Category Archives: General Assistance

Academic Software, General Assistance, Information Security, Microsoft Office 2016

Software for Personal Devices

The following article applies to personal devices. For College computers, see current Software Configurations and Software Center.

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

  • a Bryn Mawr College account
  • a laptop or desktop w/ internet access
Access to some of the following software is dependent on your current enrollment/employment status.

Table of Contents:

 

Remote Software

All software available in campus computer labs can be accessed remotely on personal computers. Instructions are linked below.

 

Downloadable Software

Microsoft Office
(all BMC Community Members)

Microsoft Windows
(Faculty & Staff only)

Sophos Home Antivirus
(instructions below)
Malwarebytes

ChemDraw
Kaleidagraph (Win, macOS)
(For license info: contact the Help Desk)

Mathematica
Read&Write
Sophos Home (Windows, macOS) (Click me!)
For more information, see the Sophos Home landing page.
  1. Navigate to the Sophos Home download page
  2. Enter your College email address
  3. Click Submit
  4. In the email you receive, click Create Account
  5. Enter the following information:
    First & Last Name
    Personal Email Address*
    Password
    Coupon Code (pre-filled)

    *Ensure the accuracy of your personal email
    as Coupon Codes are one-time use.
  6. Click Create Account
  7. In the email you receive, click Confirm email
  8. Login with the credentials created at Step 5
  9. Follow the prompts to download Sophos Home

 

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

Students: Need access for a course? (Click me!)

Please contact the course instructor or visit your Moodle course for access instructions.

Want access for use outside of a course? (Click me!)

Please contact the Help Desk to inquire about the specific piece of software you’d like access to.

Other discounted software is available via JourneyEd.com

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

General Assistance

Students: What tech to bring to College

The intended audience for this article is new and returning students. Faculty and staff should consult the LITS Help Desk for advice.

Table of Contents:

 

Personal Laptops

Many students find a personal laptop to be very useful in college; click here to view our Laptop Purchasing Guide. For questions regarding specific requirements, please contact the department of your major.

 

Mobile Devices

While not required, mobile devices can be helpful for notetaking, digital textbooks, or helping you login when using Two-Factor Authentication. Compatibility with our wireless network is usually the most important factor.

  • Smartphones: most up-to-date Apple & Android devices will work
  • Tablets: most Apple and Android tablets will work, provided they have the most recent updates installed
  • E-readers: newer E-readers (i.e. Kindle Oasis, Nook GlowLight, etc.) should work

 

Other Essentials & Accessories

  • Laptop storage: a comfortable & secure case or backpack
  • Protect your data with backups: an external drive or online cloud service
  • Additional power accessories: e.g. a battery bank
  • Documentation: any system info, license keys, proof of warranty/service plan, etc.
  • Headset: for a day of remote classes, a comfortable headset can be a lifesaver
  • Webcam: a backup for your laptop’s webcam

 

What NOT to bring

Any device running an unsupported operating system.

This includes Windows 7 and older versions as well as macOS 10.12 Sierra and older versions. These no longer receive security updates and are not permitted to connect to the College’s network.

 

Any device that may cause connectivity issues or interfere with other students’ devices.

The following devices are not permitted to be set up on-campus:

  • Wireless printers
  • Personal Wi-Fi hotspots (including cellphone hotspots)
  • Wireless access points or routers
  • Wireless-based backup devices
  • Home automation/smart home devices that broadcast a signal
  • Any other device that broadcasts its own network name/SSID

 

Any device that requires a wired network connection or does not support enterprise security protocols.

If a device doesn’t support WPA2-Enterprise or requires a wired network connection, it won’t be able to connect to the College’s network. Common examples are:

  • Game consoles
  • Smart home speakers/assistants (e.g. Google Home or Amazon Echo)
  • Media streaming devices (e.g. Roku or Chromecast devices, many smart TVs)

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

 

General Assistance, Information Security

Two-Factor: Getting Started with Duo

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

  • a Bryn Mawr College account
  • a laptop or desktop computer w/ internet access

Table of Contents:

 

What is Duo?

Duo is used alongside your College email and password to provide Two-Factor Authentication security to all College accounts. This ensures your account is secure, even in the event of a password compromise.

Once enrolled, you can manage your Duo account devices and settings at duo.brynmawr.edu.

 

Enroll in Duo

  1. Navigate to any Duo-protected resource
    (i.e. Webmail or Moodle)
  2. Enter your College email and password
  3. Follow the instructions on the Duo welcome screen to enroll

Several authentication methods are available — pick what’s best for you!

 

Adding a Device

LITS strongly recommends having multiple authentication methods enabled to ensure you always have access to your account(s).

  1. Navigate to the Duo Device Management Portal
  2. Login with your College email and password
  3. Authenticate with Duo
  4. Select Add another device
  5. Follow the instructions provided

For more information see Duo’s Adding a New Device guide.

 

Activating or Reactivating Duo Mobile

The following instructions apply to you if:

  • You got a new smartphone, and retained the same phone number
  • You performed a factory reset on your Duo-enrolled device
  • You added your smartphone to Duo, but didn’t setup Duo Mobile
  1. Navigate to the Duo Device Management Portal
  2. Login with your College email and password
  3. Authenticate with Duo
  4. Identify the device on which you’d like to activate/reactive Duo Mobile — select Device Options
  5. Click Reactivate Duo Mobile
  6. Follow the instructions provided

For more information see Duo Mobile on iOS & Duo Mobile on Android.

 

Duo & Email Syncing

The following applies to you if:

  1. You sync your College email to your mobile device
    AND
  2. You did so prior to enrolling in Duo

If the above applies to you, please remove your College email account from your mobile device (iOS, Android) and then re-add it.

 

Generating Duo Passcodes

These 6-digit codes can be generated without a wireless or cellular connection, ensuring you’ll always be able to authenticate with Duo.

  1. Open the Duo Mobile app
  2. Tap the ∨ (down carrot) next to DUO-PROTECTED Bryn Mawr College

Note: To generate a new passcode, tap the refresh icon next to the old passcode.

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

Academic Software, Excel, General Assistance, Microsoft Office 2016, Office 365 Online, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word

Microsoft Office: Personal Devices

The following article applies to personal devices. For Public/Lab computers, see Microsoft Office: Public/Lab Computers.

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

  • a Bryn Mawr College account
  • a personal laptop or desktop computer with internet access

Table of Contents:

 

Office365: Overview

You can install Microsoft Office on up to 5 devices simultaneously including laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets.

*Microsoft Teams & OneDrive must be installed separately.

**For a full list of all applications offered, see All Apps.

 

Installing Microsoft Office

  1. Open Google Chrome¹ and navigate to portal.office.com
  2. If prompted, login using your College username and password
  3. Click Install Office in the top-right, select Office 365 apps
  4. To begin the installation, run the .exe or .dmg file that was downloaded
Tip: How to find a downloaded file

 

Your default download location is probably the Downloads folder, which you can find in the File Explorer app (Windows) or the Finder app (macOS).

 

  1. After the installation finishes, open any Microsoft Office application
  2. Sign-in with your College username and password to active the software suite

¹Any internet browser works, but Google Chrome will provide the experience most consistent with these instructions.

 

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

 

General Assistance, Microsoft Office 2016, OneNote, PowerPoint, Word

Microsoft Office: Public/Lab Computers

The following article applies to Public/Lab computers. For personal devices, see Microsoft Office: Personal Devices.

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

  • a Bryn Mawr College account

 

Public/Lab Computers

Microsoft Office applications are pre-installed on these devices.

  1. Open the program you’d like to use
  2. Click Sign In
  3. Enter your College email and password
Sign In screen not visible? (click me!)
  1. You may instead see a yellow ribbon near the top of the application window.
  2. Click Activate
  3. Sign In with your College email and password

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

General Assistance

Remote Learning, Teaching, and Work: Suggested Computer Accessories

This article overviews some basic computer accessories suggestions for students, faculty, and staff in remote work and learning environments.

All prices are from the time of writing and are thus subject to change.

Table of Contents:

 

Audio-Visual Equipment

Upgrade your audio or video! Gone are the days of microphone static, faulty earbuds, or having to use your phone as a makeshift webcam.

Webcams:

Basic resolution (720p):

Full HD resolution (1080p):

Microphones:

Headsets with microphones:

Speakers:

 

Keyboards, Mice, and Styluses

No more finagling with your old laptop trackpad or faulty keys. Type and click farther away from your computer without the hassle of cords!

Wireless Mouse/Keyboard Combos:

Wireless Mice:

*Functional buttons are primarily forward/back thumb buttons.

Wireless Keyboards:

Styluses:

 

Tablets

Wacom Tablets:

What is this and how can it be used?

 

Input devices where a stylus acts as your mouse cursor, allowing you to effortlessly draw or annotate in any supported software¹. Two form factors are available:

  • Touchpad/without display: the movement of your stylus is only visible on your computer screen; requires a fair amount of practice and hand-eye coordination
  • Touchscreen/with display: acts as a secondary, touch-sensitive display where you can extend or mirror your primary display

¹Adobe Acrobat, PowerPoint, Zoom whiteboard, etc.

iPads:

How can this be used for remote learning/teaching/work?

 

¹Recording a screen-cast and audio in a classroom works if you can stay near the iPad while recording — connect the iPad to the projector to view your display on the room screen.

Visit Apple’s website to compare models.

¹32GB is just enough if you store documents in the cloud. Otherwise, consider upgrading to the 128GB model.

 

 

Adapters

USB-C to…

Audio-Visual:

 

Additional Accessories

Monitor:

22″ Displays:

24″ Displays:

Scanner app: 

Home printer ($50-$150):

Document Camera:

What is this and how can it be used?

 

Record or display (on-screen) what you write on paper. Can be used to capture art, music, lab demos, and more — anything you are doing at a desk or table.

  • Panopto: can be a primary OR secondary camera in addition to the webcam/room camera
  • Zoom: can be a primary OR secondary camera by selecting Screen Share > Advanced or by using IPEVO Visualizer to output to your computer and then sharing your computer screen

IPEVO is a non-catalog vendor in E-Market. For more info, see https://www.ipevo.com.

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

 

General Assistance

Apporto: Remotely Connect to a Virtual Lab Computer

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

  • a device with internet access

Table of Contents:

 

What is Apporto?

Try LabStats first! Use Apporto if your device doesn’t support RDP* or if no computers are available via LabStats.

*i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.

 

Apporto allows you to stream a virtual computer through your web browser to any internet-enabled device. The virtual computers have been configured as closely as possible to our physical lab machines, and thus you will have access to most of the software typically available.

Accessible computers are broken up by Operating System:

  • Windows
  • MacOS

 

Connecting to a Virtual Lab Computer

  1. Navigate to our Apporto remote access page
  2. Click Log in

  3. If prompted, sign in with your College email and password

    Haverford student? (click me!)
    • Username: quaker\username
    • Password: College password
  4. Click Launch under the Operating System you want to use

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I disconnect?

Simply close the browser tab or window that has Apporto open.

How do I transfer files to/from Apporto?

Download: Clickto open a list of files on Apporto’s desktop*.  Select your file and click Download.

Upload: Clickto open a list of files on Apporto’s desktop*. Click Upload and select your file.

Cloud Mounter: Connect your cloud storage account (i.e. OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive) to seamlessly transfer files to and from the Virtual Lab computer.

*To navigate to other folders, click “Cloud PC” and then select the folder you want to view.

A file I’m trying to download from Apporto is missing!

In Windows, Apporto only allows you to download from the Desktop and Documents folders. Please check “This PC” > “Downloads” for any files and move them elsewhere.

Where’s my H:?

Unfortunately you cannot access your H: or S: through Apporto. Instead, please refer to alternate file transfer methods in “How do I transfer files to/from Apporto?” above.

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

General Assistance

LabStats: Remotely Connect to a Lab Computer

Before you start, you will need access to the following:

Haverford students: Install and connect to Haverford’s VPN*
*only required when not connected to Haverford’s or Bryn Mawr’s network

Table of Contents:

 

What is LabStats?

Use Apporto if your device doesn’t support RDP* or if no computers are available via LabStats.

*i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.

 

LabStats allows you to remotely connect to a subset of our Lab computers from a personal device. Since you’re connecting to an physical lab machine, you will have access to all the software typically available on them.

Accessible computers are broken up into the categories below:

  • Standard Lab Configuration

 

Connecting to a Lab Computer

Click the drop-down below for the instructions that apply to you.

Windows (Click me!)
  1. Navigate to our LabStats remote access page
  2. Choose a lab computer you want to connect to
    any computer currently in-use will not be listed
  3. Click Connect
  4. Click Download
  5. Save and open the RDP file
  6. Click Connect
  7. Enter your College email and password and click OK
    Haverford student? (click me!)
    • Username: quaker\username
    • Password: College password
  8. Approve the Duo two-step notification on your phone

      Don’t see the notification? Open the Duo Mobile app!
  9. Click Yes
  10. Wait a few minutes for installed applications to populate the Windows Start Menu
MacOS (Click me!)
Reminder: You must have Microsoft Remote Desktop installed!
  1. Navigate to our LabStats remote access page
  2. Choose a lab computer you want to connect to
    any computer currently in-use will not be listed
  3. Click Connect
  4. Click Download
  5. Allow the download
  6. Open the RDP file
    in the Downloads folder in Finder or your browser

    First time using Microsoft Remote Desktop? (click me!)
    1. When prompted, allow access to your microphone and camera
    2. Quit Microsoft Remote Desktop
    3. Find and click on the RDP File you downloaded to relaunch
  7. Enter your College email and password and click OK

    Haverford student? (click me!)
    • Username: quaker\username
    • Password: College password
  8. Approve the Duo two-step notification on your phone

      Don’t see the notification? Open the Duo Mobile app!
  9. When prompted, accept the certificate
  10. Wait a few minutes for installed applications to populate the Windows Start Menu

 

 

Important note: To avoid accidental Duo account lock out, please close of out LabStats completely at the end of your session.
*If you get locked out, the Help Desk will only be able to unlock your Duo account during Monday-Friday 9am-5pm business hours.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

No computers are listed. What should I do?

This means all Lab computers (with remote access functionality) are currently in-use. Check back in 15-30 minutes since, after 20 minutes of inactivity, users are automatically logged out and a machine might become available.

How do I disconnect?

How do I save files while connected?

Save anything you need to OneDrive, your H:, or a USB drive. Files saved locally (Desktop, Documents, Downloads, etc.) will be cleared when you logout.

Should I re-use the RDP files?

No. Anytime you close out a remote session and need to start a new one, please start the process over.

If you re-use a previously downloaded RDP file you risk attempting to connect while someone else is using the computer. In this scenario, the person currently using the computer will be notified that somebody else is trying to connect.

I can’t find x or y software. What should I do?

After connecting, it can take up to 10 minutes for applications to populate in the Windows Start Menu or Windows Search results.

Additionally, please be sure that the computer you’re connecting to has the software you need installed. You can find a list on our Software Configurations for College Computers tech doc.

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

General Assistance, Information Security

Backing Up: Why, Where, and How

Table of Contents:

 

Why do I need to back up?

Backups are critical to the integrity of your data, and ensure you’ll never lose valuable files in the event of a device failure.

  • 3-2-1: ensures your backup is redundant

 

Where can I store my backup?

Size Accessibility
Home Drive (H:)¹ 1TB
OneDrive¹ 1TB
Alternative
Cloud Storage²		 Various Various
USB/External
Storage		 8GB-2TB via USB port
Code42
(Faculty/Staff only)		 Unlimited via Software Center
(College computers only)

¹Access to College-provided resources is revoked after departure from the College.
²Faculty/Staff: College-related files should ONLY be stored on College-provided resources.

 

How do I back up using…

It’s best to back up at least once per quarter. Learn how to schedule automated backups using Code42 (faculty/staff only).
…Home Drive (H:)
via mapping to Windows
  1. Map your BMC Network Drive
  2. Open File Explorer
  3. On the left-hand pane, click username (\\home.brynmawr.edu\home) (H:)
  4. Right-click > New > Folder
    title your folder appropriately (i.e. Backup MM-DD-YYYY)
  5. On the left-hand pane, click This PC
  6. Navigate to Windows (C:) > Users > username
  7. Right-click and copy the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
  8. On the left-hand pane, click username (\\home.brynmawr.edu\home) (H:)
  9. Open the folder you created in Step 4
  10. Right-click and paste the file(s)/folder(s) you copied
via mapping to macOS
  1. Map your BMC Network Drive
  2. Open Finder
  3. On the left-hand pane, click username (//home.brynmawr.edu/home/username)
  4. Ctrl-click > New > Folder
    title your folder appropriately (i.e. Backup MM-DD-YYYY)
  5. Navigate to the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
  6. Right-click the file(s)/folder(s) and select copy
  7. On the left-hand pane, click username (//home.brynmawr.edu/home/username)
  8. Open the folder you created in Step 4
  9. Right-click and paste the file(s)/folder(s) you copied
via ingress.brynmawr.edu
  1. Navigate to ingress.brynmawr.edu
  2. Login with your College email and password
  3. Click Home Directory
  4. If prompted, authenticate with your College email and password
  5. Click the folder with your College username
  6. Click Upload Files…
  7. Navigate to, and select the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
…OneDrive
via OneDrive Online
  1. Navigate to webmail.brynmawr.edu
  2. If prompted, login with your College email and password
  3. Clickin the top-left
  4. Select OneDrive
  5. Click New > Folder
    title your folder appropriately (i.e. Backup MM-DD-YYYY)
  6. Open your newly created folder
  7. Click Upload, select either Files or Folders
  8. Navigate to, and select the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
via OneDrive for Business
…Code42
  1. Install via Software Center
  2. Setup your backup (skip to Step 2)
…USB/External Drive
via Windows
  1. Connect your USB/External drive
  2. Open File Explorer
  3. On the left-hand pane, click the USB/External drive
  4. Right-click > New > Folder
    title your folder appropriately (i.e. Backup MM-DD-YYYY)
  5. On the left-hand pane, click This PC
  6. Navigate to Windows (C:) > Users > username
  7. Right-click and copy the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
  8. On the left-hand pane, click the USB/External drive
  9. Open the folder you created in Step 4
  10. Right-click and paste the file(s)/folder(s) you copied
via macOS
  1. Connect your USB/External drive
  2. Open Finder
  3. On the left-hand pane, click the USB/External drive
  4. Ctrl-click > New > Folder
    title your folder appropriately (i.e. Backup MM-DD-YYYY)
  5. Navigate to the file(s)/folder(s) you’d like to back up
  6. Right-click the file(s)/folder(s) and select copy
  7. On the left-hand pane, click the USB/External drive
  8. Open the folder you created in Step 4
  9. Right-click and paste the file(s)/folder(s) you copied

 

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440
Email: help@brynmawr.edu
Location: Canaday Library 1st Floor

Email, File Storage, General Assistance, Network Resources, Office 365 Online, OneDrive

Graduating Students – Account Access

When a student graduates, access to a variety of College accounts and online services changes. Please be mindful of the following timelines when moving data and setting up post-graduation accounts.

Office 365: Email and OneDrive
  • Ninety (90) days after you graduate, you will lose access to your college Office 365, email and OneDrive account. If you’d like to save anything from Office 365, email, and OneDrive, you must do so before the end of this 90-day period. LITS cannot restore Office365 access or recover email or files for individuals who have lost access.
  • Bryn Mawr does provide an email forwarding service, which lets you forward e-mail received at your brynmawr.edu to another e-mail address. Please note:
    • You will not be able to set up alumnae/i e-mail forwarding more than 30 days before you graduate.
    • Once you set up this service, emails will begin forwarding within approximately 24 hours (even while you still have access to your Bryn Mawr email account).
  • Alums who are hired to work at the College (including the summer after graduation) will have alumnae forwarding disabled, as access to their full Bryn Mawr College email account will be re-enabled. Please remember to re-set up alumnae/i forwarding after your job at Bryn Mawr ends to ensure mail forwards from your Bryn Mawr College email address to the personal account of your choice.
  • Our agreement with Microsoft does not allow us to offer Microsoft Office to alums free of charge.
H: Drive
  • You will also lose access to your H: drive 90 days after graduation. Please move any files you wish to save. If you had access to other file shares for a campus job, access will end 90 days after graduation or earlier if your supervisor cancels your access.
Moodle
  • 90 days after graduation, you will no longer have access to Moodle or any of the files you have stored there. Please download and save any files you feel you may need in the future, as well as any personal work you may want to publish/showcase.
Domain of One’s Own
  • 90 days after graduation you will no longer be able to log in to manage your Domain of One’s Own website. See our Tech Doc for more information on migrating your domain.
Library Borrowing
  • Graduating students’ library accounts expire on the last day of finals week. In the Spring, graduating seniors who have returned all materials and paid all fines automatically get their accounts extended through the last day of Senior Week.
  • Alumnae/i borrowing is available
BIONIC

See the Server Accounts and Access policy for more information.