TROUBLESHOOTING SECTION
There are a number of minor problems that can be solved quickly and easily, simply by following the below guidelines. If you experience any problems with the classroom systems, please briefly consult this section before contacting us, If your particular problem isn't listed below, contact us and we will take care of the situation ASAP.
| PROBLEM: | The keyboard and/or the mouse do not appear to be functioning properly. |
| SOLUTION: | In most cases, the keyboard or mouse has been unplugged from the system. Check if the peripheral is plugged in securely. To prevent future occurrences of this problem, avoid tugging on the wires - if the wire is taut, that means it can't be tugged any farther! |
| PROBLEM: | The monitor isn't displaying an image. |
| SOLUTION: | The switchboxes must be properly set. Remember, "A" is for the Apple systems, and "B" is for the PC systems. Turn off the computer, set the switchbox to the correct setting, and then reboot. Changing a switchbox while the system is on doesn't work!
To turn off a Mac without a functioning screen: push and hold the On/Off key (upper right of the Mac keyboard) for two seconds. You may or may not hear a beep at this point. Then hit the Enter/Return key. Repeat this procedure until the Mac shuts down. Correct the switchboxes and reboot. |
| PROBLEM: | The system locks, won't log into the network, or various other oddities. |
| SOLUTION: | Try rebooting the system once to see if the problem goes away. Numerous events (isolated software glitches, temporary network outages, etc) cannot be explained! |
| PROBLEM | The monitor doesn't automatically switch on when a Mac is turned on or restarted, and the switchbox is set correctly. |
| SOLUTION: | We suspect that the switchboxes sometimes interfere with the communication between the Macs and the monitors when powering up. All you need do is manually turn the monitor off, wait a few seconds, and then switch the monitor back on. |
CLASSROOM GUIDELINES
Depending on which classroom you're in, there are either two or three switchboxes associated with each computer system. These switches control wich system (Mac or PC) is currently hooked up to the monitor and ethernet connections. Make sure the switches are properly set for the system you want to use BEFORE turning on the equipment.
- A setting = Mac
- B setting = PC
The LCD projector's remote control has an on/off switch to preserve battery life. Be sure to turn the remote on before trying to use it, and turn off when done for the day. The on/off switch is on the upper right side of the remote.
Turn the projector on and off by the remote control ONLY. DO NOT TOUCH the power button on the projector itself. On the front of the projector, there is a green light when the projector is on, and a red light when it is off. The cooling fan within the projector continues to run for about 5 minutes after the projector is turned off.
All of the systems in the classroom have a standardized software configuration. Please do not make changes to any config settings unless the instructor tells you to do so. WARNING: if you leave your email information within Eudora, you run the risk of your mail being checked and read by others!
Please be careful when moving the keyboards and mice about. When a wire pulls taut, its usually not a good idea to tug harder! If a mouse or keyboard doesn't appear to be working, check and see if the peripheral is firmly plugged in (this happens most often with the Macs).
Moving the Apple monitors while they are on will cause them to lose focus. Please do not move the monitors while powered.
Please do not adjust the temperature settings within the classrooms. If absolutely necessary, make sure you have both sets of A/C controls set to the same temperature. Otherwise, they play "dueling A/C" with one trying to cool the room, the other trying to warm it up.
DO NOT eat or drink in the classrooms! No exceptions!
AFTER CLASS
Please make sure you leave the classroom in the same condition as when you arrived. That includes several items, such as:
- Turn the projector and remote control off.
- Shut down all computer systems.
- Turn off all the room lights.
- Restore the AC controls to their original settings.
- Lock the door on the way out.
Remember, there will be another class in these rooms after you, so make sure that their experience is a good as your own!
CONTACT INFORMATION
If some problem occurs that is not detailed in the Troubleshooting Section, please contact us and let us know your situation. We can be reached by several means, including telephone, by pager, or by email.
Paging
When paging us, you'll be greeted by an automated message asking you to key in your numeric message. Just key in a telephone number at
which we can respond to you.
You can also activate the pager via email. To do so, send an email message to either jlavery-pager@pagers.ais.vt.edu or
to stevenc-pager@pagers.ais.vt.edu. Put a short
message in the Subject: line, as that is the only information that is displayed on the pager's
screen.
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