available via the internet and via UWE ResNet.
RefWorks and eLibrary (Athens) are also available (please see www.uwe.ac.uk/library/info/research/), but are supported by the Library. Please see the information about the Athens' upgrade and the impact on Refworks.
The Core Applications are made available by IT Services. However, IT Services DO NOT provide support in the use of the above software except for myUWE and Blackboard (where support is provided via web pages and e-mail). Please refer to sections 11 and 12.
All other specialist software is faculty specific and does not form part of the core applications. For help with specialist software in faculty labs, please contact your faculty reception who will direct you to your faculty IT support team.
8.2 The 24-hour PC lab
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8.2.1 What you will find in the 24-hour PC lab?
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- Colour and Black & White printers for student Pharos printing
- Pharos Print Station terminal. This is used to print documents.
- A Pharos Pay Kiosk enables you to credit your printing account via self-service online kiosk.
8.3 Computing Labs provided by Faculties
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8.4. Log on (and off) the UWE Network to access computing services
8.4.1 To log on
You may log on to a PC with Windows 7 or log onto a Terminal with Windows Server 2008
You will be presented with a screen similar to this one.
- Type in your student username in the user name section (eg a-student)
- Move to the password section by pressing the TAB key or by clicking into the field. DO NOT PRESS ENTER/RETURN at this point.
- Type your password in the password section.
- Click OK or press ENTER.
- You will now be logged on to the system.
- Please wait for the logon process to finish before attempting to use any applications
8.4.2 To log off the PC
From the Start Menu, select the Log Off option
Select 'Yes' when you are ready to log off.
Note: in order to preserve the security of your files and to prevent malicious use of your account, it is absolutely vital that you log off the PC once you have finished using it. You are responsible for the security of your own account. If you leave a computer unattended whilst it is logged on with your account, then you are responsible for the consequences. These could include having all your work deleted or having abusive e-mail sent from your account to other people.
Additionally, with the current printing system, your account could be charged for prints that you have not made, but that have been made using your logged on account.
8.4.3 Energy saving
In order to reduce energy consumption and to comply with the Green ICT Initiatives, IT Services has introduced "The PC Power Management Program" which will automatically switch off UWE computers when they have been left on and are not in use."
9 Your Desktop in the PC Labs
When you have successfully logged into the PC, your desktop in a PC Lab will look something like this:
9.1 Desktop Icons
9.1.1 Change your password
See section 7.3 on Managing your Password.
9.1.2 myUWE
Clicking on this icon takes you to the personalised student and staff portal.
The portal gives you access to a range of services, and is where you access the Blackboard virtual learning environment.
9.1.3 Microsoft SkyDrive
This icon takes you straight to your SkyDrive where you can access and save your files, if you do not wish to save onto your H:\ drive. The files you save on SkyDrive will be stored and backed up by Microsoft (not UWE)
9.1.4 UWE Live Mail
Clicking on this icon will give you access to the student e-mail system, called UWE Live Mail. See section 13 on the E-mail system at UWE.
9.1.5 Welcome to UWE or Welcome back to UWE
This will provide some guidance at the start of the academic year. There are 2 options possible showing on your desktop:
- Welcome to UWE (for new students)
- Welcome back to UWE (for exisiting students)
9.2 The Start Menu
If you click on the Start Menu at the bottom left of the screen, you will see a popup menu which will give you access to the applications that you require.
When you are in a faculty room, there will be faculty specific software available, but if you are using a general room only the core set of applications will be present.
- Adobe Reader: The software that displays and prints Adobe Acrobat documents (PDF files)
- Microsoft Lync 2010 Attendee: A conferencing client that allows students to participate in online meetings
- UWE Live Mail: UWE student e-mail based on Windows Live
- Windows Media Player: The software application from Microsoft that is used to play, store and organise digital audio, images and video.
- XPS Viewer: XPS is similar to PDF but is based on XML. XPS Viewer is used to open XPS. files.
- Accessories: A folder containing useful mini- applications such as the Calculator, WordPad, Notepad etc
- Caminova: A software that allows rapid exchange and efficient storage of complex colour documents. It used to be called DjVu.
- Inspiration: Software that allows students to organise, collate and structure ideas and research in a visual way.
- Maintenance: A Folder for Help & Support and Remote Assistance
- Maths and Stats: Contains "Maple"
- Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office Suite programs
- Minitab Solutions: Statistical software
- Pronto: is Wimba Pronto Client which is an Instant Messenger available to UWE students. It is used within Blackboard.
- Real: is Real Player
- RefWorks: Online tool to organise bibliographic references
9.2.1 Launching Applications
To start up an application, having clicked on the Start button, choose the application that you
need. If the application is not listed, you may be able to find it under All Programs. In which case, please click on All Programs and look for the application.
9.2.2 Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer can be launched from the Start Menu by clicking All Programs, Accessories and Windows Explorer.
The window that you see is split into 2 sections. On the left hand side under the heading Computer is a hierarchical list of drives, folders and subfolders available to this computer. On the right hand side, you can also see the drives and their folders and files.
Depending on the view that you have chosen, this may be presented as extra large icons, large icons, small icons, lists or detailed lists. The view may be adjusted in exactly the same way as with My Computer, ie using the menu options at the top of the explorer screen.
The view shown here is in Tiles mode (see under the View menu).
Files can be copied or moved to other folders or drives by dragging and dropping them from their source to their new destination.
If you use the right mouse button, you will see a menu of operations that could be performed on the object you have selected.
9.2.3 Help
If you are having problems, you can use the online Help option. This may be accessed from the Help Menu within most applications, or by pressing F1.
Printing
10 Printing With Pharos
10.1 Introduction to Printing with Pharos
We offer a student printing system called Pharos. The main advantages of the Pharos system is that it gives students full flexibility for printing.
Print stations can be found in the 24 hour PC Room and at various locations throughout the University. A list of the print station locations is available on the ITS Web pages.
Each location has a Pharos print station with a black and white printer.
Some stations also provide colour and A3 output.
10.2 How To Open Your Pharos Print Account
A Pharos account will already have been created for you. It will have a zero balance. Before you start printing, you must credit your account either via the Pharos Pay Kiosk, at the Library Issue Desk or via the Online Pharos Crediting facility.
You can use the Online Pharos crediting facility to credit your printing account using a Debit or Credit card. To credit your account in myUWE, go to Payments' subtab on the 'Home' tab. Information on how to use on the Pharos system will be available on the ITS web pages.
The Pharos Pay Kiosks are currently located in the 24-hour lab (room 2B017 - Frenchay), the Project Room in 2Q30 (Frenchay) and in the Libraries:-
- Frenchay Library - 2nd level of the Library opposite the Issue Desk
- Glenside Library
- St Matthias Library
- Bower Ashton Library
Minimum credit amounts of one pound coin or one five pound note apply. Not all Pay Kiosks accept notes, but they all accept coins.
Any cash balance left outstanding on your Pharos account at the end of your course (not at the end of term or at the end of an academic year) will be refunded on request at the Cash Office. Please refer to section 16.
10.3 Cost of Printing
- 4p per black and white A4 sheet
- 8p per black and white A3 sheet
- 15p per colour A4 sheet
- 15p per colour A3 sheet
Additionally, some faculties provide specialised printing facilities through Pharos. Please contact your faculty for information about these. IT Services do not provide duplex printing.
As you print, the amount charged for your printing is automatically debited from your account.
10.4 Username and Password
To access the printing system, use your username and password (as provided at the start of your course) to login to the print stations to release your prints to the printer. Please refer to section 7 for information on your username and password.
10.5 Printing is a Two Step Event
It is good practice and will save you money, if you "Print Preview" your document before sending it to a printer. If you use the Print Preview facility, you can see what your document will look like when it is printed.
If you are unsure about what you see in Print Preview mode, don't print, but check with the IT Support Centre. It is your responsibility to double check that your document is as you want it before printing. IT Services will not be able to give you a reprint or a refund for pages which are incorrectly printed.
However, IT Services is willing to reprint any pages which have been chewed up by the printer or have been printed with low toner levels.
10.5.1 Step One - sending your print job from the PC
In your application, to open the printer window: - Select <File>.<Print>
Click on the drop down selection box and change the printer name to: eg
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BW-A4 - Black & White A4 BW-A3 - Black & White A3 COL-A4 - Colour A4 COL-A3 - Colour A3 |
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Click <OK> to print file.
The file will now be waiting for you at the Pharos Print Station. You will now have to release this print job.
10.5.2 Step Two - Releasing the print job
Your print job can now be released to the printer by using the Pharos Print Station that is nearest to your PC room. (Instructions for their use are provided via posters next to the printers.) Print Stations can take one of three forms: a dedicated PC, a touch screen device next to the printer, or embedded into the printer’s display panel.
When you print, your Pharos account will be deducted by the cost of the number of pages printed. (For costs see section 10.3).
10.6 What if the printer chews up the Print paper or the print is faint?
DO NOT RE-PRINT THE JOB!!! First, call at the IT Support Centre with the printout. Let them know which printer station has the problem so it can be fixed.
The IT Support Centre will ask you to re-print the job but NOT release it via a Pharos Station. The IT Support Centre will print this job for you free of charge.
UWE Academic and Teaching Web Services
11 myUWE portal
myUWE is the University's portal, and is a good place to start if you want to use the University's personalised web services. myUWE is where you go to register online. You only need to log in once to access:
- Blackboard, the University's Virtual Learning Environment
- Online registration
- Your academic record, including Results and Notification of Credit and Assessment Marks
- Provisional coursework marks
- Coursework coversheets (if set up by your faculty)
- Maintenance pages for your personal information
You may also find announcements posted for you in myUWE, perhaps advising of important faculty or course information. Most students can also access their timetable via myUWE, and other services are being added.
myUWE can be reached from any computer with an internet connection and web browser. To log in:
- From inside UWE, either follow the link on the UWE intranet page (www.uwe.ac.uk), or type the word myuwe in the address field in your web browser.
- From outside UWE, follow the 'Login' link on the UWE public home page at www.uwe.ac.uk and then select the myUWE option, or type my.uwe.ac.uk into the address field of your web browser.
In each case you will be taken to the myLogin page, where you can log in with your username and password.
For security reasons, and because myUWE displays personal information about you, we recommend that you always log out of myUWE when you have finished.
This is especially important on computers that may be used by other people. Use the Logout link in the top right corner of the screen. This will take you to a screen asking you to confirm logout. Selecting Yes completes the logout process.
Further information can be found on the myUWE Support Site
12 Blackboard
UWE supports online learning and teaching with resources on the web. The University's online learning system is called Blackboard. It can be accessed from almost any computer with web access and a supported web browser. Please visit info.uwe.ac.uk/online/blackboard/technical/
This guide is intended to answer basic questions about Blackboard:
12.1 What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). If you are advised that course materials are available on Blackboard, visit myUWE and follow the relevant Blackboard links.
In addition to the presentations and documents Blackboard also supports online coursework submission, Discussion Boards and Virtual Classroom facilities.. You will only have access to Blackboard courses that have been made available by tutors. You can see all courses that you are attached to in the Blackboard Courses tab in myUWE.
12.2 How to find Blackboard
Follow the links to myUWE to log in to the University's portal. Once logged in, you will be able to access Blackboard resources from the Courses tab and the Blackboard announcements area on the Home tab of myUWE.
If you cannot reach the myUWE home page the University may be experiencing technical difficulties so please try again later. Notices are usually posted on the University home page if there are problems with availability, and these may include advice on alternative arrangements for reaching Blackboard.
12.3 Who can use it?
All UWE students with an appropriate enrolment have access to Blackboard. However, you will only have access to learning and teaching materials your tutor has chosen to make available. In some instances, your tutor may not regard Blackboard as appropriate to a particular area of study.
If a course has not been made available by your tutor, it will be listed in the myUWE Blackboard Courses tab under the heading Blackboard Courses not currently in use by the tutor'. For advice about whether or not your tutor will be using Blackboard for a course, please contact your tutor directly.
12.4 What will you find in it?
If you are participating in a module run or other activity that is supported in Blackboard, you will be able to access its course site. Within the course, you might find reading lists, lecture notes, assignments and other learning resources. This information may be in the form of web pages or files such as PowerPoint presentations. The exact content of any particular Blackboard course is controlled by the appropriate tutor or tutors.
12.5 Logging out of Blackboard
It is imperative you log out at the end of your session. Simply closing your browser will not be enough. If you do not log out when you have finished, the next user of the computer may be able
to access your account and possibly misuse it. To log out always click the logout button at the top of the page.
12.6 Further information
Further information and advice is available on the Blackboard Support website, which can be reached via the ‘Help’ button at the top of the page in Blackboard.
13 E-mail system at UWE
Student e-mail is provided by UWE Live Mail.
13.1 What is UWE Live Mail?
- UWE adopted Windows Live services to provide students with e-mail and online communication tools.
- The key element of Windows Live services is UWE Live Mail. It is co-branded and the result of a partnership between Microsoft and UWE.
- With the UWE Live Mail ID (= your UWE e-mail address), not only you are able to use the e-mail system, UWE Live Mail, but you can access online services hosted by Windows Live.
- These online services include Windows Live Essentials (Messenger, Mesh, Photo Gallery, Writer, Movie Maker and Family Safety), SkyDrive, Spaces, Office Web Apps etc... For a full list of services, please visit home.live.com/allservices.aspx
- You can now share all your social networking feeds across your Windows Live network eg MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn.
13.2 Why UWE Live Mail?
- It is a free service for students and you can keep your account for life.
- It provides an ever increasing storage limit.
- Microsoft provides a 24/7 service of the system and support.
- Students have access to a suite of integrated web-based communication tools with their UWE Live Mail ID.
- UWE Live Mail can provide additional storage with SkyDrive and free online Office web applications called Microsoft® Office Web Apps. Please refer to sections 13.4 and 13.5. You can now synchronise your files on all your computers and laptops with Windows Live Mesh. Please see section 13.6.
- UWE Live Mail is a good way to keep in touch with what is going on at UWE.
- E-mails relating to your student life and courses will be sent to your UWE e-mail account. Therefore,
we strongly advise that you check your UWE account regularly. Your e-mail account will look like this: eg john2.smith@live.uwe.ac.uk
13.3 How to access UWE Live Mail
Best method when you are studying at UWE
- To access your UWE Live Mail e-mail account, please go to the myUWE portal. (You can access the myUWE portal by clicking on myUWE (UWE portal) on the Intranet: www.uwe.ac.uk)
- Once in myUWE, you will find an icon entitled "UWE Live Mail" which will take you to UWE Live Mail. The first time you access UWE Live Mail, you will be prompted to subscribe to the service. Once you have done this, the UWE Live Mail icon will take you directly to the service.
Method if you are no longer a student at UWE
- To access UWE Live Mail again, you can type mail.live.com into your web browser (eg Internet
Explorer).
Important synchronisation of passwords:
- Please do not forget to synchronise your passwords using the UWE Password Manager. It is a pre- requisite to set your profile and reset your password in the UWE Password Manager after completing your profile in UWE Live Mail or Windows Live Services. In this way, your UWE password and UWE Live Mail password will be synchronised at all times. This will avoid a lot of confusion at a later stage.
13.4 Using SkyDrive
13.4.1 What does SkyDrive offer?
SkyDrive is part of UWE Live Mail. The service currently offers 25GB of free online storage. You can access this storage from anywhere online. The maximum file size limit is currently 50MB. SkyDrive can also be used to share documents with other people or the public, as well as storing personal files such as photos, videos and music.
13.4.2 How to use SkyDrive?
If you are not in myUWE student portal
- Use your web browser to go to skydrive.live.com
- Log in with your UWE Live Mail account
If you are in myUWE student portal
- Go to UWE Live Mail
- Click on Office or More and then SkyDrive to access your SkyDrive and save your files there. Office Web Apps on SkyDrive are now available to everyone in the UK.
13.5 Using Office Web Apps in UWE Live Mail
In UWE Live Mail, Microsoft Office Web Apps give you browser-based viewing and editing of Office documents from anywhere you have a connection to the Web.
With Office Web Apps, the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote files you store in SkyDrive can be viewed and edited in the browser by anyone you permit to do so.
In short, whilst SkyDrive stores the documents, Office Web Apps opens them.
To upload documents:
1. Go to office.live.com and sign in with your UWE Live Mail ID.
2. At the top of the browser window point to Office, and then click Your documents.
3. Click Add Files, and then click a folder or create a new folder. Keep in mind that you can make folders available to different groups of people; consider creating folders based on who you want to share documents with.
4. For each document you want to upload, click Browse and locate the file.
To create documents:
1. Go to office.live.com and sign in with your Windows Live ID. If you don’t yet have a Windows Live ID click Sign up to get one.
2. Click New, and then click the type of document you want to create: Word document, Excel workbook, PowerPoint presentation, or OneNote notebook.
3. Type a name for the document, and then click Save. The document opens for editing in the appropriate Web App.
For additional information, please see this article on Office Web Apps
13.6 Windows Live Mesh
In addition to Office Web Apps, Microsoft recently released Windows Live Mesh. With Windows Live Mesh, you can synchronize files with all of your computers
(ie not Smartphones) up to 5GB for free. Access your files from any device or from the web and easily share them with others.
Therefore, if you have a laptop that you take on campus and a desktop computer at home, you can set them up to synchronise your files so that the notes you take in the Library (for example), on your laptop, are available on your desktop computer. Any changes you make on one computer will be made on the other.
If you are working in a PC Lab and you want to save your files so that you can access them from home, we suggest that you use SkyDrive instead of Live Mesh. For SkyDrive, please refer to section 13.4 and section 18.
Be careful - Windows Live Mesh does not work with Office Web Apps yet, and it only works with Windows Vista and Windows 7.
13.7 Microsoft offers to work with UWE Live Mail
Microsoft Office Professional Academic 2010, Windows 7 for students, Microsoft DreamSpark and
Microsoft Student.
13.7.1 Microsoft Office Professional Academic 2010
Students who are enrolled at UWE Bristol in an undergraduate or postgraduate level course can purchase Microsoft Office Professional Academic 2010. Further information can be found at www.microsoft.com/student/office/en-gb
Alternatively, students wanting to buy Microsoft products, can contact one of the Student partners such as:-
- Software4Students www.software4students.co.uk
- The RM Basement www.rmeducation.com/uk
- Pugh Student Shop students.pugh.co.uk
- StudentSuperstore.com www.studentsuperstore.com
13.7.2 Microsoft DreamSpark
DreamSpark is a program set up by Microsoft to allow students to download software design and development tools free of charge. For additional information, please visit www.dreamspark.com
13.7.3 Windows 7 UK Student Offer
Microsoft is offering students the opportunity to buy Windows 7 at a discounted rate. However, you may want to check the Student partners above for the best offer!
Please visit www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/studentoffer
13.7.4 Microsoft Student!
This Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com/student/en/gb/default.aspx is really useful if you want to keep up-to-date with "What is new", "student discounts", "Office 2007", "Xbox", "Windows 7" and "Office Live Workspace" etc... It is especially designed for students.
13.8 Finding information about UWE Live Mail
Information in the form of FAQs and Help documents about UWE Live Mail can be found at www.uwe.ac.uk/its/uwelive
Alternatively, you can visit the Microsoft web pages: Search under the section Windows Live eg www.windowslive.com/explore or search the Help Central support.live.com/eform.aspx (it will give you the list of Windows Live Standard Services).
Data Storage
14 Saving Your Work
14.1 Options for saving your work
14.1.1 Personal drive (H: drive)
Known as the H:\ drive, this is your own personal storage space allocated by the university.
- It can be accessed from all UWE computers on campus.
- If you are in a UWE Hall of residence, you can access it via UWE ResNet (the Student Residential Network).
- If you are at home, you can access it via XA (Xternal Access) system.
- If you are on campus with your laptop, you can connect wirelessly to the UWE network via NetPlus.
It is recommended that you always save your work to your H: drive. Each student is assigned 1GB of storage space.
To see how much space you have left on your H: drive, go to My Computer. Under the section Network Drives, right click on home (H:) and choose the Properties option. You will see a gauge showing the used and free home drive space.
The H:\ drive can also be seen using Windows Explorer as described in section 9.2.2
If you attempt to save a new file which will take the total of the data on your H:\ drive over 1GB, the file will not be saved or copied, and a warning message will appear. For more information on Student Storage Facilities.
14.1.2 SkyDrive
SkyDrive is a good place for storing large documents and backing up your work. It is provided by the Microsoft Live @EDU project.
All students with accounts in UWE Live Mail can use SkyDrive which offers additional storage space (up to 25GB) on top of the H:\ drive. SkyDrive can be accessed after graduation.
However, please be aware that your files on SkyDrive are backed up by Microsoft and not by UWE. Please refer to section 13.4 and section 18.
14.1.3 Blackboard Content System
Blackboard provides a personal storage area accessible from the Blackboard Content Collection tab. All students have an allocation of 40Mb of storage space for the purpose of storing assignments and GDP materials for use in Blackboard. However, it is not intended for long term general data storage. Guidance for students is available on the Blackboard Support website.
14.1.4 Removable Medias eg CD Roms, USB Memory sticks
Removable Medias are not the safest method of saving your work , as they can easily break and are susceptible to theft or loss. You should always consider the sensitivity of any information stored on Removable Medias and you should never use them to save the only copy of your work. Saving work on Removable Medias should be your last resort.
Which of these are available to you will depend on the type of PC you are using.
Blank CDs and memory sticks can be purchased from the Student Shop near the NatWest Bank on the Frenchay Campus.
14.1.4.1 CD Roms
CDs are a cheap and relatively reliable way to make backups of your work.
There are 2 main options available: CD-R and CD-RW. The difference between the two is that you can only write/save once on a CD-R. You can erase and rewrite up to about 1000 times with a CD-RW. If you use your CD for daily backups, it should last about 3 years.
However, you need to ensure that you do not misplace the CD. For ease of retrieving your work, it may be useful to label the CD with the date of your backup, and store it in a safe and cool place.
Not all UWE computers have a CD Rom drive. Look out for Disk Stations in the libraries. They are used to transfer your work from the computer, which you are working on, to a CD.
14.1.4.2 USB memory sticks
Most USB memory sticks work on UWE computers. However, a few don't, as IT Services cannot install drivers for every type of USB devices.
USB memory sticks are particularly useful for transporting documents between computers. Nevertheless, they are not recommended as the primary means of saving your work. If not removed
properly from a computer, their content may become unusable. Please refer to section 9.2.2. If you are using a USB memory stick, please use the Safely Remove Hardware icon, which appears in your computer's notification area in the bottom right of the screen.
Please note that within "USB Drive", the actual contents of the USB device are to be found within the "Hard Disk2" folder.
Windows Explorer is useful to move files between drives.
14.2 Best practices for saving your work
14.2.1 Do's
- Save your work as you work on it. Don't wait until you have finished the document. Typically, if you are working on a document or spreadsheet for a long time you should save your work at least every 15 minutes or so.
- Use the Save As function (File/Save As) every time you save your work so that you save to the correct location with your chosen file name eg your H: drive. Don't just use the Save icon.
- Save a copy of your important files (eg your assignments) to more than one location. In IT jargon, this is called backing up. We recommend that you save to your H: drive AND backup your work to another location (SkyDrive or Blackboard Content System).
- It is not unknown for files to become corrupt, or for CD-Rs or memory sticks to be damaged on the day of a hand-in. It's your assignment, your file and your responsibility. Having a copy in another location is a simple way to protect your files and prevent you from the trauma of having to start your assignment all over again. Avoid saving to Removable Medias.
- We recommend that you ‘cut' and ‘paste' using Windows Explorer.
- The more important the work you are carrying out, the more often you should back it up. If you modify your work file once a day, you should backup every 2 to 3 days. If you are working constantly on an assignment for 5 to 6 hours a day, you should backup every day.
- Always consider the sensitivity of any information stored and always save in a secure location.
- When saving personal or confidential data, please do take into consideration the Data Protection Act and the UWE Data Security Policy.
14.2.2 Don'ts
- Avoid using Removable Medias. They can easily be damaged, lost or stolen.
- Do not work directly on an attachment in any e-mail. First, save the attachment to your h: drive and then work on the saved file.
15 Archiving your work
On a regular basis, IT Services archive students' H: drives. Files that qualify for archiving are those that have not been modified for over 3 months.
When a file has been migrated to the Archive, its icon is changed to include a small cross in the bottom left corner. They can be opened and manipulated in the normal manner associated with their file type.
16 Data Retention
Please be aware that 42 days after the completion of your course, your username and any data held on UWE systems will be deleted. IT Services is unable to retrieve data (including archived files) after this time. The exception to this is UWE Live Mail, which will keep working indefinitely provided that you log in at least once every six months.
Therefore, please ensure that you backup all your work and correspondence on Microsoft SkyDrive at the end of your course at UWE.
If you have any credit balance remaining on your Pharos printing account, please contact the cash office for a refund within the 42 days mentioned above.
Note: access to your module materials in Blackboard ends when the module run ends. You are therefore strongly advised to download any materials you may wish to refer to in the future before you complete a module.
If you use UWE Live Mail or Windows Live Services such as SkyDrive to transfer your materials at the end of your course or store your data and files whilst at UWE, you will not have to worry about storing your data elsewhere. Windows Live offers services for life which are stored and backed up by Microsoft.
Access your UWE files and UWE network from anywhere
You first need to connect to the Internet using your preferred Internet Service Provider (ISP). For a list of Internet providers, either dial-up or broadband, please visit www.ispreview.co.uk.
- Once connected, you can access your files from home or anywhere in the world. How you access them very much depends on where you store your data in the first place.
To summarise what we discussed in the previous chapter "Data Storage", the safest places to save your files are:-
- H:\ drive and S:\ drive
- Microsoft SkyDrive (accessible after graduation)
- Blackboard Content System (integral to Blackboard)
We discourage you from saving your files on removable medias. They are not as reliable as the methods listed above.
- To access your H:\ drive or the S:\ drive from home, you should use XA (Xternal Access). Please see the section on XA.
- To access SkyDrive, use your web browser to go to skydrive.live.com and log in with your UWE Live Mail account. Section 13.4 in this guide explains the different ways to access your files saved on SkyDrive.
- To access Blackboard Content System, log into myUWE (type https://my.uwe.ac.uk into the address field in your web browser), and then go to Blackboard and the "Content Collection" tab.
- Once connected, you can also access secured UWE resources such as myUWE and Blackboard; and UWE Live Mail for e-mailing.
17 UWE External Access System (XA)
XA is the external access system for home/external users with dial-up or broadband ISP's. It allows you to retrieve your files on the UWE network from home (eg files from your H:/drive or the S:/drive) with the Remote File Transfer Utility (RFT).
XA (Xternal Access) also allows students to access the UWE network and the UWE Intranet.
When you start the setup process, your computer will automatically download and install the necessary software to connect and use the Remote File Transfer system.
Please note a couple of points:
- Any link from UWE intranet to external websites may not work because the connection with XA is secure.
- XA works on Apple Macs.
If you are a member of the NHS Academy, XA allows you to connect to a student desktop from an external internet connection.
Please see the External Access for NHS Academies information.
For external access information in general, please visit XA (Xternal Access)
18 SkyDrive
You can access your files saved on SkyDrive from any PC Labs or anywhere in the world. Therefore, you may find it useful to save your files on SkyDrive when you work at home and then access them from one of the PC Labs when you work on campus.
Equally, you can save your files on SkyDrive when you are on campus, and access them later when you get home from your home computer.
Please refer to section 13.4 to access SkyDrive
19 Blackboard Content System
Please refer to section 14.1.3 to access the Blackboard Content System
Access your UWE files and the UWE network when you are on site
You can plug in your personal laptop in specified areas thanks to NetPlus, our wireless network facility. If you are in one of the UWE student residencies, you can access the UWE network and the www from your accommodation using UWE ResNet.
You can also gain access to the internet and your emails via some internet access units scattered around the University. We call it the Cyberspace.
20 Wireless connectivity and Net Plus
Net Plus is a facility run by IT Services which allows students to connect their own laptops to the UWE network utilising both wired (Net Plus Docking) and wireless (Net Plus Wireless) technologies.
20.1 Where can I use the service?
For the full list of the locations where NetPlus wireless connection can be used, please visit the NetPlus web pages.
20.2 Connecting...
Before you are able to connect to NetPlus, please ensure that you have anti-virus software installed and updated. You should also make sure that your windows firewall is switched on. If you are unsure, please contact the IT Support Centre before you connect.
If a virus is detected on your machine, it will be blocked from NetPlus immediately. You will then need to visit the IT Support Centre to have it virus scanned before we will allow you to reconnect.
NB. To access web pages that you need to sign in to, such as Hotmail or Facebook, you need to set a proxy address in your web browser to http://www.uwe.ac.uk/proxy.pac
Full instructions can be found on Netplus.
20.3 Smartphones
An increasing number of students would like to connect their Smartphones to the UWE network. Due to the wide number and variety of smartphones on the market, it is not possible for the University to support every device. However, phones which support proxy settings should be able to successfully connect. Plans to support non-proxy capable devices are in progress with the intention of implementing them as part of a major network refresh programme of works.
21 UWE ResNet (UWE Student Residential Network)
21.1 What is UWE ResNet?
UWE ResNet is the UWE Residential Network service run by IT Services, providing computer connections to all on-campus University accommodation halls of residence including the Market Gate building which is in the centre of Bristol. It connects student rooms to the UWE network and the www (World Wide Web). UWE ResNet is wired access only. It is not a wireless connection. Whilst wireless connection is available on campus, it is not accessible in the listed accommodations.
Before using UWE ResNet, it is essential that you read the Acceptable Use Policy and the UWE ResNet Policy
21.2 UWE ResNet offers access to:
- myUWE portal
- your UWE email account (UWE Live Mail)
- UWE web pages
- the www
- personal filespace on the UWE filestore
The following services are allowed, but there is no guarantee that they will work as they are not supported services:
- Instant Messaging Services such as Yahoo Messenger
- Voice and Video Calls with Skype.
21.3 Where is UWE ResNet available?
| University Owned | University Leased/Managed | University Allocated/Unite Managed |
|---|---|---|
Frenchay campus student village |
The Hollies |
Market Gate |
Carroll Court |
||
St Matthias campus |
||
Glenside campus |
21.4 What is not allowed with UWE ResNet?
-
Use Peer to Peer software
-
Download pornographic or offensive material
-
Share copyrighted files
-
Use MSN video/voice messaging
-
Connect network devices
-
Run your own server
-
Use UWE ResNet for any commercial activities and financial gain
-
Gaming is not supported on UWE ResNet eg PS3 does not work on UWE ResNet.
21.5 Laptop Support
The IT Support Centre provides some support for laptop problems, such as help with virus removal. We do not provide any hardware support, but are happy to offer advice. Please call in at the IT Support Centre with your laptop or e-mail resnet@uwe.ac.uk to arrange a time.
NB. We are not licensed to install any Microsoft products. Therefore, if Windows needs reinstalling, you will need to provide your own recovery disks.
Details are available at UWE ResNet
22 Cyberspace
With Cyberspace, students are able to log into the internet access units using their normal Username and Password to go on the Internet, access the Student portal (myUWE) and Blackboard, and check their e-mails via UWE Live Mail.
Internet and e-mail access is available in the Street Café in S Block and at the entrance of the Bolland Library level 2 on the Frenchay Campus.
Last but not least information!
23 Useful information about security
23.1 The importance of Anti-virus software
It is compulsory to have anti-virus software installed at all times on your personal computer, if you want to connect to the UWE network, whether you connect through UWE ResNet, NetPlus (Wireless) or XA (Xternal Access). Your anti-virus software will protect your computer from worms, trojans and viruses. It must be running and up-to-date.
23.2 The importance of a firewall
A firewall is a software program or piece of hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to reach your computer over the Internet.
Therefore, it is essential that your computer is firewall enabled at all times.
23.3 The importance of Security Updates
Even if you have a firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software installed, your PC can be infected with malicious software. It is important to make sure you keep your machine up to date with all the latest security updates. For Microsoft Windows operating systems, there is a built-in utility to do this, and you should configure it to automatically download and install updates. See Microsoft Online Safety at www.microsoft.com/protect for help. Other major operating systems also provide regular updates, and you are advised to keep these systems up to date too.
23.4 Your Computer Security
Even if you have a firewall and up-to-date anti-virus software installed, your PC can be infected with malicious software. It is important to make sure you keep your machine up to date with all the latest security updates. For Microsoft Windows operating systems, there is a built-in utility to do this, and you should configure it to automatically download and install updates. See Microsoft Online Safety at www.microsoft.com/protect for help. Other major operating systems also provide regular updates, and you are advised to keep these systems up to date too.
Please take computer security seriously:
- Ensure that you have up-to-date anti-virus software running at all times on your computer.
- Ensure that your computer is firewall-enabled and updated.
- Your computer should also be password-protected to ensure restricted access to information.
- Your laptop should be kept in a safe location (and not left unattended in a public place or a car).
- Shared folders - If you create shared folders on the network they should be password protected to prevent unauthorised access.
Please see further information on securing your computer
24 Useful information about software
24.1 Software available - UWE student license
The following software packages are free to all UWE students for the duration of their studies at UWE:
The software must be uninstalled when the student leaves the university.
- SPSS version 15, 16 17,18 & 19
- Minitab 15 & 16
- Nudist 6
- Nvivo 2
- Nvivo 7
- Nvivo 8
- Nvivo 9
- ViewletBuilder 4
To obtain a copy of one of these packages, simply bring a blank CDR to the IT Support Centre in room 3D028A in the Frenchay Library. Please note: you will require one CDR for each individual package. For SPSS version 19, we require a blank DVD.
The Student will be required to sign an undertaking for all software borrowed.
Please note that Microsoft products are not available to students under the Terms of the UWE Licence Agreement.
24.2 Recommended free software
- Microsoft Security Essentials - protection from viruses and spyware from www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security_essentials/default.aspx
- AVG Anti-Virus - anti-virus software available from free.avg.com
- Avast Free Antivirus - anti-virus software available from www.avast.com
- Sygate Personal Firewall - firewall package
- ZoneAlarm Free Firewall- firewall package
- Open Office - office suite available from www.openoffice.org
24.3 Microsoft software
Please refer to section 13.7
25 Assistive Technology
Please visit the Assistive Technology website for information on how you can get help.
26 Web filtering
Web content filtering is the term given to application software that controls access to web pages and their content. This has been implemented at UWE to block access to websites that are classified as illegal, that promote spyware, proxy avoidance and sites where the promotion of student academic submissions are copied or provided.
27 SMS texting at UWE
Students may receive important information regarding their studies via SMS texting.
If students do not want to receive texts from UWE and wish to opt-out of this service, they can do so via myUWE. For further details on the conditions of texting, please visit the SMS Texting policy.
28 Purchasing schemes for students
Please visit the purchasing offers.29 Essential IT Services Maintenance Weekends for 2011/2012
IT Services need to ensure that systems are regularly maintained. Maintenance weekends are scheduled to take place in the course of the year. IT Systems will therefore be unavailable (or the level of services will be degraded) during these weekends. Please take note of the list of published maintenance weekends below:
2011
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Friday 21 October 2011 at 16:30 | Monday 24 October 2011 at 08:30 |
2012
| From | To |
|---|---|
| Friday 27 January 2012 at 16:30 | Monday 30 January 2012 at 08:30 |
| Friday 20 April 2012 at 16:30 | Monday 23 April 2012 at 08:30 |
| Friday 20 July 2012 at 16:30 | Monday 23 July 2012 at 08:30 |
* all systems down from 16:30 on the Friday until 08:30 on the Monday
Maintenance weekends are published on the ITS Web Pages under Interruptions
We apologise in advance for any inconvenience that these interruptions of services may cause.
30 Other Initiatives
In the course of the new academic year 2011/2012, IT Services may introduce new initiatives and services.We strongly recommend that you visit the IT Services web pages on a regular basis in order to keep informed of any new developments
31 Useful links
Looking for....
| Subject Area | URL |
|---|---|
| UWE home page | www.uwe.ac.uk/ |
| ITS website for information on shutdowns etc | www.uwe.ac.uk/its |
| The myUWE portal | https://my.uwe.ac.uk/ |
| UWE Live Mail (via the portal) | https://my.uwe.ac.uk/ |
| UWE Live Mail (via Windows Live) | You can type mail.live.com into your web browser (eg Internet Explorer) |
| myUWE support website | info.uwe.ac.uk/myuwe/ |
| Blackboard support website | info.uwe.ac.uk/online/blackboard/ |
| A to Z support documents | www.uwe.ac.uk/its/knowledgebase/ customerservices/itdocs.shtml |
| IT Services glossary of computing terms | www.uwe.ac.uk/its/knowledgebase/ customerservices/glossary.shtml |
| Library (for searching the catalogue) | www.uwe.ac.uk/library |
| Virus Alerts | home.mcafee.com/virusinfo/ |
| Microsoft Office 2007 | office.microsoft.com/en-gb/support You will find Training courses and presentations, User Interface Guides and Demos. |
You can also use the Help function within the Microsoft products or our support documents available from the ITS web pages.
32 Contacting IT Services
| Via ITS website ITS Online Support Form | www.uwe.ac.uk/its/help/help.shtml |
|---|---|
| Via E-mail | its.helpdesk@uwe.ac.uk |
| By calling in | IT Support Centre. Room 3D028A on the 3rd level of the Frenchay Library. Please bring your student ID card to gain access to the IT Support Centre. |
| By telephone | +44 (0)117 32 83612 (or internally, extension 123) |
