Friday, December 14, 2007
Winter Break Electrical Power Shut Down: Campus Wide Impact
"The shut down will result in a loss of computer network service (e-mail, internet, file sharing, administrative applications) on 12/27 from 6am -- 10am and again on 12/28 from 6pm - 9pm in all administration buildings including Lehman, Milbank, Altschul, Barnard, Vagelos Alumnae Center and all administrative offices in the Quad and Elliott Hall.
"In addition, computer network service will be down in Plimpton Hall and wireless connectivity in Sulzberger and Elliott Hall will be unavailable. All other Residential buildings will be unaffected. Please note that Remote Log-In will not function once power has been disconnected. Any PC left on in Milbank or Altschul will shut down when the power outage occurs and, in most cases, will have to be manually restarted when the power is restored.
"Heat to all campus buildings will be off on 12/27 from 6am -- 10am and again on 12/28 from 6pm - 9pm. The rental emergency generator will permit the reactivation of our boilers and restoration of heat to all campus buildings during the thirty six (36) hour power shut down interval. It will take a few hours after boiler activation to bring the buildings heat to comfortable level. If you must be at work please dress accordingly."
--I can't quite tell if this means the network service will be down completely (i.e. if you're off-campus and trying to read your email from an out-of-network computer) or if they were just spelling it out for folks trying to get work done on campus.
"In addition, computer network service will be down in Plimpton Hall and wireless connectivity in Sulzberger and Elliott Hall will be unavailable. All other Residential buildings will be unaffected. Please note that Remote Log-In will not function once power has been disconnected. Any PC left on in Milbank or Altschul will shut down when the power outage occurs and, in most cases, will have to be manually restarted when the power is restored.
"Heat to all campus buildings will be off on 12/27 from 6am -- 10am and again on 12/28 from 6pm - 9pm. The rental emergency generator will permit the reactivation of our boilers and restoration of heat to all campus buildings during the thirty six (36) hour power shut down interval. It will take a few hours after boiler activation to bring the buildings heat to comfortable level. If you must be at work please dress accordingly."
--I can't quite tell if this means the network service will be down completely (i.e. if you're off-campus and trying to read your email from an out-of-network computer) or if they were just spelling it out for folks trying to get work done on campus.
Labels: network downtime, nexus
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Start Config
Using Lois's instructions, I removed some data hogs from the reference desk computer's start up functions.
For future reference, here are the highlights of Lois's handout:
For future reference, here are the highlights of Lois's handout:
- Set a system restore point: Start --> Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> System Restore. Create a restore point.
- Start --> Run --> Type <> (without the brackets). Click the Startup tab.
- Deselect programs you don't want to run on Startup (e.g. Adobe, Real, QuickTime, Google Toolbar Notifier, iTunes, etc.)
- If you're not sure if it's safe to delete something, you can do a search for it using your favorite search engine. (e.g. nwtray.exe turns out to be Novell, so you do want to run it at Startup. Don't delete it!) Particularly useful sites for researching the necessity of functions are Neuber and BleepingComputer. In general, leave alone anything in the windows\system32 folder and anything related to Symantec.
- Reboot. Don't be frightened by the warning message that will pop up once you've rebooted, "The System Configuration Utility..." Just check the box. It's okay.
- Nota bene: it's really better to disable Startup in each application. Normally the control is in Options or Preferences.
Labels: computers, lois, ref desk
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Event Management System
Did you know you can check which events/classes are happening in which classrooms? (e.g. if there's a dispute between two instructors who each say they've booked a particular room)
Well, you can. (I didn't know either, or maybe I did, and I forgot.)
Well, you can. (I didn't know either, or maybe I did, and I forgot.)
- Start here http://ems.barnard.columbia.edu:2010/vemspro
- That will give you an overall list of the day's activities, which could be a little overwhelming when classes are in session.
- The good news is you can limit your results by date, building, event type, and "customer type." Just click the filter link in the top right nav bar.
Labels: classrooms, lehman
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
circulating zines
I don't know if I announced this to all y'all or not, and I suspect it's "or not."
Sorry about that! We should have a press release out soon, and then I'll put something up on the site.
Anyway, the stacks zines now circulate. They should just bring them downstairs like any other check-outable item.
Sorry about that! We should have a press release out soon, and then I'll put something up on the site.
Anyway, the stacks zines now circulate. They should just bring them downstairs like any other check-outable item.
Labels: circulation, zines
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Symantec Endpoint Protection
I just installed the new version of Symantec (anti-virus, and now pest detection, too) onto the references desk computer.
You might want to put it on your own computer(s), as well.
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/software/nav
You might want to put it on your own computer(s), as well.
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/software/nav
Labels: AT, computers, CUIT, ref desk, software
Monday, December 03, 2007
catalog record error reporting
If you ever find a typo or misspelling in CLIO and think the world at large would be better for having it fixed (i.e. have the record corrected in OCLC, as well as in CLIO), please write to clio-error@columbia.edu. (That alias goes to Dave Motson and Kate Harcourt, if you're curious.)
Labels: clio
printing dollars glitch
sent Mon, 3 Dec 2007 10:52:10 -0500
Online purchases of printing dollars is currently unavailable. We are working with the vendor to resolve the problem.
For questions about this event, please contact the Helpdesk at 212-854-1919 or http://www.columbia.edu/acis/support. For a list of recent and upcoming events, see http://www.columbia.edu/acis/alerts-list.html.
Online purchases of printing dollars is currently unavailable. We are working with the vendor to resolve the problem.
For questions about this event, please contact the Helpdesk at 212-854-1919 or http://www.columbia.edu/acis/support. For a list of recent and upcoming events, see http://www.columbia.edu/acis/alerts-list.html.