Comments Off on Public Computers all on XP

By Scott Pfitzinger, May 30, 2008 1:14 pm

As of this afternoon, all of the publicly accessible computers in Irwin Library (upstairs, downstairs, Room 119, and all around the first floor) are running Windows XP and have the updated standard Library Lab image on them. I’m still checking on the Science Library.

This means all the computers have the same functionality, all are set up to print to IL_120_X, all can unzip files right from My Computer, all can burn CDs easily, and all have Write-N-Cite, Adobe Photoshop, Firefox, and all the other programs that the other lab computers have.

Even the computer with the scanner has been updated to Windows XP and the scanner reinstalled. Because of the new operating system, the process of scanning is slightly different from before. I have printed out new instructions and taped them to the scanner lid. The process is actually much more straightforward now and harder to mess up. 🙂 Choices III is NOT on this computer at the moment, but I’m told we’re renewing our license and should be getting a new version of the program (and new data) sometime this summer.

The Reference Desk computer is also running Windows XP, so people working there can more easily support the public computers.

Please let me know if you find (or hear about) any public computer that is not working right.
Thanks.
Scott

Comments Off on WorldCat Collection Analysis Info

By Scott Pfitzinger, May 12, 2008 2:58 pm

Here’s the logon info for anyone who (like me) misplaced Lewis’s email and couldn’t get in.  🙂

Title Analysis System (WorldCat Collection Analysis)

http://firstsearch.oclc.org

User Name –
100-152-241
Password – butleru

The “Collection Analysis” tab is the fourth one in.

Comments Off on Reference Computers Update

By Scott Pfitzinger, May 1, 2008 10:47 am

Here’s a brief update on the public-access computers, just to keep everyone in the loop.

Right now, the 18 PCs and 6 iMacs in the main Reference area are the only ones that are receiving the “lab image,” which gives them the formatting that is appropriate to lab-type computers. This includes Windows XP and admin rights for me to access the C: drive. The next time all the computers are reimaged, that lab image will be applied to every public-access computer in the library, including the upstairs computers and Room 119.

Part of that image will give each of those computers Windows XP. Another major part is that I.R. will have configured them all to reboot every night. Say, about 4:00am when we’re always closed. That configuration will include removing profiles as part of the restart process.

Note: every time someone logs onto a computer, it creates a profile for them on that machine, which contains their cookies, browsing history, My Documents, etc. When there are more than 10 profiles or so, that starts affecting the computer and making it slow down, especially during the login process. Many of our machines were not having profiles removed and I’ve manually removed 300-400 of them from some of the machines. That would DEFINITELY be affecting those PCs’ performance. Once profiles are being removed every night automatically, computer performance should stay higher more consistently. (That also means that people will HAVE to use BUFiles, since the computers will basically be getting wiped every night.

Another update to the new image will be Write-N-Cite III, a new version of the MS-Word plugin that connects with RefWorks (click the link for a demo of the new Write-N-Cite). Probably some other things that are being updated campus-wide in the labs.

I will also be asking for the Reference Desk PC to be upgraded to Windows XP this summer, so that we can more easily support the lab computers with a consistent interface.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Scott

Comments Off on LibGuides Statistics

By Scott Pfitzinger, April 23, 2008 5:34 pm

LibGuide Statistics
Guide Hits 2008 (Jan. 1 – Apr. 23)