E-mail

Q: What is the available email mailbox size?
    A: The standard mailbox size at Ferrum College is 10meg.

Q: Will I receive a warning before my mailbox is full?
    A: The first warnings message will start to appear when the mailbox reaches 4meg, then again at 5meg.

Q:  What are the different ways to retrieve email via Ferrum College?
    A:  Web Mail, MS Outlook (any POP3 or IMAP client should work)

Q: How do I receive my Ferrum email through my Yahoo! email account?
    A: Follow the instructions below to setup your Ferrum mail account.

  1. Click the Mail Options link on the top right-hand side of the screen.
  2. In the Mail Management column select Mail Accounts.
  3. Click the Add Button on the Mail Accounts page.
  4. Enter an account name: Ferrum College.
  5. Enter your (POP) mail server name: main.ferrum.edu.
  6. Enter your user name and password:
    User Name: nstxxxx
    Password: xxxxxx
  7. Select an indicator color to mark messages received from this account.
  8. Click the "Add Account" button. Your account is now added.

Q: How do I delete my old messages from my Web Mail account?
    A: Messages can be deleted from email account individually or several messages at a time.

  1. To delete an individual message, click on the message, click delete on the  or press your delete key.
  2. To delete several messages at a time press and hold the SHIFT key, click on the first and last  message to be deleted consecutive, click delete on the or press your delete key.
  3. To delete non-consecutive messages, hold down the Ctrl key as you click on each message you want to delete, click delete on the or press your delete key.

Q:  How do I empty by Deleted Items folder using Web Mail?
    A:  Click on the trash icon on the tool bar or right click on the deleted items folder in the outlook bar, and selecting empty "Deleted Items" Folder from the submenu will permanently delete all items from the deleted items folder.

Q:  What are the steps to save messages and/or attachments using Web Mail only?
    A:  Messages can be saved by first copying the message, then pasting into Word.
    B:  Attachments can be saved, when prompted by  the File Download screen, and selecting Save.

Q:    Steps to automatically empty trash and attachments from Eudora once they have been deleted.
    A:   Select Tools from the toolbar, then Options, using the scroll down arrow to the right of the options box select miscellaneous or attachment.

  1. Miscellaneous Options click the Empty Trash when exiting option box, the trash is emptied automatically when you exit Eudora.
  2. Attachment Options select the Delete attachments when emptying Trash – If this is on, Eudora automatically deletes an attachment received with a message when that message is deleted from your system, that is, when the message is emptied from the Trash.  The attachment must still be in the folder defined as the Attachments Folder.  If you save an attachment but delete the message, move the attachment to another folder or turn this option off.
  3. Permanently deletes messages from the Trash mailbox by right clicking on the trash box, select Empty Trash.

Q:    How do I log on to my Faculty\Staff Ferrum Web Mail account?
    A:   Go to the Computer Services web page at computer.ferrum.edu, and click the button on the left that reads Fac\Staff E-Mail . Enter your user name and password:

User Name: ferrum.edu\nfsxxxx
Password: xxxxxx

GMail


Q:    What is GMail?
    A:   GMail is the online email service offered by Google. On June 1, 2009 Ferrum College has partnered with Google to provide email service for students. Students can now enjoy over 7 gigabytes of email storage space.


Q:    As a student, how do I log into Gmail?
    A:   Go to the Computer Services web page at computer.ferrum.edu, and click the button on the left that reads Student E-Mail. Students will log into the new Google mailbox using their email address as the username. Here is an example:
For a student whose email address is astudent@ferrum.edu the entry would be:
Username: astudent
Password: xxxxxx


Q:    What is the size limit for email in GMail?
    A:   GMail allows email messages up to 20 megabytes in size. This size limit includes attachments.


Q:    What happened to the student names in the global address list? I used to be able to click on the “to” button and look up a student. Now when I do this there are no students. What happened?
    A:  When we moved the student mailboxes to Google, we had to get rid of the MS Exchange mailbox that was on our server. If we had left the mailbox on our server, messages would have never been sent to the new box at Google. Getting rid of the local box also meant that we had to delete any reference to the student’s email address on our server. This email address is what was “looked up” during the process mentioned above. Since the address is no longer held on our server, there is nothing to “look up”.


Q:    Since Ferrum College changed to GMail for students I am unable to send email to students. Why?
    A:   Outlook comes with the default functionality of “remembering” what email addresses you have sent messages to in the past so that Outlook can make “suggestions” in the “To” box of a new message. Every message that you send places an entry in a “nickname” file on your computer. This entry keeps all of the email address attributes in one place. So, when you sent messages to students prior to them being moved to the Google server, Outlook “remembers” that the student’s address was “housed” on our Ferrum server and now when you type in a student’s address and Outlook checks to see if you have ever sent a message to that address before, Outlook tries to send the new message to the Ferrum server instead of the Google server. This results in the message being sent back to you as undeliverable.

Fix One: You can go into your Outlook settings and turn the “remembering” functionality off. Here is how:

  1. Click on the Tools menu
  2. Select Options from the drop-down list
  3. Click on the Email Options button (at the top of the window on the right)
  4. Click on the Advanced Email Options button (on the left side of the window about half-way down)
  5. Take the check Mark out of the box beside of the line that reads: Automatic Name Checking
  6. Take the check mark out of the box beside of the line that reads: Suggest names while completing To, cc, and Bcc fields
  7. Click OK until your are back to Outlook
Once you do this, you will be able to send messages to the students again without any issues. The downside of this option is that you will lose any non-student address suggestions.

Fix Two: The nickname file that houses the address cache can be renamed. If you choose this fix, you can leave the “remembering” functionality turned on and Outlook will “start-over” remembering your addresses. Since this is a useful feature in Outlook, I suggest this option. Here is how you do this:
  1. Close Outlook if you have it open
  2. Double-click on your My Computer icon OR click Start and select My Computer
  3. Double-click on your C:\ Drive
  4. Double-Click on the Documents and Settings folder (Windows Vista Users: double click on the Users folder)
  5. Double-click on your profile folder (this is usually your NFS number)
  6. Double-click on the Application Data folder (if you can’t see that folder in the list – call the helpdesk for assistance)
  7. Double-click the Microsoft folder
  8. Double-click the Outlook folder
  9. Right-click on the Outlook.NK2 file (if you don’t see the .NK2 extension – call the helpdesk for assistance)
  10. Select Rename from the drop-down menu
  11. Rename the file : Backup.NK2 (don’t forget the extension .NK2)

You may get a message that warns against renaming the file. If you do, select the option that says “Yes” I really want to rename this file. You are done and can close the windows. At this point you can restart Outlook and the program will recreate a “blank” nickname file. This file will be updated each time you send a message, and soon you should have all of your “suggestions” back in place.

As noted above, you need to decide which fix is right for you. Either one will accomplish the objective. And as always, you can call the helpdesk (x4357 or HELP) and we will “talk you through” all of this if you wish.

Microsoft Office 2007


Q:    Word and Excel 2007: How do I configure Word or Excel to auto-save my document?
    A:   While word is open click Tools->Options, and then click the tab marked Save. Select the checkbox marked Save AutoRecover info every and then enter the number of minutes between autosaves that you would like.


Q:    Word and Excel 2007: Where are the autosaves of my document saved on my computer?
    A:   While word is open click Tools->Options, and then click the tab marked File Locations. Look for the information on AutoRecover Files and the path to the location of the files is located to the right of the display box. If you would like to change the path and store the AutoRecover Files elsewhere, simply click the Modify button on the bottom of that tab and specify a new directory.


Q:    Word and Excel 2007: How do I recover an autosave document?
    A:   In order to recover autosave documents, you must have had the AutoRecover option configured, otherwise your work is unfortunately gone. If you did have the AutoRecover option configured the only work lost will be that which you performed since the last autosave was performed by the system. Simply Restart Word and the AutoRecover version of your work will appear.

General

Q:    Different methods to creating a back up of data files.
    A:   Save to CD-Rom, or another computer that permission to access has been granted.  Contact Computer Service for  information on how to back up to a different computer or server.

Q:    How do I log on to I-Assistant?
    A:  Go to the Computer Services web page at computer.ferrum.edu, and click the button on the left that reads I-Assistant. Enter your user name, and password:

User Name: nstxxxx or 999999 (students enrolled prior to Fall 2009 use the nstxxx format, students enrolled Fall 2009 and beyond use their student ID)
Password: xxxxxx

 

Mobile Computing

Q:    What is the Ferrum College Mobile Computing Initiative?

   A: Ferrum College is a mobile computing campus. We support a wireless learning environment using laptop computing, wireless access, and innovative educational interaction inside and outside of the classroom. 

 

Q:   Does Ferrum College recommend a particular laptop?

   A: To reap the greatest benefit from your College experience, it is highly recommended that you bring a netbook or notebook computer.  If you do not already own a laptop, we encourage you to purchase one of the recommended models (below) before you arrive at campus. 

 

Netbook versus Notebook Computer.  A notebook computer is a full-feature portable (laptop) computer.  A netbook is a smaller, less expensive, and lighter-weight portable computer with fewer components (e.g., often lacking a DVD drive).  For many students, a netbook will be adequate for their academic needs.

 

Recommended Netbooks.  Two netbooks are very highly recommended by Consumer Reports (see http://tinyurl.com/bwduvn).  Following their analysis, we recommend either of two netbooks…

·   MSI Wind U100-432US 10-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home, 6 Cell Battery) Black by MSI recently available for $380 at amazon.com), or

·   Lenovo Ideapad S10 10.2-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home) (recently available for $350 at amazon.com)

 

Recommended Notebooks.  If you prefer a full-featured portable computer, we have several recommendations for notebook computers. 

 

In our experience, students with Macintosh MacBooks have an easier time connecting to the campus wireless network than do users of any other laptop.  The Apple 13-inch white ($949) or aluminum ($1249) MacBook can be purchased using your educational discount directly from the Apple Store for Education at http://store.apple.com/us-hed.  These computers have been very favorably reviewed by Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal at http://tinyurl.com/ccjfrt.  If you purchase a MacBook, we strongly recommend that you also purchase the supplemental 3-year Apple Care protection plan.

 

If you prefer a laptop with one of the Microsoft Windows operating systems, Consumer Reports (http://tinyurl.com/bmxr62 ) has given very high recommendations to two laptops.  Following their analysis, we recommend either of two Windows-based laptops…

 

·   HP Pavilion DV4T Intel Dual Core Processor T4200 2.0GHz, 14.1" diagonal WXGA High-De?nition HP BrightView Widescreen Display, 3GB DDR2, 160GB HD SATA, SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500, HP Imprint Finish, Microphone, Webcam, 802.11b/g WLAN, Microsoft Works 9.0, Windows Vista Home Premium (recently available for $750 at amazon.com)

·   Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 2743 - Core 2 Duo P8400 / 2.26 GHz - Centrino 2 - RAM 2 GB - HDD 160 GB - DVD-Writer (recently available for $890 at amazon.com)

 

We also recommend that every student have a 2 GB flash storage drive.

 

 Q: What computing services does Ferrum College offer?

   A:  College-provided Computer Services.  For student-owned Macintosh computers, we are able to provide at no additional cost:

·         Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh

·         Windows XP (if you have Boot Camp, Parallels, or VMWare’s Fusion)

 

        For student-owned computers running one of the Windows operating system, we are able to provide at no additional cost:

·         All Microsoft Windows Operating systems

·         Microsoft Office 2007

·         AVG Anti-virus Software

Q: How do I check my network IP settings?

Network Information:

Network Connection Setup

  1. Right Click on your Network Connection icon.
  2. Click on Properties.
  3. Click on the Network tab.
  4. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
  5. Click on Properties.
  6. Select Obtain IP address automatically.
  7. Select Obtain DNS Server address automatically.
  8. Click Apply.
  9. Click Ok.