Computing
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Computers
Email
Security
UW Tools
Course-Related Technology
Technical Support
Wireless
Law School Lab and Printers
Other Questions
Personal Computers
Does the Law School have a personal computer requirement?
No. However, if you choose to use a personal computer, you will find William Gates Hall to be well-equipped to support your use of technology. There is wireless network coverage throughout the building, providing easy and convenient access to the internet.
Additionally, power is available at all classroom seats, and many Law School students choose to use a laptop (or a PDA in conjunction with a keyboard peripheral) to take notes in class.
If you are shopping for a new computer for use at the Law School, recommended system specs can be found below.
If you choose not to own or don't have access to a personal computer, the computer lab in room 222 of William Gates Hall provides 6 computers for Law School student use. The lab computers have internet access as well as commonly used software such as Microsoft Office and legal research tools. Additionally, 33 email/research terminals are available for student use in the Law Library.
What system requirements or specifications does the Law School recommend for personally-owned computers?
If you are bringing a computer to school or will be purchasing a new one soon for academic use, below are the recommended specifications:
Ideal -
- Operating System: Windows XP Professional, with Service Pack 2 What about Windows Vista?
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion
- RAM: 1GB+
- Hard Disk: 60GB+, 7200 RPM
- Network (Ethernet) Adapter: 100Mb or higher
- DVD or CD burner
- 2 or more USB 2.0 ports
- 17-inch monitor (desktop computer) / 14-inch display (laptop)
- 802.11 b and/or g compatible wireless network adapter (laptop systems)
- Active warranty coverage
Minimum -
- Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional, with Service Pack 4
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 (desktop computer) / Pentium M (laptops)
- RAM: 512MB
- Hard Disk: 30GB, 5400 RPM
- Network (Ethernet) Adapter: 10Mb
- 802.11 a, b, and/or g compatible wireless network adapter (laptop systems)
- CD drive
- Floppy Drive
- 2 USB 1.1 ports
- 15-inch monitor (desktop systems)
- 12-inch display (laptop systems)
- Active warranty coverage
What brand of computer should I buy?
The Law School has standardized faculty and staff computers on Dell hardware. However, this does not mean that students necessarily need to follow suit. The rule of thumb is to buy what you can afford; given current pricing you should be able to purchase a new desktop system for around $1,000 and a laptop for around $1,500. Companies such as Dell, Gateway, Toshiba and IBM sell systems with excellent price/performance ratios.
If you intend to purchase your computer through mail order, we strongly recommend finding a demo model at a computer store of the system you want (especially for laptops). The UW Bookstore has several models on display and an academic discount program.
Where can I buy any software or hardware I may need?
The University of Washington Bookstore, located at 4326 University Way, offers a wide selection of computing equipment and supplies to UW students at academic pricing. A list of the Bookstore's services is available on their website located at http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/.
Additionally, Law School students can purchase discounted select
Microsoft software through eAcademy, a third-party software fulfillment
company. The UW's eAcademy program allows all UW students to purchase
Microsoft software online using a credit card; only an installation CD
is shipped (no manuals or box), the license for which allows the
software to be used on a single computer. The eAcademy website can be
found at http://elms10.e-academy.com/washington/.
Additional information about this program is available from UW Computing
& Communications, and can be found at
http://www.washington.edu/computing/software/sitelicenses/microsoft/.
Can I use a Macintosh computer at the Law School?
Yes. However, the level of technical support that Computing can provide depends on whether you are using a Mac operating system (such as OS X) or Windows. Computing Services does not have the resources available to support OS X or other Mac OS versions in the same capacity as it does Windows. However, we can provide the same level of support to students using Windows XP on Boot Camp as we do to students using Windows on a PC. See more information about the technical support policy for students and information about using a Mac on an exam.
Additionally, a number of computer labs on the UW campus provide Macs for student use as well as increased support for Mac applications. A list of UW Computing Labs is located at http://www.washington.edu/computing/compmap.html.
Can I use my Macintosh laptop to take an exam?
Examsoft, the software which the Law School requires students to run when using a computer on an exam, does not function on a Mac laptop with PowerPC-based hardware. However, Law students with Intel-based Mac laptops (MacBook/MacBook Pro) can run Examsoft within Windows XP running on Boot Camp; even with Intel-based hardware, Examsoft will not run within OS X. We support the installation and use of Examsoft within Windows on Intel-based Mac hardware in the same capacity that it is supported for any other student using Windows.
It is important to note that ONLY a Windows XP/Boot Camp combination is currently supported and permitted for the use of ExamSoft. VirtualPC and other similarly functioning virtualization/emulation software is not permitted as a means to run Windows XP for the sake of using ExamSoft.
At present, we do NOT provide Mac users with installation or configuration support for Boot Camp or Windows XP. So, if a Law student wants to run Examsoft on their Intel-based Mac, they must already be familiar with the use of Boot Camp and Windows XP; both must be setup and functioning properly before seeking technical support for Examsoft.
Can the Law School loan me a laptop?
No, but laptops are available for loan from UW Classroom Support Services (CSS), located in Kane Hall.
Please note that Classroom Support Services requires that reservation requests for loaner laptops be made by noon of the day before the laptop is needed.
More information about CSS' equipment loan program and policies can be found at http://www.css.washington.edu/STFEquipment.
Email
How do I use email at the Law School?
Once you have obtained your UW NetID, you may setup and begin using your UW email account. Your email address will be in the following format:
<Your UW NetID>@u.washington.edu
C&C is responsible for the maintenance and support of Law School email services. C&C provides thorough and useful information about email at the UW at the following locations:
How do I configure my email program?
Configuration instructions for PC-Pine, Microsoft Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Mozilla Mail, and Mac OS X Mailer can be found at http://www.washington.edu/computing/email/programs.html#configuring
Configuration instructions for Microsoft Outlook are available at:
http://www.washington.edu/computing/support/windows/office/outlookconfig.html
Security
Does UW provide students with anti-virus software?
Yes. Law School students are strongly encouraged to install McAfee
Viruscan on your system, which is available as part of the UWICK
software kit. More information about UWICK is included at
http://www.washington.edu/computing/software/uwick/.
Before installing McAfee Viruscan on your computer, you will need to
first uninstall any antivirus software that may already be present on
your system. Having multiple versions of antivirus software installed on
a system can negatively impact its stability and performance. Many
systems come with preinstalled antivirus software that expires after a
period of time, upon which you must pay for updates. There isn't a need
to spend your money to renew a trial version of antivirus software - use
Viruscan instead, which is provided by UW free for your personal use,
for as long as you are affiliated with the University.
What should I do if my system has a virus?
Lawhelp will provide technical support to properly disinfect your
system. If your system is running outdated or expired antivirus software
- or no antivirus software whatsoever - we will install McAfee Viruscan
to protect your system against future infections. This service is
provided because of the impact that an infected system can have on the
Law School and/or University network as a whole.
Do I need to keep my Windows-based computer updated with the latest security patches?
Yes. Because of the heterogeneous nature of the student computing environment, Computing Services cannot provide the student body with the same level of support that it provides faculty and staff. Considering this, it is the responsibility of the student to properly update and secure their systems.
We strongly recommend that you update your Windows system at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com prior to your first use of the UW network.
Doing so will help keep your Windows system protected from the ever increasing number of threats and software exploits that it is susceptible to when on the internet. The following resources provide instructions and recommendations for keeping a Windows system up-to-date with the proper patches and service packs:
In the event that a student system is compromised or affected by an unpatched security vulnerability, Lawhelp will provide technical support to properly repair the system. This service is provided because of the impact that an affected system can have on the Law School and/or University network as a whole; in some cases, University Computing and Communications must block a compromised system from accessing the UW network. The owner of the blocked system will need to contact Lawhelp to properly clean and patch the system so it may again be allowed access to the network.
Where can I download Windows XP Service Pack 2?
Use the Microsoft Update website to keep your Windows computer up-to-date with the most recent Windows security patches, including Service Pack 2: http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate
Course-Related Technology
How do I subscribe to podcasts?
To subscribe to podcasts using iTunes, follow these step-by-step instructions:
http://help.netnation.com/documents/podcasting/Subscribing_to_a_Podcast_-_iTunes.htm
How do I program my clicker to work in Gates Hall classrooms?
Clickers (or response cards) can be programmed by following these instructions:
http://www.law.washington.edu/Computing/responsecard.pdf
| Channel Guide for Gates Hall Classrooms |
| Room |
Channel |
Room |
Channel |
| 116 |
16 |
133 |
33 |
| 117 |
17 |
138 |
38 |
| 118 |
18 |
207 |
07 |
| 119 |
19 |
213 |
13 |
| 127 |
27 |
217 |
21 |
UW Tools
What is a UW NetID, and how do I get one?
Your UW NetID is your personal identification for using UW online resources. A UW NetID is required of everyone associated with the University of Washington who plans on using online central administrative programs and computing services. Your UW NetID ensures the privacy of your personal information and restricts the use of resources to those for whom they are intended.
With your UW NetID, you are eligible to access computing services such as:
- Access your MyUW page from which you can check your personal UW information (grades and schedules, etc).
- WebPine, a web-based program for accessing your email from any computer with internet access.
- Manage your UW email account (forwarding options, spam filtering, etc.)
Your UW NetID remains the same throughout your life, no matter what associations you have with the University of Washington.
Once your seat deposit has been processed, you may setup your UW NetID . To do so, visit https://uwnetid.washington.edu/newid/.You will need to enter your Star Private Access Code. If you don't know or remember this code, call the Registration Office at 206-543-8580 for assistance.
Additional information and support for your UW NetID is available at http://www.washington.edu/computing/uwnetid/
What is UWICK?
UWICK is a compilation of UW-supported software which all faculty, staff, and students are entitled to use free of charge. For more information, visit https://www.washington.edu/uware/uwick/
How do I access the server storage space that the UW provides to students?
The UW provides students with an account on a computer called Dante, which can be used to access your UW email and also to store a personal webpage. Information on creating a webpage on Dante can be found at http://www.washington.edu/computing/web/publishing/students.html.
Directions on using Pine to access your email on Dante are at http://www.washington.edu/computing/email/programs.html#terminal
In addition, WebFiles, a tool within the UW's web-based Catalyst software suite, provides students with 1.5GB of space for storing files and streaming media. Using a web browser, WebFiles allows students to easily download and upload files from storage space that's accessible from any computer on the Internet. More information about WebFiles can be found at https://catalysttools.washington.edu/tools/secure/filemanager/.
Technical Support
What is the Law School's technical support policy for students?
Computing Services provides comprehensive support for software and services that students need to utilize to fulfill their academic responsibilities. Since there is no Law School-mandated computer requirement, the decision to own a laptop or desktop system is entirely up to a student themselves. Because of this, the scope of support that Computing Services provides to students only covers that which is directly necessitated by course requirements and other academic matters. Additionally, the department provides students with technical support for issues that affect the stability and security of the UW network and/or other resources that the Law School or University community rely on as a whole.
Computing Services cannot offer students assistance for hardware issues (physical problems with laptop or desktop components). Unlike faculty and staff hardware, no standard is enforced for student hardware. While it would be ideal to be able to offer comprehensive hardware support to all members of the Law School community, Computing Services does not have the resources necessary to support a heterogeneous hardware environment. However, while not a resource for the resolution of hardware issues, Computing Services can provide you with general advice and basic, high-level diagnoses for hardware-related issues. You can in turn use this information when contacting an equipment manufacturer or other appropriate repair service to resolve your issue.
How do I contact technical support?
Before seeking technical support, you will need to determine if your support issue should be referred to Law School technical support ("Lawhelp") or UW Computing and Communications ("C&C"). In general, Lawhelp can provide you with assistance for technical issues that concern Law School computing resources, such as the William Gates Hall wireless network or the room 222 computer lab. Information about issues for which C&C can provide you with technical support is located at: http://www.washington.edu/computing/forstudents.html.
Contacting Lawhelp
Technical support is available from Lawhelp between the hours of 9AM and 5PM, Monday through Friday. Lawhelp may be contacted in the following ways:
- Via email:
- In person: Office located in William H. Gates Hall room 223.
Law School Computing Services' website is located at http://www.law.washington.edu/Computing/ and is regularly updated to provide helpful, accurate, and up-to-date information to the Law School community.
Contacting C&C
C&C technical support can be contacted in the following ways:
UW Computing and Communications' website is located at http://www.washington.edu/computing/.
Wireless
How do I use the William Gates Hall wireless network?
Wireless network access is available throughout all of William Gates Hall. The Law School's wireless network supports hardware that is rated for the new 802.11g standard, as well as the 802.11a and 802.11b standards. If you already have a wireless card in your laptop, hang on to it - there's a very good chance that it is compatible with the wireless network.
If you need to purchase a wireless card, Computing Services has found the most consistent results with wireless network cards made by Cisco, Linksys, or Netgear. Many wireless cards are available with dual band support, meaning they support both 802.11a and g, for example. While dual band support allows your wireless card to be compatible with a wide variety of wireless networks, it is not a requirement for using the Law School's wireless network.
Additional information about using the William Gates Hall wireless network is available at the Computing Services website at http://www.law.washington.edu/Computing/wireless.html. Additionally, Lawhelp can assist you in setting up your wireless card to use the Law School's wireless network - email
for more information. For general information about wireless networks throughout the UW,
please see http://www.washington.edu/computing/wireless/.
What should I do if my access to the wireless network is blocked?
In some cases, University Computing and Communications (C&C) must block
a compromised system from accessing the UW network in order to protect
other networked systems. If your system is blocked, contact Lawhelp so
we may properly disinfect and/or patch your system and inform C&C that
your network access can be restored.
How do I use the UW network if I don't have access to a system with a wireless card?
At present, for the sake of network security, there are no network jacks available for public use in William Gates Hall. However, if you are living on campus, your room will most likely be wired for Ethernet-based network connectivity. Contact Housing and Food Services at http://hfs.washington.edu/ with any questions or problems regarding the network jack in your room. Additionally, the Law School's computer lab, as well as many other computer labs on campus, provide systems with internet access for student use. More info about computer lab resources is presented next.
Law School Lab & Printers
Is there a computer lab available for law student use?
Yes. The Law Student Computer Lab, located in William Gates Hall room 222, has 6 PCs available, a pay-per-job printer that is part of the campus-wide Pharos printing system, and a self-service document/image scanner. Your student ID card is required to enter the lab, and all computers are available on a first-come first-serve basis.
The lab computers are configured with the following software:
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2
Business/Productivity:
Microsoft Office 2003 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Acrobat Reader 6
TextBridge Pro
Web Browser:
Internet Explorer 6
Mozilla Firefox
The Marian Gould Gallagher Law Library (William Gates Hall floors L1 and L2) also provides public computer terminals with internet access. Three terminals are also located in the student lounge in L113. Additionally, a list of other computer labs on the UW campus is located at http://www.washington.edu/computing/compmap.html.
How can I print documents to Law School printers?
The Law School uses Pharos, the University maintained pay-per-print system, for student printing needs. Pharos printers are available at the following locations:
- Law Student Computer Lab - room 222
- Law Library - room L114
To send a job to a printer that is part of the Pharos system, your computer must have the Pharos client software. Once installed, it is even possible to print to a Pharos printer from a system on the wireless network in William Gates Hall. Pharos client software, installation instructions, and a guide to configuring your system for wireless printing can be found at http://www.law.washington.edu/Computing/Printing.html
Other Questions
Where do I go for questions about my Husky card?
Please email gatesbc@u.washington.edu, or see Ebb Hagan in room 111, which is located through the double doors to the left of the elevators at the East entrance of William Gates Hall.