Frequently Asked Questions
Printing
How do I use my laptop to print?
How much does it cost to print on the Laser Printers?
How much does it cost to print on the InkJet Printers?
What type of printers and print services are available?
Can I use my own paper?
A: Yes, however only the 5100, and 5550 LaserJet printers can use user-supplied paper. It must be LaserJet-approved paper and checked by a Lab Assistant. You may not use your own paper on the LaserJet 8500. For the InkJet printers, you may supply Epson-brand paper only. We cannot take non-approved paper as jams may occur and print quality is not guaranteed.
What's the difference between the 5550, the 5870, and the 8500?
Why do colors on my monitor and on my printout not match?
A: Monitors in the Lab are not calibrated and files that you submit may not be optimized for printing with the best results. Different printers will print differently. LaserJet printers use only four colors while InkJet printers use seven colors, so there will be a difference. In general, InkJet printers have a higher quality color reproduction. Lab lighting conditions also affect colors, and we recommend that you start printing early to get the results that you desire.
What type of paper is used in the LaserJets?
A: Regular 20-pound 104 brightness paper is used in the 1320, 3390, 5100, 5870, and 8500 LaserJets. Color LaserJet paper that is 24-pound with 96 brightness is used in the 3505 and 5550.
Can I print double-sided? Does this save money?
A: Duplex printing is available on the 5100, 5870, and 5550 printers. However, cost is per-side and not per-sheet, so printing one sheet double-sided is the same cost as printing two single-sided sheets.
What do I do if I don't have enough money or Convenience Points to pay for a print job?
A: No IOU's are accepted. Enough credit must be available in your Lab account before you can print. There are no exceptions to this rule.
If I am a faculty or staff member, what needs to be done to chargeback my department for printing expenses?
A: A departmental expense recovery agreement needs to be formulated between the CFA Computer Lab and the fiscal coordinator for your department. Once that agreement is in place, tyou will be able to print unrestricted and recovery costs for the print expenses will eb billed to your department at the end of each semester.
Can I submit inkjet print job requests from my residence hall or other off-campus location?
A: Job requests cannot be submitted from residence halls or other BU locations. However, if you are off-campus and connected to the BU network via the Cisco VPN client, you will be able to submit print jobs.
Scanning
Where and what type of scanners are available?
How do I use the SmartScan 3600 Slide Scanner (Station 21)?
A:
1. In Photoshop CS go to the File heading
2. Select Import
3. Under Import, select SilverFast (AFL-SE)
4. Click the Scan button
How do I use the Epson Perfection 1650 Flatbed Scanner (Stations 19 and 20)?
A:
1. In Photoshop, go to the File menu
2. Select Import
3. Under Import, select Epson Perfection 1650
How do I use the Epson 10000XL scanner (Any Station)?
A:
These instructions should work from any workstation in the CFA ComputerLab. If you experience any issues please ask a Lab Assistant for help.
1. Open Adobe Photoshop.
2. In the File menu select Import / EPSON Expression 10000XL
3. In the top right of the resulting EPSON Scan window select the user mode you would prefer, i.e. Professional, for access to the greatest amount of scanning settings, Office, or Home for the easiest automatic settings.
4. Place the document you wish to scan on the glass-scanning surface of the Epson Expression 10000XL scanner. The scanner is located on the left side of the Lab Assistant booth.
5. Next return to your workstation and click on Preview and continue from there.
If you are unable to proceed past step 2 because you receive a series of error messages please do the following before trying again.
1. Verify that no other individual is using the scanner at the same time.
2. Quit Adobe Photoshop.
3. Go into the Finder application and in the menu select Go / Go To Folder.
4. In the resulting window type: /Applications/Utilities/
5. Double click on the EPSON Scan Settings program.
6. Click on Test and then on OK.
7. Quit the program EPSON Scan Settings.
8. Start Adobe Photoshop and begin again with the instructions above.
Copying
Where and what type of copiers are available?
Laptops
How can I connect my laptop to the Internet?
How can I connect my laptop to the CFA Computer Lab server? (OS X only)
Where can I plug my laptop in?
A: Laptops and other peripheral devices requiring electricity can be plugged in to the surge protectors near the workstations. Outlets are also available throughout the classroom. Do not connect your power cable to an outlet which would hinder walking or create a safety hazard. Do not disconnect any device already plugged into an outlet.
Macintosh OS X
How do I open the CD/DVD drive on the workstations?
A: Press and hold the eject button located in the upper right of the keyboard. It is an arrow with a line underneath.
Can I use a floppy disk or a zip disk on the Lab workstations?
A: Yes. See a Lab Assistant to check out a USB floppy drive or a USB Zip drive. Both can be connected to the USB port in the front of the computer, and the Zip disk drive is compatible with 100MB and 250MB disks.
What do I do if a program is frozen with the spinning beachball?
A: You can Force Quit a program by pressing the Apple key + Option + Escape.
What if Force quit doesn't work and the system is frozen?
A: Hold down the CPU power button for 5 seconds to shut the computer down. Press the button again to power the computer back on. If this does not work, or you need additional help, please see a Lab Assistant.
How do I share files between two Macs via Firewire?
A:
1. Restart the computer you want to be the mobile hard drive (i.e. Which computer has the files that need to be transferred to the other one) and hold down the T button until a blue screen appears with a yellow firewire logo bouncing on the screen.
2. Plug in the firewire cable into both of the computers.
3. The logo of the drive will appear on the desktop and then you can take whatever files you want from the one and put it on
your computer.
4. Restart the computer that was used as the mobile hard drive.
The Lab
What programs are installed on the workstations?
What music programs are installed and where?
Will you fix my [laptop/desktop/printer/cell phone/microwave/etc.]?
A: Unfortunately, the CFA Computer Lab cannot fix or repair any personal computer or electronic device. We recommend the Personal Computer Support Center for on-campus repairs. CFA Faculty and Staff only can open a support ticket with the ITO by clicking here.
What types of media can I use for burning on the drives on the computers?
A: The workstation computers can burn CD-R and CD-RW discs. For DVD-R and DVD-RW burning, please check out an external DVD-burner from the Lab Help Desk.
What type of computers are in the Lab?
A: This is a multimedia classroom for Macintosh instruction. There are 21 Macintosh G5 computers, running dual 2 GHz processors with 1GB to 3GB of memory.
Can I save files onto the server?
A: Yes, onto the desktop, Documents or Music folders. Please be sure to backup your personal data files onto your own personal removable media (Zip disk, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, floppy disk, email, flash storage, external hard drives, etc). NOTE: Documents and data stored in student accounts and class folders are deleted at the end of each semester.
Can Lab Assistants provide in-depth software assistance on specific programs installed on the Lab workstations?
A: No, they can only answer basic and general questions. You are encouraged to borrow a book or manual from the Help Desk for specific information.
Can I supply my own fonts?
A: Yes. Place the fonts into the "My Fonts" shortcut on the desktop, which will place the font into your network folder so that you can use the font at any workstation in the future.
What do I do if my account has been suspended for violations of the user policy?
A: Please see a Lab Assistant at the CFA ITO Help Desk to have your account re-instated.
How is the lab laid out?
What should I do if my flash drive doesn't work?
A: See a Lab Assistant to determine if your drive is Mac-compatible.
What books are available to borrow?
What equipment is avaiable to borrow?
What blank media is available to purchase?
Network
Can I access my work saved on the server from outside the Lab?
A: No. For security reasons, access to the Lab server is blocked for all computers except those in the Lab. We recommend you use removable media for working on projects outside the Lab.
How can I access the wireless network in the lab?
A: For wireless internet access, Please see the PCSC's Wireless Access page for more information on connecting to the campus-wide WiFi network. For wired internet access, an Ethernet hub is available by the LaserJet printers, and Ethernet cables may be checked out from the Lab Help Desk. Ethernet cables are also available at workstations 18-21.
Policies and Procedures
Can I bring food or drink into the Lab?
A: While food is not allowed in the lab, drinks with sealable containers are allowed, given that they have a lid on them at all times. Cups such as Starbucks cups do not have sealable lids, therefore, they must remain on the shelf at the door when you enter. A good rule of thumb is that if you are willing to put the drink in your bag, then you can put it next to your computer. There are no exceptions to this rule, for any person at any time. You may leave food or drinks on the shelf by the door.
Can I watch a movie or listen to music in the Lab?
A: Yes, but only with headphones. You may check out headphones from the Lab Booth.
Am I allowed to have loud conversations with others in the Lab?
A: No. Please conduct all conversations and phone calls outside of the Lab.
What if I've lost something?
A: Check with a Lab Assistant for Lost and Found.
If I need to pickup something / conduct business with the Lab when a class is in session, what can I do?
A: Speak to a Lab Assistant at the Help Desk, the door directly to the right of the Lab entrance.
If I am enrolled in a class held in the Lab, and my card will not swipe in, what do I do?
A: See a Lab Assistant at the Help desk to request to have your card programmed.
Can I use the phone in the Lab Help Desk?
A: Students may not use the Lab booth phone. Faculty and staff may make a quick, on-campus call. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Why are user folders deleted at the end of each semester?
A: Data is deleted in order to conserve valuable hard disk storage space on the server and to purge unused accounts. If you would like to preserve your user folder data, you must make a formal request to the Lab Administrator by sending an email to cfalab@bu.edu.
Do I need to sign up for an account each semester?
A: No. Accounts are maintained from semester-to-semester, year-to-year and are valid until your graduation date.
Can I open a window in the Lab?
A: No. If the air conditions are not on, you may turn them on. Otherwise, if you need fresh air you must leave the lab. Windows are kept closed to prevent dust and dirt from the highway from entering the Lab.
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