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Using WAM Windows 2000 PC Workstations

Using Windows 2000 PC Workstations

Table of contents

What is the Windows PC Workstation?

This document introduces you to using the University's Windows workstations in the Office of Information Technology (OIT) Workstations at Maryland (WAM) computer labs. Each Windows 2000 Dell PC has a local hard disk, at least thirty-two megabytes of RAM memory, and at least a 256-color Super VGA display. You can use these computers as stand-alone workstations or as terminals to access other computers via the University network. This document describes how to use these PCs both as workstations and as terminals.

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What Can I Do With a PC Workstation?

The Windows 2000 workstations connect via a Windows 2000 network. These systems allow you to access software stored on the server. Some of the software applications you can access in the Windows environment are: Microsoft Word (word processing tool), Microsoft Excel (spreadsheet tool), Mathematica, text editors, Visual Studio, Internet Explorer, and communications software that allow you to access the host computers connected to the University network, and several other programs described later in this document. For updated, specific information on available software, go to http://www.oit.umd.edu/wheretogo.

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Where Can I Find One?

WAM labs supporting Windows 2000 PCs:

  • Computer & Space Sciences building - room 3330 and 4352 Please note: Access to these labs is not available during instructional periods. Daily scheduled instruction and lab hours are posted outside the lab.
  • McKeldin Library - room 1137
  • Parking Garage II (PG2) - room 0504
  • Worcester Hall - room 0111

Note: Access to WAM labs at the University is limited. You must have a valid University ID to use the labs.

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How Do I Use the Mouse?

A mouse is attached to your Windows workstation. Scooting the mouse across the mouse pad will move the mouse pointer in a matching direction on the screen. The mouse has two buttons. When you use an application, the left mouse button accepts or launches commands. By clicking the left mouse button on a particular menu selection, you can access that selection. In some applications, the right button displays a context sensitive menu.

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What is Windows 2000?

Windows 2000 is similar to Windows XP, but it works in a network environment. Your WAM account directories are available from the Windows 2000 desktop via the My Computer icon in the upper left-hand corner. The H: drive is your Home directory, the A: drive is the 3.5 inch floppy disk drive, the C: drive is the local hard disk drive, the D: drive is the CD-ROM, and the R: drive is your personal User parent directory. You can save files only to the drives associated with your WAM account (your WAM account has a 100 megabyte quota) or in the temp folder on the local hard drive. In the Windows 2000 WAM labs, you must have a working WAM account.

For more information about your WAM account and it's directories, visit: the Getting Started document.

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How Do I Log In to Windows 2000?

To login to a Windows 2000 workstation:

  1. Press and hold the Control, Alt and the Delete keys.
  2. A warning appears, read it and click Ok.
  3. Give the workstation a few moments to bring up the login prompt.
  4. In the field following the words User name, type in your WAM login name (e.g. jssmith).
  5. In the field following the word Password, type in your WAM account password (the password will appear as asterisks for each character).
  6. At the field Log on to, select WAM.
  7. Click on OK.
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How Do I Log Off of Windows 2000?

To log off of a Windows 2000 workstation:

  1. Press and hold the Control, Alt and the Delete keys.
  2. Click Log Off.

- or -

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Select Log Off your-username from the menu.
  3. You are asked Are you sure you want to log off?.
  4. Click Yes.

Note: Don't forget to LOGOFF when you are finished using a WAM Windows 2000 workstation!

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WAM Windows 2000 Workstation Menus

You may access programs in Windows 2000 through two different avenues: desktop shortcuts and the Start menu.

Desktop Shortcuts

Desktop shortcuts are items placed on the Windows 2000 desktop that point to a particular program or place on a disk drive. The icons may vary from computer to computer but you will find the following important icons:

My Computer contains paths to all disk drives on the computer
Recycle Bin where all deleted material goes
Internet Explorer a web browser
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Start Menu

The Start menu allows you to launch programs. To open the Start menu, click once on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner of the taskbar. To access the programs available to you on the Windows 2000 workstation, move the mouse up to the word Programs (without clicking a button). A menu will appear to the right of the current Start menu that lists all the accessible programs. While some computers may vary, WAM Windows 2000 workstations contain the following programs:

F-Secure SSH Client Internet Explorer 6
Mathematica 5 MatLab 7
Microsoft Office Mozilla Firefox
  SAS 8.0
SPSS 12 Visual Studio 6.0
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Folders and Drives

The My Computer icon is found in the upper-left corner of the desktop. When you double-click on My Computer, a window opens displaying the various folders and drives described in the What is Windows 2000? section of this document. To access files and folders in your WAM account Home directory, for example, you double-click on the H: drive icon. To gain access to the various applications double-click on the Y: drive icon. (Most of these applications are more easily accessed via the Start menu). When you double-click on any drive or folder, the items (files, more folders, or programs) inside of it will either appear in the current window or in a new window. You can save files to any drive associated with your WAM account (preferably the H: drive) or in the Temp folder on the local hard drive (C: drive).

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Connecting to a Terminal

To connect to your WAM account from a WAM lab Windows 2000 workstation, use the following steps:

  1. Click once on the Start button.
  2. Slide the mouse (without clicking a mouse button) up to Programs.
  3. Slide the mouse (without clicking a mouse button) to the right until it highlights Network Tools.
  4. Click on F-Secure SSH Client.
  5. Click on File from the menu, then click on Connect.
  6. Next to Host Name, type wam.umd.edu
  7. Next to User name, type in your WAM login name (e.g. jssmith).
  8. Click Connect.
  9. A Host Identification message appears, click No.
  10. At the Password prompt, type your password. (Your password will not appear on the monitor as you type it in.) Click OK.

Note: When you finish your work, type logout at the rac:~: prompt!

Note: If you are unfamiliar with using the OIT host computers, refer to the Getting Started document to guide you through your early experiences using these facilities.

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Printing

All computers connect to a PostScript printer through a high-speed network. There is a small fee to print in the WAM labs. To learn how to print in the WAM labs, please see the document Printing from a WAM Computer.

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Please contact the OIT Help Desk if you have any questions or concerns.

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