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Geography 393-593 - GPS - GIS

Spring Quarter, 1997

Introduction to Windows

I. The Windows Operating System

       The Windows operating system is basically a Macintosh-like front end to the MS-DOS
command line operating system. It simplifies MS-DOS for the user and makes using a PC less of a headache than it used to be before Windows. We will discuss a few of the features of the Windows desktop environment so that you will be working like a PC pro in no time at all! If you are familiar with Windows, accessing your UNIX account, telnet, and email, you may skip this section and move on to Part II.

A. Logging in to the Geography Department network

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete simultaneously on the keyboard
2. At the "Logon Information" window...
            a. enter the username as guest
            b. click on the OK button (no password is needed)
3. The desktop will automatically appear. Once you have an account with
            the Geography Dept., you can connect to your UNIX directory to access
            files (see #4 below). Here you will have the ability to save files, copy files
            back and forth, etc. Never logon with your username/password from the             guest logon window - it won't work.
            Note 1: UNIX is the name of the operating system that runs the Sun
            workstations in the other half of the DIGIT lab. It is also operates the
            Department's main file systems. Many commands are very similar to
            those in MS-DOS (the PC's command-line operating system).
            Note 2: Notice that there are other desktop icons, and the Start menu
            bar at the bottom of the screen. You will need to become familiar with
            the operations of these icons and menus during the quarter.
            Note 3: This is a good time to familiarize yourself with the various
            components of a window, including the minimize, resize, and close
            buttons in the upper right corner, and the pull-down menu in the upper
            left corner.
            Note 4: By clicking on an icon or the desktop with the right mouse
            button, you have access to many other options and shortcuts.
4. To log on as a registered user, double click on the Shortcut to Winfile
            icon on the left side of your desktop. Next, go to the top menu bar and
            pull down the Disk menu. Go to Connect Network Drive to open up
            a connection to the UNIX file server. In the Map Network Drive
            window, scroll up until you see the DIGIT directory. Double click on
            it, and then double click on the PCLAB directory. In the appropriate
            boxes, type your username and password, then hit the OK button to
            continue.
5. Choose a drive to map your directory to. The default is the D: drive, but
            you may wish to choose another. The D: drive on two of the PCs is the
            CD-ROM drive. Click on the OK button when you have finished.

B. Getting Windows Help

1. Much more Windows information is available via the Windows Help
            menus (Start>>Help).
2. There are also several Windows-related classes offered through the
            University of Utah Computer Center. These classes are available free
            to all registered students. For more information, call 581-6802 or visit
            the PC Short Courses web site at
            http://www.cc.utah.edu/training/pc.html .

C. Logging off of the network

1. Single click on the Start menu button, and select Shut Down. At the shut
            down window, click on the circle by the phrase "Close all programs
            and log on as a different user".
2. Or press Ctrl+Alt+Delete like you did when you logged on.

D. Changing your password and accessing Telnet

1. Click on the Start menu button, and select
            Programs>>accessories>>telnet.
2. From the menu bar of the Telnet window, select
            Connect>>Remote System.
3. To establish a Telnet (remote login) session, enter unix.geog.utah.edu in
            the appropriate box, and then click on the Connect button.
4. Enter your username and password (remember, the password is case
            sensitive).
5. Enter the command passwd <then hit the Enter button>
            a. at the old password prompt, enter your old password. Hit Enter.
            b. at the new password prompt, enter your new password. Hit Enter.
            c. verify the new password by retyping it. Hit Enter.
               Note: this is important! Your password must contain at least 6
               characters, one of which must be numeric. Passwords can be case
               sensitive.
6. Type exit.
7. From the menu bar, select Connect>>Exit.
            Note: If you are scratching your head right now and trying to
            remember your password, then we will need to send an email to our
            systems administrator so that he can dredge up your old password and
            remind you of it. See me...

E. Checking your email

1. Go through the previous procedure to establish a Telnet session to
            unix.geog.utah.edu.
2. At the UNIX prompt, type mail to enter into the mail server. Refer to
            the list of commonly used mail commands on this page. Note that
            there other ways to read email (Pine, Eudora, etc.), so use
            whichever one you like.
3. To exit mail, type q at the prompt.
4. Don't forget to exit out of the Telnet session.