Computing & Information Services

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Setting Up Windows 2000 at Reed

These instructions show you how to setup your computer to access Reed's network.  Some of the steps are necessary before you can connect to Reed's servers and printers.  If you get stuck at any point, contact CUS (x7525) for help.

These instructions must be performed with an administrative user account in Windows 2000. 

Connecting to the Internet

Because Windows 2000 does a lot of work for you, accessing the Internet while on campus should be as easy as turning on your computer and plugging into an Ethernet port or using the wireless. The first time you try to get online at Reed, you will be prompted to register your computer. Please make sure to register using your Reed network username and password and not as a guest, or you will have limited access to the network. Registration is required on both the wired and wireless networks. Once you are online, proceed with the registry patch instructions below.

If you're having trouble getting online, you may want to check your network settings to make sure your computer is configured properly. back to top

Install Registry Patch

The following patch must be installed before you can access Reed's network resources. The patch also enables Automatic Updates on your computer (a requirement for PCs on our network).

  1. Right-click on the following link and select 'Save Link As' or 'Save Target As': Download Registry Patch. Save the file to your desktop. Click Close when the download is complete.
  2. Double-click the SAMBA-AU.REG icon on the desktop to install it.
  3. Click Yes to add the registry information, then click OK.
  4. Restart your computer.

Once the registry patch has been installed, you can delete the file you downloaded to the Desktop.

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Connecting to Reed's Servers

Once you've installed the registry patch mentioned above, you are ready to connect to Reed's servers. There are two methods for connecting: using the Windows network address or browsing. We recommend using the Windows network address since it is quick and reliable. However both methods are documented below.

Using a Windows network address to access Reed's servers

The only trick to this method is that you have to know the exact Windows network address of the server you wish to access.

  1. From the Start menu, select Run.
  2. In the Run dialog box enter the network address of the server you wish to connect (see below for a list of addresses) and then click OK. For example, enter \\home_server to connect to your Home Server.
  3. A Connect to dialog box opens. In the dialog box type your Reed network username and password and click OK.
  4. In a few moments, a new window opens displaying the contents of the server. Remember to copy files from the server to your computer before working on them. Never open files directly off the server!
You can also create desktop shortcuts to Reed's servers.
Windows network addresses for Reed servers
Network Address Server
\\home_server Your Home server
\\courses_server The Courses server
\\griffin_exchang Griffin Exchange (This is not a typo. There is no 'e' in the Windows network address)
\\win_tools Win tools server
\\dorm_print Dorm printers
\\library_print Library printers
\\class_lab_print Public lab printers, e.g B&W IRC printers
\\fac_printers Faculty printers - mostly faculty printers, plus color printers in IRC and Library


 
Adding shortcuts to frequently accessed servers

Follow these steps to make desktop shortcuts to frequently accessed servers:

  1. Connect to the server in which you want to create a shortcut. A window displaying the server's contents opens. The Address bar of the window shows the server's Windows network address.
  2. Click on the icon in the Address bar and drag it to your desktop. A small box with an arrow in it will appear in the corner of the icon you are dragging, indicating that a shortcut will be created when you release the mouse button.
  3. Simply double-click on the desktop shortcut whenever you wan to access that server.

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Browsing to Reed's servers

Browsing allows you to find computers and servers on the network when you don't know their exact network address. Below are the most common steps for browsing to Reed's servers. However, depending on your exact Windows setup and your particular connection to Reed's network, you may need to do a bit of extra navigation to find the servers.

  1. Double-click on the My Network Places icon on the desktop.
  2. Double-click on Entire Network, then double-click on Microsoft Windows Network.  The Servers group contains Reed's networked services.
  3. Double-click on the Servers group top open it.
  4. Double-click on a particular server to access it.
  5. In the Enter Network Password dialog box, enter your Reed network username and password.
  6. Click OK.

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Disconnecting from servers

To disconnect from a server, you can either log off of your computer or restart it. Disconnecting from servers keeps both your computer and personal work more secure.

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Troubleshooting server access

If you're having trouble connecting to Reed's servers, please see our troubleshooting steps below.

Did you follow all the steps?

You must follow the instructions to install the registry patch. If you skipped a step, go back and try again.

Firewall settings?

Check your firewall settings. Firewalls may have default settings that are so restrictive you cannot access our servers. Common firewall software includes programs such as ZoneAlarm.

An easy way to determine whether or not your firewall is causing the trouble is to temporarily disable it. Restart your computer once you've disabled the firewall to insure that the change takes effect. Once you've restarted your computer, see if you can access the servers. If you can, you know your firewall settings are too restrictive. You can then return to your original settings and one by one test the settings to see which one is causing the trouble. Restart between changes to your firewall settings to insure that the changes take effect. If you need help contact CUS.

Take Care! Remember to use caution in adjusting your firewall settings so as not to make your computer vulnerable to attack.

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Printer Setup

For instructions on setting up printers, please visit our printing page.

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Basic Security

There are some critical things you should do to ensure the safety of your machine, and most importantly, your data.

  • Back up your data. If your hard drive dies or your computer is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will still have your data. Visit our backup page for more information.
  • Install and use anti-virus software. Reed provides Norton Anti-Virus to all current students, faculty, and staff.
  • Keep your operating system and software up to date. If Windows Updates is not configured to automatically download and install updates, check for updates frequently.
  • Do not create unnecessary accounts on your machine. Disable accounts you don't use, including built-in accounts such as Guest.
  • Password protect all accounts that you use. Choose passwords that are tricky to figure out, but make sure you remember it. If you forget passwords to administrator accounts, you will not be able to login to your computer, use it, or access your files!
  • Do not share files or folders across the network, unless you absolutely must. If you must share files, do so cautiously and turn on the least amount of access possible.
  • If you are not sharing files or folders, make sure you explicitly turn off file and print sharing for each network connection you use.

For additional helpful hints, visit our security page.

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