IT-Digest: Vol. 2

May 26, 2005

This e-newsletter is intended to inform the USM community about technology related issues, events, updates and news.

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In This Issue

  1. GroupWise Out-of-Office Email Replies
  2. On Campus Weekly Virus Scan For PC Users
  3. Your Personal Secure Server Space Follows You Anywhere
  4. U of Maine Teachers Program Mentioned in MacWorld
  5. Avoid GroupWise Mailbox Interruptus
  6. Did you know?… Amazing Virus and Email Stats
  7. Floppy Failure Can be Eliminated Forever*
  8. Customize Your PC Screensaver (Win XP Users)
  9. Google Just Got a Whole Lot Smarter
1. GroupWise Out-of-Office Email Replies

GroupWise users who belong to listservs should modify their Vacation or Out-of-Office rule so that a contributor to a list does not receive the automatic replies. To modify your Vacation rule, choose Tools/Rules and click Edit for that rule. In the Define Conditions area set it to "To" contains <your email address>. This will send the reply to items addressed directly to you but not reply to email from a listserv. For more GroupWise information go to: http://usm.maine.edu/computing/groupwise.

2. On Campus Weekly Virus Scan For PC Users

We recommend that you scan your hard drive for viruses once a week. Your pc will slow down during the scan, so you may want to do this during a staff meeting, lunch, or any other time you're away from your computer for about ½ hour.

To set up a weekly virus scan for Windows computers:

  1. Chose Start > (All) Programs > Symantec Client Security > Symantec Anti-Virus.
  2. Choose Scheduled Scans > New Scheduled Scan > Next.
  3. Check Enable scan, choose weekly, choose your preferred time, Next.
  4. Check Local Disk C: (and any other local disks), choose Save.
  5. Be sure when you scan, that you select the only the C drive and under options click ALL FILES
3. Your Personal Secure Server Space Follows You Anywhere

Network Services has set up a nifty tool that allows you to access your network drive, i.e., N: and U:, from the Web. Go to: Myfiles.usm.maine.edu (no www.) Choose Click here to begin using this service. Select Accept this certificate temporarily for this session, and choose OK. Log in with your Novell/GroupWise username and password. Use the Help button for more information about the choices for using your files.

4. U of Maine Teachers Program Mentioned in MacWorld

U of Maine teachers program mentioned in MacWorld: click the link to see why www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/11/umaine.

5. Avoid GroupWise Mailbox Interruptus

When do you find out your mailbox is over quota, and you are unable to send mail? Always when you have to send an important message ASAP*. Avoid this dilemma by keeping a watchful eye on your GroupWise % Quota. We have tools that make mailbox maintenance so easy! If using Desktop GW, click on the "Mailbox Size %" button at the bottom of your screen. This indexes your trash, sent items and inbox, by sorting in order of size. This allows you to easily spot the location of Uncle's Joe's high resolution vacation photos from the Grand Canyon that you filed away. A word of caution when cleaning out sent items, if your appointments go into sent items, they will disappear from your calendar when you delete them. For more info, see www.usm.maine.edu/computing/groupwise/quota.htm.

6. Did you know?… Amazing Virus and Email Stats
  • Since January 1, 2005, USM's virus scanners have detected over 13,000 infected files and "potentially unwanted program" (spyware) files. This figure does NOT include detections by the scanners on our primary mail servers.
  • USM users have over 1.1 million files saved on our network, occupying over 250 GB of storage space...or enough to fill over 400 compact discs.
  • Our GroupWise system receives over 27,000 emails a day. Of these, over 15,000, or 58.6%, are spam. Lately, many of us have been spammed in German!
  • The IT User Services Help!Desk has logged and resolved over 7,000 trouble calls in Academic Year 2004-2005!
  • Wireless coverage has been expanded to cover the Campus Green area, so wireless users can work under the trees. Just a reminder- wireless does NOT replace the wired connection for Mainframe usage or for network resources containing confidential data.
  • Scheduling a meeting in GroupWise is easier than you think. Re-occurring meetings are a snap! Learn more.
  • USM Faculty and Staff now have access to local video-conferencing rooms here at Luther Bonney, also in Gorham at Bailey Hall and at LAC. From these hi-tech user-friendly meeting rooms, it is possible to conference with other poly-com users all over the world! Save gas and airline tickets; make collaborating time more productive by eliminating the commute. For availability and more info, call the Helpdesk at 780-4029.
  • USM's Logic Shop offers computers, printers, supplies and accessories at a very competitive price.
7. Floppy Failure Can be Eliminated Forever*

Media recently got a lot more dependable, portable and affordable. If you are unfamiliar with the term 'flash memory drive' please read all about it.

8. Customize Your PC Screensaver (Win XP Users)

If you have special photos saved in your "My Documents" folder and would like to use them for a custom screensaver, it's a snap! Right click on your desktop and select properties. Click on the screensaver option and select "My Pictures Slideshow". The timing and display properties are found under the 'settings' button.

9. Google Just Got a Whole Lot Smarter

Have you ever wished that you could google a subject and weed out the riff-raff, wackos, pseudo-psychics, the people who launch their keyboards before their brain is fully engaged? Google has gotten us a bit closer to that goal with a wonderful new beta sight called "Google Scholar".

The USM Computing site is maintained by Robin McGlauflin.