Computing and Printing Tips

Common problems and FAQ

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I can't login to a library computer?

Check the items below. If you are still having a problem you can dial the Help Desk at 7800 and ask that your password be reset.

A. Make sure you've entered your username and password correctly.

B. If you use the number pad on the keyboard make sure the Number Lock is not off.

C. You must select the appropriate server from the dropdown, STUDENTS or SPC for employees.

D. Reboot the machine and try again.

E. If you are getting a message that the domain is unavailable ask a librarian for help.

Where do my documents print out?

If you are using one of the 10 Library Lab computers your documents will print to the Lab printer in front of the workstations

If you are using a library database computer outside the administration office or near the reference desk your documents will print to the Circulaton printer on the circulation desk.

Can I print my documents from any library computer?

You can edit and print your documents from the 10 computers in the Library Lab.

The library database computers in the reference room, outside the administration office and in the round workstation area are designated for searching the library catalog and databases. As such they do not have Word, Excel or PowerPoint installed. You can open and print documents in these formats but will not be able to edit them.

I am unable to print?

First make sure that the printer is installed. Click on START >> PRINTERS and FAXES.

If you are working in the Library Lab you should print to LibraryLab and from the library database computers to LibraryCirc.

If both printers appear to be installed then make sure the one you wish to print to is set as the Default. In the Printers and Faxes menu Right-click on it and select Set As Default or simply do a File >> Print and then select the appropriate printer from the print dialog box.

If you are still having a problem ask a librarian for help.

Why can't I open a file on my floppy disk?

Floppy disks and drives are notoriously unreliable and floppy disks can only store small amounts of data. We recommend purchasing a Portable USB Flash Drive, two good brands are Sandisk and Lexar. You can find them at most electronics and office supply stores.

Can I save files to CD?

No. The library lab and library database computers are not equipped with CD Burners. If you have burned a document to CD at home you may view it on our computers but you will not be able to edit or save changes to CD.

I can't open my document or file?

There are a number of possibilities:

A. If you've typed them at home using a different word processor such as Works, WordPerfect or other you may not be able to open and view them on-campus in Microsoft Word.

B. New versions of Microsoft Office save to a format that older Microsoft Word versions may not be able to read. If you are using an older version of Microsoft Word and can't upgrade you may try the following:

*Download or purchase a third-party converter to turn the document into the older format.

*Open your document in the newer version of Word in the library, select FILE >> SAVE AS and try selecting an older format in the SAVE AS TYPE dropdown menu.

C. Did you remove your storage device (floppy, flash drive, cd) while your document was still open? This is not recommended, save your document and close it before removing the device from the computer you are working on.

Can I print a webpage I found while searching online?

Web pages are meant to be read online and are not formatted for printing. To avoid common problems such as printing blank pages or text getting cut-off at the margin we recommend you select the text you want to print with your mouse, right-click and select copy and then paste it into Word or Wordpad before printing.

I can't print a PDF Document?

Do not try to FILE >> PRINT a pdf, this does not work. To print a PDF document you must use the printer icon in the PDF documents' toolbar.

I can't open a PDF document?

Pop-up blocker In Internet Explorer and Firefox may try to prevent a pdf file from opening. When this happens a bar will appear at the top of your screen where you must click and select the option to OPEN or ALLOW

I'm having problems printing documents in Blackboard?

Point your mouse over the document you want to print, click the right mouse-button and select OPEN IN NEW WINDOW. Print your document from the new window after it opens.

I can't login to Blackboard?

Blackboard user accounts are generated by IT using data from SPIRIT during the add/drop period. Contact the Help Desk at 7800. See this page for more details - Blackboard at SPC