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Computing Science and Mathematics

CSG's FAQ
Computer Support Group's Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions that are, as the title suggests, frequently asked by students within Computing Science and Mathematics. Either follow the links to questions in related areas, or use the index to find the answer to an individual question.


Questions relating to...
All CS&M labs CS labs Maths labs Miscellaneous
Question Index
Where are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs and which labs can I use?
When are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs open?
Where do I get the security code for Computing Science or Mathematics labs?
Where do I get paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
How do I print single-sided on Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
What should I do if I have a problem with the hardware or software in the labs?
What software does Computing Science and Mathematics hand out to its students for home PC use?
What software can I install on lab machines?
How do I connect to my STUDENTS domain file space from a CS lab login?
How do I connect to my CS domain file space from home via the University's VPN?
Sometimes, Internet Explorer fails to display any pages at all: why is that?
What do I do if I've forgotten my password or a security code?
Where should I save my files in the CS labs?
Why does it take so long to login and logout using a CS account?
How do I change my password in the Computing Science labs?
How do I read my CS domain email?
How do I create my own home page?
How do I change web page permissions for the CS domain web server?
What happens to my CS domain lab account when I leave?
What is my username and password for the Mathematics labs?
How do I connect to the CSM wi-fi network?
How do I create a VPN connection to the university network on my home computer?
What else should be in this FAQ?
Questions relating to all Computing Science and Mathematics labs
Where are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs and which labs can I use?
  -   4B89: for CS Honours Undergarduate and CS 2nd-year students only.
  -   4B91: for Taught Postgraduate students only.
  -   4X2 and 4X4: for Mathematics Undergraduates only.
  -   4X5: for CS Honours Undergraduate students and some Taught Postgraduate timetabled lab sessions in Spring semester.
When are the Computing Science and Mathematics labs open?
  -   All of the Computing Science and Mathematics labs are open and available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except during timetabled lab sessions. Details of timetabled lab sessions should be posted on the relevant lab door. Some lab access is controlled by door code entry systems.
Where do I get the security code for Computing Science or Mathematics labs?
  -   You will be given the code for the lab during a relevant lecture. However, should you miss the lecture, you can collect the code from the CSG in 4B81. Note: you will need your student ID card as proof of identity.
Where do I get paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
  -   Paper for the Computing Science and Mathematics printers should be collected from the CSG office (4B81). Students should not use their own paper in Computing Science and Mathematics printers, as this may cause printer jams or even damage.
How do I print single-sided on Computing Science and Mathematics lab printers?
  -   Having selected the appropriate printer, on the `File'->`Print' dialog box, click on the `Properties' button. On the `Paper' tab, there should be a box headed `Duplex'. Select `None' in this box (noting that the `binding rings' on the paper image disappear when you do this) and click `OK' at the bottom. Then just send the print job as normal.
What should I do if I have a problem with the hardware or software in the labs?
  -   If it is a scheduled lab session, ask the lecturer or lab tutor. Otherwise, you should contact the Computer Support Group (CSG) in person in 4B81, by telephone on ext 7443, or by email to:
What software does Computing Science and Mathematics hand out to its students for home PC use?
  -   A shared volume, which contains various course-related applications, can be copied or a copy can be borrowed from Computing Science and Mathematics.
What software can I install on lab machines?
  -   None! The correct procedure for getting further software installed in the labs is to approach the relevant course lecturer and ask that the software is installed for you.
What do I do if I've forgotten my password or security code?
  -   If you forget the password for your account, or a security code for a lab you should bring your student ID card to the CSG office (4B81). The CSG will not send out passwords in response to requests from unverifiable email accounts, such as `hotmail', `msn', `yahoo', etc..
Questions specific to Computing Science labs
Where should I save my files in the CS labs?
  -   You should save your work under your home folder (H: drive). Do not save files to the PC desktop, My Documents or the Personal folder, as these can easily become corrupted or lost and are not (necessarily) backed up. Files under your H: drive are backed up daily. Your desktop should only contain shortcuts.
Why does it take so long to login and logout using a CS account?
  -   CS accounts have a roaming profile. Information Services accounts do not. When you login, your roaming profile is downloaded from the profile server, and when you logout the local copy is compared with the profile server's copy and changes are uploaded to the profile server. As your roaming profile grows in size, the login/logout time will increase. It is therefore in your interests to keep your roaming profile as small as possible, by leaving nothing much (except perhaps a few shortcuts) on your desktop and saving files on H:, as suggested above. The huge majority of slow login/logout problems are the result of overuse of roaming-profile space.
How do I connect to my STUDENTS domain file space from a CS lab login?
1. Click on Start, right-click on My Computer and select "Map Network Drive...".
2. In the "Drive:" box, select a drive letter (W for Wide is a convention).
3. In the "Folder:" box, enter "\\Wide\users\z\xyz012", replacing "z" with the first letter of your surname and "xyz012" with your STUDENTS domain username.
4. If you want to be prompted to reconnect this volume at every CS-domain login, check the "Reconnect at login" box.
5. Click on "different user name".
6. In the "User name:" box, enter "students\xyz012", replacing "xyz012" with your STUDENTS domain username.
7. In the "Password:" box, enter the password for your STUDENTS domain account.
8. Click "OK" and "Finish" buttons, and the connection should be established at this point, and your STUDENTS domain filespace will be available below the drive whose letter you chose in stage 2 above.

Note: In a small number of cases, involving (we're told) students on joint-honours Faculty of Arts degrees, the `\\Wide\users\z\xyz012' in step 3 above should be replaced with `\\Achray\users\xyz012' (note that there is no surname-first-letter level here).

How do I connect to my CS domain file space from home via the University's VPN?
1. Connect to the Internet using your usual ISP (Internet Service Provider).
2. Connect to the University's VPN (which uses your STUDENTS account details). If you don't know how to do this, contact the Information Centre in the Library for details.

On Windows XP:
3. Click on Start, right-click on My Computer and select "Map Network Drive...".
4. In the "Drive:" box, select an available drive letter.
5. In the "Folder:" box, enter "\\fs0\home". (Note: the character after "fs" is a zero)
6. Click on "different user name".
7. In the "User name:" box, enter "cs\xyz", replacing "xyz" with your CS domain username.
8. In the "Password:" box, enter the password for your CS domain account.
9. Click "OK" and "Finish" buttons, and the connection should be established at this point, and your CS domain filespace will be available below the drive whose letter you chose in stage 4 above.

On Mac OS X:
3. In the Finder, select "Connect to Server..." from the "Go" menu.
4. In the "Server Address:" box, enter "smb://fs0.cs.stir.ac.uk/home". (Note: the character after "fs" is a zero)
5. Click "Connect".
6. Enter your CS username and corresponding CS password in the "Name:" and "Password:" boxes.
7. Click "Connect" and a new window should open to your CS filespace.
Sometimes, Internet Explorer fails to display any pages at all: why is that?
  -   This is almost always because the Information Services' WWW proxy-server isn't answering requests. To check this and work around it temporarily, select Tools->Internet Options->Connections->LAN Settings and clear all of the checkboxes. Click on `OK' twice, and try reloading the page. If this isn't successful, Something Else Is Wrong, and you should report the problem to CSG using one of the recommended methods.
How do I change my password in the Computing Science labs?
  -   Once you have logged in, type Control-Alt-Del and then click the Change Password... button. Enter your old password (the one you used to login with) and your new password (twice) in the relevant boxes, then click OK.
How do I read my CS domain email?
Students registered for a 5th semester (or later) CS module will be given a CS domain account, which is separate from their STUDENTS domain account. Consequently, there will be a separate mailbox associated with this account which can be read using a browser via the URL www.cs.stir.ac.uk/webmail/. Alternatively, if you wish to use another mail client, usually on your own equipment, you should contact the CSG for setup details.
How do I create my own home page?
  -   Instructions for CS domain accounts.
  -   Instructions for STUDENTS domain accounts. (To follow)
How do I change web page permissions for the CS domain web server?
  -   Follow these instructions.
What happens to my CS domain lab account when I leave?
  -   No less than a month after you graduate, your CS domain lab account will be written to at least two `epoch' (kept approximately forever) backup tapes. Your account and the files you have created will be deleted.
If you are staying with Computing Science and Mathematics after graduation or even considering doing so, for whatever reason, you should report this to someone in the CSG office when you know, in order to avoid any temporary loss of availability of your account.
Questions specific to Mathematics labs
What is my username and password for the Mathematics labs?
  -   Your username and password are the same as those that you use for Central Services computers, with usernames of the form xyz013.
Miscellaneous Questions
How do I connect to the CSM wi-fi network?
  -   Computing Science and Mathematics provide a wireless newtork which covers our offices and corridors. This wi-fi network is called CSM. To connect to this wireless network, you will need to visit the CSG office (4B81), show your student id card and then provide CSG with your device's wi-fi hardware address. If you are unsure how to find your device's wi-fi address, bring the device with you when you visit.
How do I create a VPN connection to the university network on my home computer?
First, ask CSG about the VPN gateway name and authentication. You will need these details to set up the connection. 
On Windows XP:
  - open your Network Connections control panel and click on
    `Create a new connection'.  Click Next on the Welcome dialog.
  - Select `Connect to the network at my workplace' and click Next.
  - Select `Virtual Private Network connection' and click Next.
  - Enter a name for the connection in the `Company Name' box and click Next.
  - Enter the VPN gateway hostname in the `Host name...' box and click Next.
  - Choose whether the connection is just for you, or for all users of the
    computer, and click Next.
  - If you wish, tick the `Add a shortcut...' box, and click Finish.
  - When you wish to open the connection, choose
    Start->Connect To->[your connection name], enter the username and
    password required, and click Connect.
  - When you wish to close the connection, right-click on the system-tray
    icon for the connection and select Disconnect.

On MacOSX:
  - Launch Internet Connect (from the Applications folder).
  - Choose PPTP as the connection type.
  - Choose Edit Configurations from the Configurations popup.
  - Give the new connection a name.
  - Enter the VPN gateway hostname in the `Server' box.
  - Enter the username required in the `Account name' box.
  - Alongside `User Authentication', select `Password' and enter
    the password required in the box next to this selection.
  - Click OK.
  - When you wish to connect, click on Connect.
  - When you wish to disconnect, either relaunch Internet Connect and
    click Disconnect, or click on the VPN status entry on the main menu
    bar and select Disconnect.
What else should be in this FAQ?
  -   You tell us, by emailing:

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