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    2010

    [MERCYCOLLEGE ICT

    GUIDE]The 2010 Guide to the Mercy College ICT.

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    ContentsMercy College IT ................................................................... 7

    Mercy IT Contact Details ................................................... 7

    Email ............................................................................. 7

    Fax ................................................................................ 7

    Phone ............................................................................ 7

    General hours of operation ............................................... 7

    Student Support Times ..................................................... 8

    Student Service Times * ................................................ 8

    During School Holidays * .............................................. 8

    Mercy IT Student Services .....................................................9High Speed Internet Access ..............................................9

    Network Storage ...............................................................9

    webmail@Mercy...............................................................9

    XenApp@Mercy ............................................................. 10

    downloads@Mercy ......................................................... 10

    printers@Mercy .............................................................. 10

    sickbay@Mercy .............................................................. 11

    Remote Access to School Network ................................. 11

    Online Service Desk ........................................................ 12

    Lunch Time Q & A ........................................................... 12

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    Backup / Restore of Data ................................................. 12

    ID Cards .......................................................................... 13

    Print / Internet Charging .................................................. 13

    Passwords ....................................................................... 14

    Hardware Support ........................................................... 15

    Warranty Claims ............................................................. 15

    Warranty Notes ........................................................... 16

    Insurance Claims ............................................................. 16

    Software Support ............................................................ 17

    Private Software ............................................................. 17

    Device Hire ...................................................................... 17Battery Charging ............................................................. 18

    Non Serviceable Devices ..................................................... 18

    Mercy Netbook Requirements ............................................ 19

    Computer Name ............................................................. 19

    Username ....................................................................... 19

    Wireless Settings ............................................................ 20

    Software ......................................................................... 20

    Using Your Netbook at School ............................................ 22

    During School Time ......................................................... 22

    After School .................................................................... 22

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    Accessing School Applications and Servers ..................... 22

    Specialists Labs ............................................................... 23

    Use during lunch breaks .................................................. 23

    Surfing the Internet ......................................................... 23

    Private Devices at School ................................................ 24

    Using Your Netbook at Home ............................................. 24

    Use of Private ISPs ......................................................... 24

    Use of Private Networks .................................................. 25

    Use of Private Hardware ................................................. 25

    Accessing IT Support .......................................................... 26

    IT Support Process Overview .......................................... 26Student Self Service ........................................................ 27

    Raising a Service Request ................................................ 27

    Mercy IT Service Desk ..................................................... 28

    Return to Student ........................................................... 28

    Frequently Asked Questions ............................................... 29

    Tips for Looking After Your Netbook .................................. 34

    Taking care of your Netbook ........................................... 34

    Cleaning Your Netbook ................................................... 34

    Protecting the LCD Screen .............................................. 35

    Backing up Data .............................................................. 35

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    Handling your Netbook ................................................... 36

    Taking care of the AC Adapter ........................................ 37

    Taking care of your battery pack ..................................... 37

    Maximizing the battery's life ........................................... 38

    Conditioning a new battery pack ................................. 38

    Optimising battery life ................................................ 39

    Appendix 1: Student Netbook packs ................................... 40

    2009 Netbook Pack ......................................................... 40

    Provided Software .......................................................... 40

    2010 Netbook Pack ......................................................... 41

    Provided Software .......................................................... 41Appendix 2: Wireless Coverage (Approx Only) .................... 42

    Appendix 3: IT Support Process Detailed............................. 43

    Appendix 4: General File types supported at Mercy College.

    ............................................................................................ 44

    Appendix 5: Mercy2Go User Guide...................................... 46

    What is Mercy2Go ........................................................... 46

    The Mercy2Go USB drive is powered by .......................... 46

    What is a portable app? ................................................... 46

    What Applications are on Mercy2Go ............................... 47

    Media Creation ............................................................ 47

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    Media Playback ........................................................... 47

    Educational Tools ........................................................ 47

    Office Applications ...................................................... 47

    Utilities ........................................................................ 47

    Using the PortableApps.com Platform ................................ 48

    Adding or Removing a Personal Picture on thePortableApps.com Menu ................................................ 48

    Moving the PortableApps.com Menu and Changing Its

    Start-up Location ............................................................ 49

    Backing Up Your Mercy2Go Settings (Bookmarks, Email,

    Preferences, etc) ............................................................. 49

    Safe Portable App-ing ......................................................... 50

    The Checklist ............................................................... 50

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    Mercy College IT

    Mercy IT Contact Details

    Email

    [email protected]

    Fax

    07 49 69 4164

    Phone

    07 49 69 4199, Please leave a message at the main office and

    Mercy IT will ring you back.

    General hours of operation

    During Term Time *

    7:00 to 4:30 Monday Thursday

    8:00 to 3:30 Friday

    During School Holidays*9:00 to 12:00 Monday to Friday

    Weekends / Public Holidays

    Closed

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    Student Support Times

    Student Service Times *

    During the first lunch break, before and after school,

    students may request assistance with computing device

    issues from the support technician on duty. Generally

    students will only be served by Mercy IT outside of class

    times and not during class.

    During School Holidays *

    During School Holiday periods the Mercy IT Department

    provides warranty and insurance support to students.

    * These times may change due to staff

    availability. Mercy IT will endeavor to inform

    users of time changes wherever possible.

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    Mercy IT Student ServicesMercy IT is a service provider that provides the following

    services to students.

    High Speed Internet Access

    Mercy College provides all students with high speed internet

    access across multiple Internet service providers ensuring a

    reliable internet access at the college.

    Network Storage

    Each student is issued with 100MB* of network based

    storage for school related work and resources. This provided

    storage is based on enterprise grade equipment and backedup daily. This provides a safe location for students to store

    backups of school work.

    *The allocated network storage may change during the school

    year.

    webmail@Mercy

    Every student at Mercy College is issued with their own web

    based email account in the format below.

    [email protected]

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    XenApp@MercyThis service allows all students in the 1 to 1 program to access

    applications and storage from the schools data centre

    without having to install any applications locally on their

    netbooks. This system is the method we use to provide all

    the schools applications like Microsoft office to students

    dynamically over the internet.

    downloads@Mercy

    This site provides a student with service pack downloads for

    their netbooks and FREE applications that will assist a

    student in their school work.

    printers@Mercy

    Students can print from their own netbook or any school

    computer to the print release station located in the library.

    This print station also offers students the facility to

    photocopy or scan documents to email.

    When a student prints within the school their print jobs are

    stored for 24 hours, allowing ample time for a student to go

    to the release station and print their documents.

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    Each piece of paper generated through photocopying orprinting is charged to the students print quota at the rate

    listed below*.

    Colour prints/copies: 20 cents a page

    Black and White prints/copies: 5 cents a page

    * Prices may change during the year.

    sickbay@Mercy

    This service is designed to help students to solve netbook

    issue without the intervention of Mercy IT. The site is

    designed to help walk through common problems with

    students and present solutions to solve them. It is the first

    place student should go to troubleshoot problems.

    Remote Access to School Network

    Every student has 24/7 access to the school network and

    software via the remote access service found on the schoolexternal website. This service is based on the same

    XenApp@Mercy service that provides student applications

    and network access while at school.

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    Online Service DeskMercy College provides 1 to 1 students with an online service

    desk where students can find solutions to common issues or

    find details on how to submit warranty / insurance jobs. The

    online support service also provides students and parents the

    ability to track any service request they have made with

    Mercy College IT.

    Lunch Time Q & A

    During the first lunch break there will be a member of Mercy

    IT in room 27 to assist students with troubleshooting

    netbook issues or answering general computer/network

    questions. The lunch time support desk is the best time forstudents to talk to Mercy IT about anything to do with their

    netbooks, be it issues they are having or ways Mercy IT can

    improve what they are doing.

    Backup / Restore of DataStudent files on the student file server can be restored from

    backup tape on weekdays at 12:30pm when requested.

    If the request is made before 12:00pm the restore will

    happen the same day, if the request is received after the

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    12:00pm deadline the restoration will be performed 12:30pmthe next day.

    In cases where the files are needed immediately a teacher

    may request a file to be restored and Mercy IT will endeavour

    to restore the file as soon as possible.

    Mercy IT cannot backup or restore data that is

    kept outside of the Mercy file servers.

    ID Cards

    If a student has lost or damaged their ID card a replacement

    ID card can be organized through the Finance Office.

    Replacement ID cards are only printed on designated days

    each week.

    If a faulty/damaged card is not a result of a manufacturing

    issue the student will be charged for a replacement ID card.

    Print / Internet Charging

    Each week a student will be issued with a set amount of

    Internet and Print usage. If a student has used their allocated

    quota they may purchase more from the Finance Office.

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    Mercy IT will endeavour to ensure that the print / internetservices are running and operational. It is up to students to

    act responsibly with their print / internet allocations.

    Internet / Print quota will only be reissued if they

    were lost due to a system fault and only to the

    value of credit that was lost.

    Passwords

    All students at Mercy College are issued with school

    generated logon details. If a student forgets their logon

    details they may:

    During class time a teacher may contact the IT department and

    send a student to the IT office for reissue of their logon details.

    During non class time a student may approach Mercy IT for their

    logon details.

    Passwords can only be changed for suitable

    reasons - not to make it easier to remember for

    the student.

    Logon details will never be given out over the

    phone or via email.

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    Hardware SupportDue to the integrated nature of the student computing

    devices Mercy IT does not provide on-site repairs for

    hardware issues. When a hardware issue is raised it will be

    repaired via warranty or insurance. During the time period

    when units are being repaired under warranty Mercy IT will

    provide a loan netbook* to ensure students can still access

    digital resources at school.

    Warranty Claims

    If a students netbook has a fault it should be returned to the

    IT office as soon as possible to make a warranty claim. Once

    a warranty claim is made Mercy IT will issue the student witha loan netbook*.

    Mercy College students should only seek warranty support

    through the Mercy College IT Department and not through

    other outlets outside of Mercy College while currently

    enrolled at Mercy College as this removes a students access

    to the loan netbook pool.

    Once a claim is made the students machine is sent to the

    authorised repair agent and returned to the student as soon

    as possible. Details on the repair status will be issued to

    parents and students where possible.

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    Warranty Notes Each netbook is provided with a three year warranty

    *Mercy IT will endeavour to provide all students with a loan

    netbook during warranty repairs.

    Insurance ClaimsIf a students netbook requires an insurance claim to cover

    the repairs the students parents / guardians will be required

    to pay an excess fee. During insurance repairs students will not

    be issued with a loan Netbook but have access to in-class

    school computing resources only.

    If a netbook is replaced under insurance it will be replacedwith a unit of equal or better specifications, but not

    necessarily a new unit.

    Insurance will not cover vandalism or wilful damage to a

    netbook.

    The insurance cover on student devices is valid for a

    maximum of three years and only while the netbook is used

    by a currently enrolled student of Mercy College.

    For more information please see supplied insurance

    documentation.

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    Software SupportDue to the almost unlimited amount of software available,

    Mercy IT is only able to support software that it has tested

    and provided for the Mercy IT environment. Below is listed

    the extent of support for software provided by Mercy IT.

    Citrix Xenapp client software.

    Software provided through the Citrix Xenapp environment. Drivers and updates issued through Mercy IT. Drivers and

    updates that are not provided by Mercy IT are considered private

    software.

    Private Software Mercy IT is unable to support issues with private software.

    During servicing, warranty and insurance private software is not

    backed up or restored. Mercy IT are only able to provide minimal assistance in the

    installation of private software

    Device Hire

    Mercy IT is able to provide overnight or weekend loans of

    portable DVD burners that are compatible with studentdevices and can be used for installation of software from

    CD/DVD media.

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    Battery ChargingMercy IT and the Bursars office both offer laptop battery

    charging during the first lunch break for a small fee of 50

    cents per charge.

    For this service batteries are to be dropped off at the start of

    lunch and collected before the student returns to class.

    Non Serviceable Devices

    Mercy IT is unable to service any device that has been

    physically modified/repaired by an agent other than through

    Mercy IT. Please note that these actions may void the

    insurance of a device.

    Devices that have software installed that modify or change

    the operating system will have all software reinstalled to

    factory settings before they will be serviced.

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    Mercy Netbook RequirementsTo connect to the Mercy College Wireless network a

    students computing device must conform to set standards.

    Students who do not comply with these standards will be

    disconnected from the Mercy College network.

    Computer Name

    The name of a students computer follows the format below

    Student code + underscore + year the student was in grade 8 + the first letter of your

    college house

    For Example John Green who is in Triton and was in grade 8

    during 2010 would name his computer....

    GREEJOHN_2010T

    Username

    The default username setup on the device that corresponds

    to the student code must be maintained and notdeleted/modified as it is the account to be used for logging

    on to the Mercy College network.

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    Wireless Settings

    The wireless network a student must connect to is

    mcms####

    Where #### is the year the student was in grade 8.

    For Example John Green who was in grade 8 during 2010

    would connect to the wireless network....

    mcms2010

    Software

    At all times student computers are required to have the

    following software packages installed on their machines.

    Netsupport School

    Citrix Online plug-in

    School supplied Antivirus

    Other software may be installed on a students device as long

    as

    It doesnt interfere with the operation of netbook on the

    Mercy network.

    It is not illegal or pirated software.

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    It is not designed to harm or damage other students

    devices or steal personal information.

    It is used to assist in the education of the student.

    It does not interfere with or modify the operating system

    on the device.

    Please note the operating system that is installed on

    the device when they are initially distributed is the

    operating system that is required to remain on the

    device for the duration of its time at Mercy College.

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    Using Your Netbook at School

    During School Time

    Students have onsite access to the Mercy College wireless

    network between 7am and 7pm. Outside of these hours the

    wireless network is shutdown.

    Wireless Network Coverage

    Please read appendix 2 to see where there is

    wireless coverage across Mercy College.

    After School

    Students may use the remote access facilities provided on

    the colleges website to remotely access the school network.

    Remote access requires a broadband connection.

    Accessing School Applications and

    Servers

    All school applications and servers are provided to students

    via Citirx Xenapp remote access.

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    Specialists LabsMercy College provides students with access to specialised

    computer labs that focus on video, audio and media

    production for subjects and classes that require computing

    resources beyond the capabilities of a students netbook.

    Use during lunch breaks

    Students who wish to use their netbooks during first recess

    may come to room 27 where they can use their netbook in a

    quite air conditioned environment.

    Students are not allowed to use netbooks in

    the general playground areas as studentrunning around and playing sport may

    accidently damage a netbook.

    Surfing the Internet

    The Mercy College wireless network provides filtered accessto the internet for any connected device.

    If you are just surfing the Internet at school

    you do not need to connect to the Mercy

    Network via Citrix Xenapp remote access.

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    Private Devices at School

    To maintain quality of IT services STUDENTS ARE

    PRESENTLY NOT ALLOWED to connect private devices

    purchased outside of the 1 to 1 program to the school

    network. This is done because of the following factors

    Ensuring quality of support services

    Single operating environment between students

    Provision of updates to laptop software

    Reliability of software and network access

    Availability of spare units

    Maintainability of in-house services and advice

    Using Your Netbook at Home

    Use of Private ISPs

    Mercy IT has no issues with students installing and using

    their own private ISP connections to connect to the internet

    when not at school. If a student has an issue connecting to a

    private ISP they may contact Mercy IT during support hoursto look at the issue.

    Mercy IT HIGHLY RECOMMENDS you contact your own ISP or seek

    independent technical support in this scenario as most

    problems that can arise with private ISPs are out of the

    control of Mercy IT.

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    Use of Private NetworksDue to the varying nature of networks Mercy IT cannot assist

    with the connection of any devices to networks outside of

    Mercy College. If the connection of a student / staff device to

    a network outside of Mercy College has stopped it from

    accessing the school network, Mercy IT will provide

    resources to reconnect the device to the school network.

    Use of Private Hardware

    Students are allowed to connect privately owned hardware

    device e.g. printers to their netbooks. But please be aware

    that Mercy IT cannot guarantee of support privately owned

    hardware and if the hardware or its drivers conflicts with theMercy network they will be removed from the student

    device.

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    Accessing IT SupportMercy IT provides a support process that fosters a students

    own abilities to troubleshoot their netbook with Mercy IT

    providing support when the student is unable to solve a

    problem.

    IT Support Process Overview

    Warranty / Insurancecases are sent toservice agents forreapirs.

    machines is reimaged.

    Device is returned tostudent with factorysettings.

    Insurance units areheld until excess ispaid.

    Backup school data

    Take the unit to IToffice.

    Student attempts tosolve issues.

    Check the supportWebsites forassistances.

    1. Student

    SelfService

    2. Raise a

    servicerequest

    3. MercyIT service

    desk.

    4. Returnto student

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    Student Self ServiceThe first step in any support case is for a student to attempt

    to solve their issue without the intervention of Mercy IT.

    Ask 3 before me we encourage students to ask 3 other

    students for peer support before enlisting the help of IT. It is

    quite possible that one of these other 3 students have seen

    and solved a similar problem.

    Mercy IT provides online support service that can assist with

    students like sickbay@Mercy and the online knowledge base

    attached to the online service desk.

    The aim of self service is to assist both the students and the

    Mercy IT Department. It helps to limit the amount of minorissues that are processed by Mercy IT and assist students to

    increase their digital literacy.

    Raising a Service Request

    Once an issue has become too complex for a student to

    handle they may come to the Mercy IT office and open a

    service request.

    At this stage a student should have a backup of all their

    school work as Mercy IT does not backup or restore student

    data. Please note in a number of support cases the hard

    drive of devices submitted for service are reformatted.

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    Mercy IT Service DeskOnce a device has been handed in Mercy IT will open a

    service request on the helpdesk system and allocate a job

    number for students to track the job.

    At this stage Mercy IT performs any repair required via the

    process listed in appendix 3.

    Return to Student

    Once all repairs have been performed the unit will be

    returned to the student in working order. Please note units

    will only be returned when the student has returned any loan

    device or paid any insurance excess due.

    PLEASE NOTE THAT UNITS HANDED IN TO MERCY IT FOR REPAIRS

    WILL HAVE THEIR HARD DRIVES WIPED IN A NUMBER OF CASES.

    PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE BACKED UP YOUR SCHOOL DATA BEFORE

    HANDING INTO MERCY IT.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why have we chosen the netbook form factor as opposed

    to a larger notebook or tablet?

    After looking at different models of 1: 1 computing both in

    Australia and internationally we have settled on the netbookdevice as our preferred model primarily based upon equity,

    sustainability and portability.

    Our 1:1 environment is available to complete year groups and

    not selected classes therefore to limit the financial burden

    upon all families of different backgrounds the netbook is a

    perfect candidate.

    The smaller devices with their 10 screens are both practical

    and more portable compared to larger devices.

    Our computing delivery model depends on educational

    software and services delivered to the student via a network

    the school network or the INTERNET and not necessarily

    installed locally on the student device. This Cloud

    Computing model fits well with the aims of netbook

    devices.

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    What about high end graphics, video editing? Netbookscant handle this?

    Mercy College will still have dedicated specialist computing

    labs that are currently being refitted as flexible, multimedia,

    learning spaces. Access to these rooms for classes will be

    improved since a large majority of the work undertaken

    traditionally in these computing labs can now be undertakenin the general classroom on student devices rather than

    booking into a dedicated computing facility.

    What if I want to install software on the netbook from a

    CDROM or DVD?

    A pool of USB external drives are freely available for students

    to loan overnight from the IT office to install from CD/DVD

    media.

    Can a student use a different device at Mercy College tothe one purchased through the college?

    No. For consistency of experience for both teacher and

    student and to eliminate potential problems with IT support,

    the only student devices allowed on the network are the

    models issued to the student through the college.

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    What happens when there is a technical fault with the

    device?

    The student is issued with a loan device to use while the

    faulty device is sent away to be fixed under warranty. It is the

    responsibility of the student to have a backup strategy fortheir data and their files are backed up before submitting

    their netbook for repair. The college will only be responsible

    for ensuring the software initially installed with the device is

    reinstalled. Any subsequent software installed by students

    and their families after the initial rollout is the responsibility

    of the parent/student to reinstall.

    What happens if the device is damaged?

    The netbook is insured for the entire time of the students

    enrolment at Mercy College. The insurance premium is part

    of the 4 regular netbook payments. There will be a $100

    excess due on repairs under insurance. This figure howevercan increase to as much as $200 if the entire device is a

    write-off and the exact netbook model replacement cannot

    be sourced and only a newer model can be sourced. No loan

    devices that can be taken home are issued to the student

    under insurance cases. The students in these cases can use

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    laptops available in classrooms during regular classes untiltheir device is returned.

    How about power?

    It is a students responsibility that the netbook come to

    school everyday charged. There are no in-class recharging

    facilities. The batteries have sufficient charge to last the

    school day as our expected usage of the device in a normal

    school day is 30%.

    There are 2 charging stations at the IT office and the Finance

    Office (take 10 batteries at a time) that a student can droptheir battery in at 11:30 and pick up at 12:30. This facility is

    pay per use. At no other times or locations is this facility

    available. It is possible as the battery life in the netbooks

    reduces over the years that a replacement battery will need

    to be purchased by parents/guardians by the third year of the

    netbooks life.

    Can my child access the school network from home?

    YES. All of the Microsoft Office suite, intranet and any other

    specific software utilized at the school can be accessed from

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    home through our remote access portal. As teaching staffgradually digitize their resources and lessons these will also

    be available through remote access to our Learning

    Management System. It is recommended that parents

    organize acceptably fast broadband at home to take full

    advantage of this facility. It is also recommended that

    parents investigate the option of a wireless router if they will

    have more than one computer in their household.

    What about storage of equipment?

    All students issued with computing devices will have a locker

    allocated to them that will assist in keeping the device safe

    through lunch hours etc. Mercy College is also moving

    towards becoming bagless as we gradually move to digitaltextbooks.

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    Tips for Looking After Your Netbook

    Taking care of your Netbook

    Your computer will serve you well if you take care of it.

    Do not expose the computer to direct sunlight. Do not

    place it near sources of heat, such as a radiator. Do not expose the computer to temperatures below 0 C

    (32 F) or above 50 C (122 F).

    Do not subject the computer to magnetic fields.

    Do not expose the computer to rain or moisture.

    Do not spill water or any liquid on the computer.

    Do not subject the computer to heavy shock or vibration.

    Do not expose the computer to dust or dirt.

    Never place objects on top of the computer.

    Do not slam the computer display when you close it.

    Never place the computer on uneven surfaces.

    Cleaning Your NetbookWhen cleaning the computer, follow these steps:

    Turn off the computer and remove the battery pack.

    Disconnect the AC adapter.

    Use a soft, moist cloth. Do not use liquid or aerosol

    cleaners.

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    Protecting the LCD ScreenThe follow hints will help prevent damage to the LCD screen

    of a netbook:

    Never rest any item on top of the netbook as this may crack thescreen.

    Do not force the screen to open beyond its normal range of motionas this will damage the hinges of the screen.

    Only use a soft cloth to clean the LCD screen as most cleaners willdamaged the screen. We recommend microfibre fabrics.

    Do not slam the computer display when you close it.

    Do not hold the netbook by the screen in anyway.

    Always travel with the LCD screen closed.

    Backing up DataStudents should try and keep a copy of their school work on

    the student file server and if possible a portable USB drive. It

    is never good practice for students to have all of their school

    work solely stored on their netbooks hard drive as this may

    fail without warning.

    Also note that in many cases all data isdeleted from a netbook during any servicing

    by Mercy IT. It is a students responsibility to

    backup their own work.

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    Handling your NetbookHere are some tips for handling your netbook:

    Always check that you have removed all media from the

    drive(s). Failure to remove the media can damage the

    drive head.

    Pack the computer in its protective case as it prevents the

    computer from sliding around in your school bag andcushions it if it should fall.

    The protective case can be used as a laptop stand to

    provide a stable work space.

    Always use your netbook on a stable surface to prevent it

    falling.

    If a netbook is treated with respect it will last the student

    the whole 3 years at Mercy College

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    Taking care of the AC AdapterHere are some ways to take care of your AC adapter:

    Do not connect the adapter to any other device.

    Do not step on the power cord or place heavy objects on

    top of it.

    Carefully route the power cord and any cables away from

    foot traffic. When unplugging the power cord, do not pull on the cord

    itself but pull on the plug.

    The total ampere ratings of the equipment plugged in

    should not exceed the ampere rating of the cord if you are

    using an extension cord. Also, the total current rating of all

    equipment plugged into a single wall outlet should not

    exceed the fuse rating.

    Taking care of your battery pack

    Here are some ways to take care of your battery pack:

    Use only batteries of the same kind as replacements. Turn

    the power off before removing or replacing batteries. Do not tamper with batteries. Keep them away from

    children.

    Dispose of used batteries according to local regulations.

    Recycle if possible.

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    By following the battery conditioning process you conditionyour battery to accept the maximum possible charge. Failure

    to follow this procedure will prevent you from obtaining the

    maximum battery charge, and will also shorten the effective

    lifespan of the battery. In addition, the useful lifespan of the

    battery is adversely affected by the following usage patterns:

    Using the computer on constant AC power with thebattery inserted. If you want to use constant AC power,

    you are advised to remove the battery pack after it is fully

    charged.

    Not discharging and recharging the battery to its

    extremes, as described above.

    Optimising battery life

    Optimizing battery life helps you get the most out of battery

    operation, prolonging the charge/recharge cycle and

    improving recharging efficiency. You are advised to follow

    the suggestions set out below:

    Use AC power whenever possible, reserving battery for on-the-

    go use.

    Eject a PC Card if it is not being used, as it will continue to drawpower.

    Store the battery pack in a cool, dry place. The recommended

    temperature is 10C (50F) to 30C (86F). Higher temperatures

    cause the battery to self-discharge faster.

    Excessive recharging decreases the battery life.

    Look after your AC adapter and battery.

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    Appendix 1: Student Netbook packs

    2009 Netbook Pack

    1 x Aspire One AOA150

    Netbook

    Win XP Home Edition

    1.6Ghz atom Processor

    1 GB Ram

    160 GB Hard Drive

    Multi card reader

    Wireless 802.11 A/G

    8.9 Inch LCD screen Webcam with inbuilt Mic.

    1 X Clam shell protective case

    1 X 240v Power Pack

    Provided Software

    OpenOffice.org

    Avast Antivirus

    Remote Access software for the school network. To allow access

    to Microsoft Office, etc

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    2010 Netbook Pack

    1 x Aspire One AOP531H

    Windows 7

    1.6Ghz atom Processor

    2 GB Ram

    160 GB Hard Drive

    Multi card reader

    Wireless 802.11 A/G/Draft-N

    10 Inch LCD screen

    Webcam with inbuilt Mic.

    1 X protective case

    1 X 240v Power Pack

    Provided Software

    OpenOffice.org

    Avast antivirus software

    Remote Access software for the school network. To allow access

    to Microsoft Office, etc Mercy2Go Application USB Stick

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    Appendix 2: Wireless Coverage

    (Approx Only)

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    Appendix 4: General File types

    supported at Mercy College.

    D

    escription

    E

    xtension

    N

    etbook*

    X

    enApp

    S

    pecialist

    L

    abs

    Adobe PDF pdf

    Adobe Photoshop psd, pdd

    Adobe Flash Fla, swf

    Adobe Illustrator ai

    Adobe Indesign indd

    MP bmp

    GIF gif

    HTML html, htm

    JPEG jpeg, jpg

    Microsoft Excel xls ,xlsx

    Microsoft

    Powerpoint

    Ppt,pptx

    Microsoft Word Doc,docx

    MPEG mpeg, mpg, mp3,

    mp4

    PNG png

    Rich Text Format rtf

    Text txt

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    TIFF tiff, tif

    Video Quicktime mov

    WAV wav

    Open Office odt,ods,odb,odp,o

    dg,odf

    Zip zip

    Windows Media wmv, wma

    Computer will support file typeComputer will not support file type

    ? Computer will support with optional software

    installed.

    *Netbooks may support more file types then what is listed

    above. But only listed file types will be supported within the

    Mercy College Network.

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    Appendix 5: Mercy2Go User Guide

    What is Mercy2Go

    Mercy2Go is a Portable USB drive loaded with portable apps

    students can use to learn and create within a digital

    environment. Mercy2Go can easily be taken from computer

    to computer allowing students to take their digital tools with

    them where ever they are. The Mercy2Go drive also provides

    students with a portable backup device for school work.

    The Mercy2Go USB drive is powered by

    PortableApps.com Platform is the world's most popular

    portable software solution. A fully open source and free

    platform, it works on any portable storage device.

    PortableApps.com is the most complete solution for life on

    the go

    What is a portable app?A portable app is a computer program that you can carry

    around with you on a portable device and use on any

    Windows computer.

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    What Applications are on Mercy2GoThe following applications are on Mercy2Go Version 1.0.0.0

    Media Creation

    Audacity, Audio capture / editor

    Blender, 3D editor

    KompoZer, Website editor

    GIMP, Photo editor Inkscape, Digital Illustration editor

    Media Playback

    XnView, Image viewer

    VLC Media Player, Video / Audio playback

    Educational Tools

    BPBible, Bible research software

    Celestia, Solar system simulator

    Stellarium, Star gazing software

    ConvertAll, Unit conversion software

    SpeedCrunch, calculator

    Jwpce, Japanese word processor

    Skype, Video / Audio communication tool.

    Office Applications

    OpenOffice.org, Microsoft compatible office suite

    DIA, Flowchart software

    Foxit Reader, PDF file viewer

    Utilities

    ClamWin Antivirus, Open source virus scanner

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    LightScreen, Screen capture tool

    Notepad++, Text editor

    PenZip, File compression tool

    Using the PortableApps.com PlatformTo start up the PortableApps.com Platform, just double-click

    StartPortableApps.exe in the root of your portable drive. Inmany cases, Windows will ask if you'd like to start

    PortableApps.com when you plug in your drive.

    Removing Your Drive - When you're done, exit all portable

    apps and then wait a moment. Then click the eject button in

    the PortableApps.com menu to safely eject your drive. If you

    remove the drive while it is writing data, you may lose data.

    Adding or Removing a Personal Picture

    on the PortableApps.com Menu

    You can add a personal picture to the menu. To do this, just

    move your mouse over the upper-right region of the menu. A

    highlight box will appear. Click it and select the picture you

    wish to add. 48x48 pixel images work best. To remove your

    personal picture, just right-click on it. You can use BMP, JPG

    or PNG files.

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    Moving the PortableApps.com Menu and

    Changing Its Start-up Location

    To move the PortableApps.com Menu, just move your

    mouse to the PortableApps.com logo at the top. You'll see

    the mouse pointer change to a four way directional arrow.

    Hold down your mouse button and move the menu wherever

    you'd like. When you close the PortableApps.com Platform,

    the menu will remember it's relative position on the screen

    (top, middle or bottom as well as left, centre or right) and

    start up at that same location even if you move to another

    PC.

    Backing Up Your Mercy2Go Settings

    (Bookmarks, Email, Preferences, etc)

    The PortableApps.com Platform comes with

    PortableApps.com Backup, an easy-to-use backup utility.

    Just click the backup icon on the PortableApps.com Menu

    and select backup. You'll get to pick what you want to back

    up and where you'd like to store your backups.

    Note: PortableApps.com Backup's app data backup feature

    only works with apps in PortableApps.com Format (since

    their data is in a standard location). For other apps, you

    should be sure to backup your entire drive.

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    Safe Portable App-ingSome suggestions for staying safe fromPortableApps.com...

    An important thing to keep in mind when using portable

    applications is that they can be used to spread viruses

    between machines. While this isn't as much of an issue

    when you own or are responsible for the machines you are

    using it on (say work and home), it can be a very big issue

    when you use a portable app on an untrusted or unknown

    machine (school, internet cafe, etc). For this reason, it is

    important that you practice Safe Portable App-ing!

    The Checklist

    Use a solid antivirus program on your primary PC andkeep its virus definitions up to date.

    Use a solid antivirus program on your portable device,

    likeClamWin Portable, and keep its virus definitions up

    to date.

    Scan your PC and portable drive for viruses on a regular

    basis.

    Whenever you plug your portable drive into an unknowncomputer, it's a good idea to assume that it could now be

    infected with a virus. If the PC has a virus that is currently

    in memory, it may attempt to infect your portable

    applications as soon as you plug it in.

    When you then plug your portable drive into another

    computer (after an unknown), you should first scan it for

    viruses before running any of your applications. (Most

    http://portableapps.com/http://portableapps.com/http://portableapps.com/http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portablehttp://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portablehttp://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portablehttp://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portablehttp://portableapps.com/
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    antivirus software will make this available to you by right-clicking on your drive in Explorer or My Computer.) That

    way, if it is infected, you'll know before you run your

    applications and the new computer will not be infected.

    Always wait until the drive access light has stopped

    blinking and then click the icon in your system tray to

    'Safely Remove' your device. Don't just remove it. Just

    because the application's window is closed doesn't meanthe app has fully closed and finished writing to the disk.

    Back up on a regular basis, both your applications and

    your files. PortableApps.com Backup makes this a snap

    and it's built right into thePortableApps.com Suite.

    If you follow these simple rules, you'll be able to enjoy your

    portable applications without getting stuck with a virus or

    losing your data. As always, there is still the risk of getting a

    new virus that your antivirus program can't yet detect, but

    the probability would be relatively low, and you run the same

    risk whenever you download a

    http://portableapps.com/suitehttp://portableapps.com/suitehttp://portableapps.com/suitehttp://portableapps.com/suite