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Configuring your new Dell Computer

Introduction

When you order your Dell Computer using a Brown University purchase order or credit card, your computer is imaged at the factory according to Brown's standard desktop specifications. Software and settings most commonly used at Brown are pre-installed. Please view the Dell Image Contents for details about your new Dell computer.

The windows setup program which runs when you first start your new computer has been customized to assist you to properly configure your computer for use at Brown. The instructions below provide directions for completing this customized Brown setup. Proper setup is essential to secure your system for use on the Brown campus network and enable some services that are available to you as a Brown faculty or staff member.

Before you Begin

• It is recommended that your Dell computer be connected to the Brown campus network to complete this setup. If you are an on-campus user and able to connect to the Brown network, follow the "Setup with Network Connection Available" instructions to configure your computer.


• Special instructions are provided for those who are unable to connect their computer to the Brown network during the initial setup process. Follow the steps in "Setup Without a Network Connection Available" if you are off-campus or have been advised by your DCC to follow special setup procedures. Please check with your DCC to see if there are any additional policies or procedures to follow when configuring new computers in your department.

Setup with Network Connection Available

1. At first power on, the Windows Professional Setup screen will appear. Enter your name in the Name field and click Next.
2. In the next dialog box, the Computer Name field will be filled with a temporary name. Click on the Administrator password field.
3. Enter a password according to CIS's password guidelines. Your administrator password should not be the same as your NetID/AuthID password. (Warning: Choosing a password of less than 8 characters will result in a BLANK Administrator password and auto login will fail.)
4. Re-enter your password and click Next.
5. Wait while Windows configuration processes take place. Your computer will restart and auto login.
• If you are prompted to install new hardware, accept the default settings to continue. Click "Yes" to restart.
• If you receive a warning that system memory has changed, this behavior is acceptable. Simply close the message.
• If the RealPlayer Message Center launches, do the following:
  • Click on the "Options" menu and select "Preferences."
  • Uncheck the checkbox that says "check for new messages," then click OK.
  • At the Real Message Center warning message, click Yes.
  • Finally, close the RealPlayer Message Center by clicking on the "X" at the top right of the window.
6. If you are reminded to connect to the network, verify that your network cable is plugged in and click OK. (If you cannot connect to the Brown campus network, skip to the "Using a Non-Networked Computer" section below.)
7. Select your department name from the list provided and click OK. The setup program will verify whether computers in your department are added to Brown’s Active Directory domain.


• If your department places computers in Active Directory, you will be notified at the Install and Setup dialog box that your computer has been added to Active Directory. Follow the steps for Active Directory Users.


Active Directory Users:

• Click Yes to restart your computer.
• Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" as instructed.
• Login with your AuthID and password.
• At the Account Configuration Complete dialog box, click OK. This AuthID account will be granted rights as a local Administrator the next time you login.
• Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" to shutdown, then choose "restart your computer."
• Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" and login with your AuthID.


• If your department does not place computers in Active Directory, you will be presented with the "Create a Local Account" dialog box. Proceed with the directions for Non-Active Directory Users.



Non-Active Directory Users:

• Create a user account by replacing "AccountName" with your user name. (Press the Help button for additional details.)
• Enter and re-enter your password in the fields provided and click OK.
• At the Brown Departmental Customization dialog, click OK.
• Choose your (non-AD) department name and click OK.
• Click Yes at the Install and Setup dialog box to restart your computer.
• Enter your user name and password and click OK. Your account is now configured as Administrator equivalent.


8. You have completed the Basic Brown setup and are ready to begin using your new computer. Instructions on optional settings, setting up a printer, and installing software are provided in the "Additional Configuration" section of this document.

Setup Without a Network Connection Available

1. At first power on, the Welcome screen will appear. Enter your name in the Name field and click Next.
2. In the next dialog box, the Computer Name field will be filled with a temporary name. Click on the Administrator password field.
3. Enter a password according to CIS's password guidelines. Your administrator password should not be the same as your NetID/AuthID password. (Warning: Choosing a password of less than 8 characters will result in a BLANK Administrator password and auto login will fail.)
4. Re-enter your password and click Next.
5. Wait while Windows configuration processes take place. Your computer will restart and auto login.
6. At the Brown Departmental Customization dialog, click OK.
7. You will be notified that only local settings are being configured at this time. Click OK.
8. Select your department name from the list provided and click OK. In the background, the setup program is naming your computer according to Brown desktop standards.
9. When you see the "Create a Local Account" dialog box (Figure 1), proceed according to the instructions appropriate for your computer:



Figure 1



• Look closely at the "Create a Local Account" dialog box on your screen to see if it has a checkbox labeled "create a temporary user."
• If you do not have the checkbox option to "create a temporary user," follow the instructions for "General Account Setup - No Active Directory" (Option A).
• If you have the checkbox option to "create a temporary user," your department is listed as one which typically adds computers to Active Directory. If this computer is an exception and will not be added to Active Directory, uncheck the box, then follow the instructions for "General Account Setup - No Active Directory" (Option A).
• If you have the checkbox option to "create a temporary user" and you intend to add this computer to Active Directory later, follow the "Special Temporary Account Setup" instructions (Option B).
• If you are unclear which directions to use, contact the CIS HelpDesk or your DCC.


10. At the "Create a Local Account" dialog box, follow instructions for either Option A or B, as determined in the previous step.
    
    A: General Account Setup - No Active Directory


• Create a user account by replacing "TempUser" with your user name. Uncheck the option accepting the "TempUser" user name. (Press the Help button for additional details.)
• Enter and re-enter your password in the fields provided. Click OK.
• At the Install and Setup dialog box, click "Yes" to restart your computer.
• Enter your user name and password and click OK. Your account is now configured as Administrator equivalent.
• The first time you connect, the RealPlayer Message Center may launch. If so,
  • Click on the "Options" menu and select "Preferences."
  • Uncheck the checkbox that says "check for new messages," then click OK.
  • At the Real Message Center warning message, click Yes.
  • Finally, close the RealPlayer Message Center by clicking on the "X" at the top right of the window.

You have completed the Basic Brown setup and are ready to begin using your new computer. Instructions on optional settings, setting up a printer, and installing software are provided in the "Additional Configuration" section of this document.

B: Special Temporary Account Setup

These steps will direct you to create an account called TempUser that will enable you to reinitiate the sequence that adds the computer to Active Directory later (once a network connection has been established).

• Make sure The TempUser box is checked.
• Enter and re-enter a password for the TempUser account in the fields provided. Click OK.
• At the Install and Setup dialog box, Click "Yes" to restart your computer.
• The TempUser account has limited rights. Login as "Administrator" to troubleshoot your network connection, to apply necessary patches, or to configure the settings required to establish a safe network connection in your environment.
• Once the computer can safely establish a regular connection to the Brown network, restart the computer with your network cable connected.
• Login asTempUser with the password you entered for that account.
• This will reinitiate the setup program, allowing you to add the computer to Active Directory.
• Follow the instructions above for "Setup with Network Connection Available," starting at Step 6.

Obtaining Software

Open "Your Brown Computer" folder located on your desktop. The "ReadMe" file in this folder contains instructions for performing Windows Updates and obtaining software from a large selection of titles offered on Brown's Software Distribution web page. Use this page to find software that was not installed as part of your Dell standard image.

Departmental File and Print Sharing

If your department uses the Novell Client for file and print sharing, click on the Novell Netware Client link on the Windows software download page. Follow the download and installation instructions provided to install and configure the Novell NetWare Client on your computer.

If your deparment uses something other than Novell printing, contact your DCC for printer installation details.

Personal Printing

If you will be adding a personal printer to your computer, connect your printer and follow the installation instructions that came with your printer.

Adding/Changing Office Components

Out of the box, your Dell imaged computer contains a default installation of Office 2003. If you find that you need special components or support for other languages, you can install these additional features without an Office CD because all necessary installation files reside on the hard drive.

1. Open the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel (Start..Control Panel..Add or Remove Programs).
2. Select Microsoft Office 2003 Professional and click the Change button.
3. Follow the prompts of the Office 2003 Setup Wizard to add, remove, or change the components of Office 2003 installed on your machine.

Power Management on Wireless Ethernet Cards (Laptops only)

You may find that you have trouble connecting to wireless networks from your Dell laptop. This may be because of the default Power Management settings on the card. To remedy this problem, follow the steps below.

1. Open your System Control Panel.
2. Click the Hardware tab in the System Properties window, then click the Device Manager button.
3. Double-click Network Adapters in the Device Manager window, then double-click the name of the wireless ethernet card (e.g. "Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3A MiniPCI Adapter").
4. Click the Advanced tab in the properties window.
5. Select "Power Management" in the Property field on the left.
6. On the right, remove the check from the box labeled "Use default value." Then move the slider beneath that checkbox so that it indicates "Highest."
7. Click OK to close the properties window and close the other windows you have opened.

Power Management on Built-in Ethernet Cards

1. Open your System Control Panel.
2. In the System Properties window, select the Hardware tab, then click the Device Manager button.
3. Double-click Network Adapters in the Device Manager window, then double-click the name of the built-in ethernet card (e.g. "Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller").
4. In the properties window, select the Power Management tab.
5. Remove the check from the box labeled "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
6. Click OK to close the properties window and close the other windows you have opened.

Using Wireless at Brown

Refer to the Wireless FAQ for information about connecting to Brown's wireless network.

Dell Image Contents

Software Configuration

• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Office 2003
• Symantec AntiVirus
• KeyAccess
• Foxit PDF Viewer
• Roxio CD Recording
• Power DVD
• Mozilla FireFox
• Dell Resource CD

Security Configuration

• Windows Firewall On
• WindowsUpdates scheduled to download and install silently at 10:00 a.m., then prompt user for reboot
• Group policy set for local passwords - must be 8 characters or more