Student Computer Labs
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions:
Answers:
1. Are the computer labs ever closed other than holidays?
ITS has maintenance scheduled for Thursday evenings 8:30 p.m. until Friday 8:00 a.m. If this maintenance affects the computer labs, network or printing the labs will be shut down. Sign will be posted to advise students of the maintenance. If maintenance is not required the labs will not be shut down.
2. Are the labs open during the weekends?
Yes, labs are open during the weekend. We may not have all the labs open. It depends how busy they are as to how many we have open.
3. Can I come in anytime?
Yes! You can drop by anytime. Lab 8-362 is a 24/7 operation.
4. Can I download software?
No, you are not allowed to download any software. Students are not allowed to install any kind of software on the lab machines. If you require software for course purposes please get your instructor to contact the Computer Lab Coordinator.
5. Can I hook up my laptop to the drop?
No, you can not hook up your personal laptop to any drop in the labs.
6. Can I use MSN?
No, you are not allowed to use MSN Messenger from general purpose labs.
7. How do I activate or change my password for the computer labs?
8. How do I check UNBC email?
Type in http://owa.unbc.ca on your web browser (make sure you DO NOT type www.). This will bring you to the UNBC webmail client. Make sure you have the domain ahead of your username (uniusername)
9. How to forward UNBC email to another account?
If you wish to forward your UNBC email to another address, send an email to support@unbc.ca with the address you wish and your current UNBC email address and we will forward it to your outside account.
Please note, no email will be kept on the UNBC server, so if you accidentally delete messages, they are not recoverable.
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10. How do I contact the Computer Helpdesk?
Use any of the campus phones and dial 5321,250-960-5321 off campus or 1-866-960-5321. You can also reach the Helpdesk by sending an e-mail to support@unbc.ca
11. How do I get a USB flash memory?
They are also known as “jump drives”. You can buy them from the UNBC store or if you prefer you can get them from any reputable store. Please ensure when purchasing a USB Flash they say on the package "No drivers required for Windows XP systems". If your USB requires drivers installed it will not work in the student labs.
12. Is my PIN number and password the same?
No, they are 2 different credentials. Your password is a combination of letters and numbers you create to login to the UNBC network, used in conjunction with your username. Your PIN number is initially your date of birth in “DDMMYY” format, until you change it, and is used in conjunction with your Student Number.
13. Is there wireless access on Campus?
14. What is the difference between User ID and Username?
User ID is your student number. Username is your username that was given to you during your account setup when you typed your password. It also used in your email address.
15. How do I know when to use User name and when to use User ID?
UNBC uses two sets of credentials. One set is your User ID and Pin Number. Another set is Username and Password. It is very easy to get confused with this, but just remember that you use your User ID and Pin number only to check your personal information, transcripts, class schedule, grads etc. You use Username and Password to log onto our computers on campus, to remotely access our computers from home through terminal server, to check your web mail, and to log onto Blackboard.
16. Where can I use a computer just to browse the web?
You can use the computers on the first and second floor of the library.
17. Who do I see after hours?
Lab assistants are available after hours on weekdays and weekends, during regular semesters to assist you. See Computer Helpdesk for more information.
18. My username and password was working yesterday but today it is not working. Why?
The most likely reason that your password was working yesterday and not working today is your password expired. Starting a month prior to your password expiring you will get a notification via email to change your password.
If that happens, you can try to log onto a machine at the UNBC labs or on UNBC’s Student Terminal Server. It will then show you a note saying that your password has expired and that you have to change it. Just change it and you should be able to access computer resources again.
19. Does my UNBC computer account username and password ever expire? If so, how often?
Yes, your password expires. This is a standard security policy. Every 425 days your password will expire even if you log in regularly. Changing your password every 90 days is a good practice.
20. How I will be notified if my password expires?
Starting a month before expiry you will get an email sending you to http://userdb.unbc.ca. As well, if you log into any of the computers on campus or sts, you will be prompted to change your password.
21. How would I know my password may be expiring or already expired?
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If you have received messages in your email stating that your email is about to expire and you have not changed it.
- If you are sure that you haven’t forgotten your username and password.
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If you are seeing an error when you log onto webmail.unbc.ca or learn.unbc.ca saying “You entered an incorrect username and password”.
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