Computing and Information Services

Frequently Asked Questions

List of FAQ categories

Operating System

+Are their any restrictions as to what type of computer I can connect to the En Suite Online Service (ESOL) in my student study bedroom?

Yes. You can find the connection policy details below. These specify the operating system and antivirus protection needed.

+Can I advertise on NPCS?

Please read the information about advertising at http://www.dur.ac.uk/its/services/computing/npcs/advert/

+How do I activate Windows Vista's Administrator Account?

To activate Vista's hidden administrator account please follow the instructions below:

1. Logon to Vista using your normal username and password.
2. Click on the Start button
3. Click on Start Search.
4. Type, cmd.
5. Right-click cmd from the shortcut menu that appears at the top of the Start menu and select 'Run as administrator'.
6. In the black 'DOS box', type:

Net user administrator /active:yes

and press Enter.
7. Then set a password for the administrator account by typing:

Net user administrator p£ssw0rd

and press Enter. Your password should be different.
8. Check the message : The command completed successfully
9. Switch User, or logoff. From now on, the Administrator account will appear as an option on the Welcome screen, along with any user accounts you may have set up. Use it like any other account.
10. Logon as Administrator Password p£ssw0rD (Your password should be different!)

NOTE: If you want to disable the account and hide it, enter the command below at an elevated command prompt and press Enter:

Net user administrator /active:no

+How do I connect to the wireless service with Microsoft Vista?

Configuration instructions for the Durham University Wireless service using Windows Vista are explained in InfoSheet 17.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/its/info/infosheets/17vistawireless.pdf

+How do I connect to the wireless service with Microsoft XP?

Configuration instructions for the Durham University Wireless service using Windows XP are explained in InfoSheet 19.

http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/its/info/infosheets/19xpwireless.pdf

+How do I read a floppy disk in Unix?

Logon to a Unix Workstation:

rlogin to the workstation name (eg rlogin norma);
type "volcheck" to access the disk drive;
type cd /floppy/floppy0.

Standard unix commands (eg ls or pico) will now relate to the data on the disk. To eject: use the cd command to go to unix file space; type eject.

+How do I restore my .login .cshrc files (I've changed them and they don't work)?

You can restore the .login /.cshrc directories from the default ones.

At the unix prompt, enter the commands
cp /usr/local/share/etc/proto.cshrc .cshrc
cp /usr/local/share/etc/proto.login .login

You will then need to start a new unix session. NB: With this option, you will revert back to the default unix commands.

+Why can I not access UNIX via cdehost?

Three things to check:

  1. Do you have the right software installed ? On a networked NPCS machine go to Start / Durham Network / CDE - cdehost. You will then be prompted for your username and password. Other users may have to install the latest version of Hummingbird Exceed, which is available on the Durham Network folder CD-ROM, from the main ITS Helpdesk.
  2. Do you have an active Durham IT account and are you inputting the correct username and password when prompted ?
  3. Occasionally, users who have run out of space on their home or J: drives are unable to configure and use a CDE connection to UNIX. If you have recently run out of space on your UNIX / NPCS home drive, you will need to go to the main ITS Helpdesk where an advisor can talk you through restoring your CDE preference files.

Subscribe to these FAQs