Laptop Instructions

The equipment you are receiving belongs to the University of Houston and is on loan to you.  You are not allowed to uninstall, upgrade or delete any pre-configured software, or install or uninstall any Operating System(s).  For any major changes, you should contact ude.hu.htam@plehthe first.  Computers with Windows Operating System should be connected to the internet at least once a week for updates.  Failure to follow these simple rules may result in losing the privilege of using the equipment.

Laptop Cases:

Since laptops are portable, extra care should be taken to avoid unnecessary risk and damage.  Laptops should only be transported in approved cases which have 1-2" of padding.  Usually, a laptop case is provided with the laptop.  Special backpacks are available that have the required padding built-in can be requested instead of a normal laptop case.  Such requests must be approved in advance.

Laptop power:

The charging cables (AC adapter) for the laptop should not be wound tightly and users should avoid rolling over the cables with chairs or other items as it can cause damage.  If the cables are damaged, then the battery may not function properly.  In some cases, extreme damage can expose wires and be a potential electrical hazard.  Users should inspect the cables frequently for exposed wires and if found, notify the Math IT staff immediately.  Simply wrapping electrical tape around exposed wires is insufficient and not advised.  You will be held responsible for replacing any damaged items.  When storing the charging cables with the laptop, special attention should be made to avoid crushing and/or damaging the laptop display.

Laptop batteries need exercise.  If you don't use it, you'll lose it.  In as little time as 3 months, a laptop battery that is constantly plugged into the AC adapter can lose its ability to hold a charge.  You should use the laptop on battery as much as possible.  You should only charge the laptop when the batteries are low.  The time it takes to drain the battery to a low condition will vary for each laptop, but should be as long as 2 or more hours.  Otherwise, if the battery cannot hold a charge longer 1 hour, notify the administrators as the battery may need replacing.

Warranties:

We usually have 3 or 4 year warranties for laptops as this is the typical amount of time that it is still useful.  Any damage to laptops should be reported ASAP.  Warranty repairs are usually returned in 1-2 weeks.  Any damage to equipment not under warranty, or damage not covered by warranty is the responsibility of the user and you may have to pay for repairs or replacement.  Before turning in a laptop for repair, users should create a backup unless the problem is a failing hard drive.

Backups:

Storage and backups of personal data is the user's responsibility.  The Math IT staff is NOT responsible for backing up user files!  In the event of a failed drive, if a backup can be made, one of the IT staff will do so before sending the laptop off or replacing the drive.  Users should not rely on this for their backup, although it will be made available for use when possible.  Since it is possible that a failed drive can be so damaged that data is corrupted and/or unrecoverable, users should already have some type of backup procedure in use to protect important data.  Users can save their files to external drives, like USB memory sticks or drives.  But, since these devices can fail, users are advised not to use external devices as the only data storage.

Connection to user accounts in Math Department:

The university provides wireless internet connections; however, users cannot connect directly to their math accounts without using SSH or SFTP.  (Putty (SSH) is installed on all department Windows desktops and Putty and WinSCP (SFTP) is installed on all Windows laptops).  Users are not allowed to disconnect Ethernet cables from department computers for use with their laptops.  Remote access to user accounts in the Math Dept. can also be done using SSH or SFTP, and files can be saved in their home directory.  Since the department does regular backups frequently, the data would be quite safe.

Software:

Laptops will have the 64-bit versions of Windows 10 with the following software installed by default:

In addition, laptops may have other software for extra hardware, such as writing tablets, Bluetooth adapters and other devices.  If other software is required, the department may provide it, but it might require purchase authorization first.  The Math department has licenses for MathLab, Mathematica, & Maple, but there are limitations for use outside the department network and may have additional costs.

Users are not allowed to uninstall or upgrade any system software without checking with the Math IT staff beforehand.  Doing so can make the system unstable.  Users may install other personal software on their own, like iTunes, but should be cautious to avoid unknown and/or possibly harmful software (like torrent P2P software for music or movies).  Before returning the laptop, this software should be uninstalled.

McAfee (Anti-Virus) should automatically update when the laptop is connected to the internet for longer than 30 minutes.  (see http://math.uh.edu/~dave/help/mcafee for more help)  Users should become familiar with these software tools to help avoid viruses and malware.

If you ever suspect your laptop/desktop is infected, immediately remove it from the network, wired or wireless, and manually run the above McAfee Anti-Virus to scan the PC.  If the PC is still infected or you don't want to do this yourself, contact ude.hu.htam@pleh the to schedule servicing.

Final Words:

Do not loan the PC to anyone.  Do not leave the PC where it can be easily stolen.  Do not expose the PC to extreme temperatures, such as in your car during a freeze or in the summer heat.  With proper care and maintenance, a laptop can remain useful for as long as a desktop, which is typically 4-7 years.

See http://www.math.uh.edu/~dave/ for assistance on computers and software issues.

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Last revised: August 8, 2018 13:27