Laptop Program How-To and Frequently Ask Questions
Last Updated: 30-01-2008
Please Read First:
Welcome to the Kristin ICTS How-To and Frequently Ask Questions
The information on this page is normally generic in nature and applies to most laptops in the Middle School Laptop Program. If information is for specific laptops or students only, this will be noted.
Please be aware that some of the information here quickly gets technical - which, for example, is the nature of a basic secure home wireless network. We've done our best to structure our information to suit the most standard scenarios and we welcome feedback including any corrections or additional scenarios. If your home network has been set up by a technical person such as a contractor, friend or family member, this information will be of more use to them.
Home Networks and Printing Information
The information contained here is based on our Kristin staff laptops which successfully access home Internet and wireless hotspots and conference networks around the world. Students and staff have the same configurations and our team's knowledge of How-To information is current and well understood. We have assisted many dozens of students and parents with queries about home networks and in general, understand most home network configurations.
We also standard Microsoft enterprise network printing configurations here at Kristin. Home networks also based on Microsoft network printing standards should have no issues with student home printing. Printers attached directly to a Kristin laptop are addressed with our Extend Program (see FAQ below).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We understand that home networks are an important part of the Kristin educational environment and although we do not offer support for home ICT we will do our best to assist with our knowledge and experience.
Table of Contents
General Home Network Requirements
Updated 21/02/06, current at 30-01-2008
Please be aware that this information quickly gets technical - which is the nature of a basic, but secure home wireless network. If your home network has been set up by a technical person such as a contractor, friend or family member, this information will be of more use to them. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
ICTS can not guarantee all networks will be compatible with our systems. ICTS recommends that home wireless LAN equipment be WiFi compatible (and WPA security is used) and to check with the supplier if you can return the product if it is not compatible with a laptop or other network device. Kristin laptops use 802.11a/b/g network cards.
Home networks must use DHCP to provide the Kristin configured laptop with an IP address. Most ADSL modems/routers or wireless access points/routers provide DHCP support, but not all. The configuration of DHCP is done by the person building the network.
Before configuring Access Connections all non-Kristin networks configured in Windows (such as dial-up networking) must first be removed and the laptop re-booted. If not, it is most likely you will not be able to connect to you home network.
Kristin configured laptops include anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware and anti-adware tools which are managed by ICTS to ensure laptops are well protected. Laptops are configured to allow AV updates on any Home network configured for Internet Access where FTP traffic is allowed from the laptop to the Internet.
Home Networking - Lenovo/IBM
Published 10-02-06
For: All student Lenovo T43 laptops which can be configured by you for home network use.
When: Now for all new T43s. All other IBM or Lenovo laptops after Week 4 (Camp) Term1 2006.
How:
The following (and more) network types are supported;
- dial-up
- highspeed or broadband
- ethernet
- WiFi wireless
- wireless WAN (GPRS/CDMA or 3G/T3G)
Laptop Program FAQ
[in progress - please see various other FAQs through out this web site relating to specific ares of interest]
The majority of this information is currently published in the Laptop Care Program (also published as the Student Laptop User guide) document.
Q: I have a printer/scanner at home I want to connect to my laptop, how do I do this?
Q: There is a problem with my laptop and it is not working correctly, what do I do?
A: Basic ICTS Support Procedures  (Double left-click to open this image full size) or visit our support page for more information.
Q: What is the loan laptop fleet and how do I get a loan laptop?
A: The loan laptop fleet is based on the total number of laptops supported at Kristin and loan laptops are available for staff or students. The ratios range from 20:1 to 50:1 depending on our program.
Loan laptops are only available for students when a laptop is in for service. Our ICTS support systems are closely tied to Middle School systems to ensure a timely return of loans once a student laptop is repaired. Updates to our support systems for 2008 will speed the majority of loan issuing to student laptops with physical damage Prior to 2008, slow return of insurance forms held up the issuing of loan laptops.
ICTS has not 'run out' of loans for students since the end of 2005, however, a major ICT incident could exhaust our loan pools. In this scenario, the Middle School will be well informed so that impacts to educational programs are minimized.
Other common questions, please do not hesitate to ask
When and How does my laptop get upgraded?
My laptop has broken (non-software related) and the repair is covered by warranty, what happens and will this cost anything?
What are the insurance details for my laptop?
I am traveling out of the country, is my laptop covered by insurance?
My laptop has been misplaced or stolen, what do I do?
What is WiFi? Do I have WiFi?
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