Windows Labs Application Tips

When you log in to a Windows computer in an ITS Student Lab with you access name, you are logging on an Microsoft Windows XP operating system with your own file space on a server to store your documents. Your User Space contains your "My Documents" folder - the default location most applications save file. This tutorial provide you with the information you need to work on these computers.

Your Personal Software -- installing personal software for your use
Zipped Files -- creating and extracting zipped files in the LABS

Your Personal Software

If you wish to install software for your use in the LABS, you must install it in your personal space, either the UDrive (V:) or Pass Space (X:).

Furthermore, if your application attempts to write files to the local hard drive (C:) or to create registry keys in the local machine registry (HKLM), the application will not be installed properly. You do not have write access to the local hard drive or registry. This is to ensure system integrity, security, and manageability of the LABS computers.

Zipped Files

Microsoft XP has native zipped file support.

To create a zipped file:

Right-click on a set of files to compress
Select Send To Compress (zipped) Folder
The files will be compressed to a .zip in the directory

To extract a zipped file:

Right-click on a .zip compressed file
On the Extraction Wizard, click the Next button
Select the extraction directory and click the Next button
Click the Finish button