Computer Services and General FAQs
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Every student in WIT has these accounts. There are, however, some exceptions to this. For example, deferred and students who are still eligible to register will only have access to some of these accounts. For further information, please contact the Computer Services Department by email at our address, [email protected]
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Your WIT Username can be used to access many of WIT's systems eg
- WIT Computer Login
- WIT Moodle
- Online Student Services
- Timetables
- Library Systems
- Eduroam WIFI (for more infromation, click here.)
- OneDrive
- Office 365
Your WIT Username is made from combining your student number which is printed on your WIT Student Card with @wit.ie - so for example, if your student number is 12345678 then your WIT Username will be [email protected]
As well as your WIT Username, you will also need a password to access the above systems. Your password initally will be the original one which was sent to you with your registration letter. This password can be changed if you wish to do so by using the WIT Self Service Password Reset Service
Always keep your original password somwhere safe eg on your mobile phone as a contact. Computer Services for security reasons, CANNOT give out passwords over the phone.
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Your WIT Email Account can be used to access many of WIT's systems eg
- Student Email
- Google Docs
- Google Drive
- YouTube
- Hangouts
- Google Teams
Access to all the above systems is via the same portal.
Your WIT Email Account is made from combining your student number which is printed on your WIT Student Card with @mail.wit.ie - so for example, if your student number is 12345678 then your WIT Email Account will be [email protected]
As well as your WIT Email Account, you will also need a password to access the above systems. Your password initally will be the original one which was sent to you with your registration letter. This password can be changed if you wish to do so. Please click here for further instructions.
Again, always keep your original password somwhere safe eg on your mobile phone as a contact. Computer Services for security reasons, CANNOT give out passwords over the phone.
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No, you cannot save documents or install/remove software onto WIT student PCs.
Many people have home computers or laptops. Generally, there are very few users of these particular systems - mainly the owner themselves and/or the immediate family. Access to home computers is usually unrestricted and the owner/users can store documents, music, photos, etc, wherever they want on the system - this is usually on the hard disk or the C drive as it is also known of the computer.
However, here in the Institute, there are many hundreds of computers constantly being accessed by many thousands of users. Imagine how full the hard disk (C drive) would be after even one day of use! For security reasons and to protect the computers, the hard disks are "locked" to prevent users from storing information to them. Users cannot install software onto the computers nor can they remove software.
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Because students cannot save information onto WIT student PCs, he/she must store their files elsewhere.
Every current student has access to WIT OneDrive which is a Microsoft product. This can be accessed in WIT, from home or anywhere around the world via www.wit.ie/onedrive and providing you have an Internet connection. Each student has 1TB of storage space. Do note though that access to your WIT OneDrive will not be available once you are no longer a student here in WIT.
Also every student is given a Google account which, as well as giving you a WIT gmail account, also gives you unlimited access for life to its storage solution - Google Drive.
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Many users choose to copy files to USB sticks as these are very portable. But they are also very delicate and easily damaged if you are not careful with them. They can also be easily lost as they are quite small. A USB stick has many names - it is also called a pen drive, a memory stick, a memory pen or flash drive to name but a few. They are quite small - usually they are about 5cms in length by 1 to 1.5cms in width. They fit into the USB slot on the back and/or front of the computer.
Please note though that USB sticks should only be used to TRANSPORT information from one computer to another. They really should not be used as the main source of backup storage especially for important data such as your thesis, photos, etc.
Also make sure that you have more than one copy of important work (thesis, projects, etc). Because USB sticks are so small, they can be lost easily. Never keep one copy only of a project/thesis – ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have at least three copies at a time and keep one of these on your own computer.
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USB sticks though extremely versatile and handy to transport should always be handled with care.
- Always eject your USB stick correctly from a computer – never just pull it out as this may damage the data on the stick. If you are not sure how to do this, please ask someone in Computer Services to show you. There is an “Unplug or Eject Hardware” routine which is normally found on the bottom bar on the screen.This should be run before removing any attached USB sticks. To be absolutely sure that you are ejecting your USB stick correctly, simply save any open files and shutdown the computer. Once the computer is powered down, remove the USB stick.
- Do not edit your work directly on the USB stick. USB sticks have a limited shelf life which is shortened with each edit you make to a document. ALWAYS copy your work to your computer and do your editing from there. This will also give you an extra copy – ie one on your computer.
- Avoid water, extremes of heat and dropping your USB stick (too often).
- Never force your USB stick into a USB port – you may not only damage your USB stick but also damage the computer.
- If you can, use a USB extension cable to connect the USB stick to your computer. A number of students and staff have broken their USB stick by hitting off them by accident when the sticks were directly connected to the computer. If you physically break/bend the USB connection on the USB stick itself, there is a strong likelihood that your data will be lost (sometimes it is recoverable but for every one that is, there is one which is not).
- Avoid keeping your USB stick too close to your phone – magnetic fields can destroy data.
Theoretically, USB sticks can be added to a PC whilst it is up and running. However, in order to avoid any confusion, the USB stick should be inserted whilst the PC is powered off. As the PC is booting up, it will automatically detect the USB stick and add it to your system.
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If a WIT computer appears to be giving problems, please report the problem to Computer Services as soon as possible - once we are aware of the problem, we will be able to deal with it as quickly as possible. Many users of the various systems think that any existing problems have already been reported. However, unfortunately, this is not always the case and as there are many hundreds of machines in use within the institute, we are not always aware of problems which occur.
- Each computer in the Walton building has a number on it. The number should look something like this - ITG-O1-PC13. This number should be located on the front of the PC. When reporting a problem, please give the exact PC number, as this will help us pinpoint the machine on which the problem was/is occurring.
- When possible also give as detail a description about the problem – for example, saying that the computer doesn’t work is too generic – that could be mean that there is a problem with the mouse, the keyboard, the screen or the PC itself.
- If there are error messages coming up, please take note of the error message as these are very beneficial when it comes to problem solving.
Please note that if you require help with using a software programme or package, the best person to help you is your lecturer in that area. There are many packages which require specialised help and training eg Autocad, Desktop publishing packages and unfortunately don’t come under the remit of Computer Services.
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Unfortunately, no. Currently, Computer Services are not in a position to provide this service for staff or students.
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Although we cannot guarantee that we will be successful, Computer Services will try and help in whatever way possible if you have a problem with your USB stick. Please note though that we may need to keep the USB stick in for 24 hours as it takes time to run our recovery programmes on the sticks.
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- If the computer isn’t turned on, press the start up button which is located at the front of the computer. In WIT, we have a mixture of Dells (different models) and HPs.The start up button may be square or round but most of them have a symbol similar to the one (see right) located on the button itself.
- The computer goes through a variety of checks. All going well, a screen should come up asking you to press CTRL-ALT-DEL simultaneously to login. When you press CTRL-ALT-DEL simultaneously, a screen similar to the one below will appear on the screen (as of April, 2012):
- The Disclaimer should be read as it contains some very important information regarding the use of WIT computers. Failure to comply and/or to behave in a responsible manner when using WIT computers/computing facilities may unfortunately result in your WIT computer account being suspended. To view rules and regulations click here.
- When you click on OK, the following screen should appear:
- Note that the Log on to: box contains the word WIT. If there is ANYTHING else in this box, you will not be able to login to the computer. If anything else should be in this box, click on the down arrow next to the box and choose the word WIT from the list.
- In the Username box, enter your student number as listed on your WIT student card.
- In the Password box, enter your 9 character password as given to you via your registration letter or from Computer Services. Note that as passwords are case sensitive, they must be entered exactly as given to you – so if some letters are in capitals, they must be entered as capitals. If other letters are in non-capitals, they must be entered as such. So for example if you password is ADEFGH98y, it must be entered as ADEFGH98y.
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Your WIT computer account is available to you for as long as you are a registered student within WIT. When a student leaves, his/her account is disabled and he/she no longer has access to it.
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Passwords are case sensitive so if you set your password using upper and lower case letters (capitals and non-capitals), you will need to make sure that you enter your password that way each and every time.
Passwords must be a minimum of 9 characters long and can be a mixture of letters, numbers or symbols.
Note that for security reasons, your account will be locked out for 30 minutes should you put in the password incorrectly eight times whether it is logging into the computer, Moodle or wireless. After 30 minutes, the account will automatically unlock itself and you can try logging in again.
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Passwords are case sensitive so if you set your password using upper and lower case letters (capitals and non-capitals), you will need to make sure that you enter your password that way each and every time.
Passwords must be a minimum of 9 characters long and can be a mixture of letters, numbers or symbols.
Note that for security reasons, your account will be locked out for 30 minutes should you put in the password incorrectly eight times whether it is logging into the computer, Moodle or wireless. After 30 minutes, the account will automatically unlock itself and you can try logging in again.
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DO – Always keep your password secure.
DON’T keep it with your student number and don’t stick in onto your student card (as this can cause problems in the vending machines throughout the Institute).
If you happen to lose your card and your password is with it, then if someone has your card, they will have access to your WIT computer account, to your WIT email account and to your WIT Moodle account. They may delete all of your information and even use your account to send abusive emails, download illegal software, music etc. As the owner of the account, you are the one who will be held responsible
DON’T use an obvious password such as the name of your dog, where you live, your telephone number, etc, etc. People trying to hack your account (if they know you well enough), will try these type of passwords to get into your account.
DO keep your original password safe and secure – you never know when you might need it again.
VERY IMPORTANT – if you think that someone knows you password, either change it straight away yourself if you can or come to Computer Services with some form of official photographic identification (preferably your student card) and we will reset your password for you.
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More than likely when this happens, the problem is your password. It may have expired or someone may have gotten into your account and changed your password. Please come to Computer Services during our opening hours and make sure to bring your WIT student card or some form of official photographic identification with you.
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More than likely when this happens, someone has disconnected the WIT computer from the network and this is the reason why you can’t login. If you feel this is the problem, please contact Computer Services during normal opening hours or when you can, please email us at [email protected]
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It is quite possible that you may not be able to find your original registration letter or remember your original password. So what can you do, if you can’t get to Computer Services or it is outside of opening hours? There are a few options currently open to you.
- Emailing us at [email protected] – Usually when you register here in the Institute you are asked to provide an email address for communications. If you email us from that address giving us your student number, we will email you back with your original password. If you email us from your WIT/Google email address, we will also email you back with your original password should you have forgotten it.
- Using the Moodle Password changing services – Moodle have provided a little online video as to how you can change your password through Moodle at the following link http://www.wit.ie/eLearning/
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No. Passwords are never, ever given out over the phone for security reasons as we have no way of verifying who you are over the phone. If you do ring requesting that your password be changed, we can only reset it back to the original as is our policy BUT we cannot tell you what that password is should you have forgotten it.
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Unfortunately, if you are registered for exams only, you will not have access to WIT computers, wireless or Moodle. If you need to access Moodle for notes, please contact the appropriate lecturer and explain the situation to them.