Logging On
When you sit down to a Windows NT PC in the WAM labs, you
should be presented with the dialog box shown asking you to
press CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on.
This is actually one of the security
features of NT. Before any program can get your
input from the keyboard, it first has to go through the
operating system (NT). NT is designed to automatically trap
the CTRL+ALT+DEL key sequence and handle it. It either brings
up the Logon screen or the Security menu (once you're logged
on). Since no program ever sees the CTRL+ALT+DEL sequence,
this prevents anyone from writing their own Logon menu and
"stealing" your passwords. You should make it a
habit to hit CTRL+ALT+DEL every time you log in, especially
if you don't see the message asking you to.
After you press CTRL+ALT+DEL you should see a dialog box like
the one below.
Enter your WAM account Username and
Password. Use the Tab key to move between fields and
hit Enter or click on the OK button to log
in. You will need a WAM account to log on to any of the NT
machines in the WAM labs. Click here to
find out how to get a WAM account.
Problems Logging On
If you see an error message like the one above when you log
in saying: "Initialization of the dynamic link library
C:\WINNT\system32\KERNAL32.dll failed." you will be unable to
access your WAM Home directory and NT will be unable to
download your profile settings. The WAM NT machines have been
configured to detect this problem and automatically reboot
your machine if it occurs. Don't be alarmed if you see a
message stating that an error has occurred and your machine is
being shut down. You will automatically be logged off and the
machine will reboot.
If you see the kernal32.dll error message and the
machine does not automatically reboot, you should contact a
First-Aider and have them reboot your machine. If no
First-Aiders are on duty, the only thing you can do is
restart the machine yourself. (Only do this as a last
resort.) aITs is currently working on a solution to this
problem.
The Interface
Once you are logged in, you are presented with the familiar
"Windows 95" interface, with the Start menu at the bottom,
and the "My Computer", "Network Neighborhood", etc. icons on
the desktop. As the "Windows 95" interface is already covered
in the Using Windows 95
pages we will not repeat it here.
Logging Off
Just like when you log into one of the Suns, when you are done with
the machines, you must log out of them. If you do not log out of
the machine, the next person who sits down will have full access
to your account! Just as you
should make it a habit to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to log on, you
should make it a habit to log off. To Log Off, select the
"Log Off" icon on the desktop.
A window will open
confirming you want to log off. Hit Yes to log off,
No if you've changed your mind. If for some reason,
the "Log Off" icon does not appear on the desktop, or isn't
working for some other reason you can also log off by
pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL and select "Logoff" from the "Windows
NT Security" dialog box that appears.
Important! Be sure to wait and make
sure that the log off process is successful! Sometimes, if
you've left programs running, they will pop up boxes asking
if you want to save your work before you log off. If you
leave and someone else sits down to a machine when this has
happened, many times they can just hit "Cancel" to abort the
log off, and they will have access to all your files!
Move on to Registering for a New WAM
Account
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