• General PC Use Questions
  
• Help Desk Question

• GIS Questions
  
• Networking Question

General PC Use Questions

Q.

Can I install personal software that I purchase (screen savers, games, business applications, etc.) on my Work PC?

A.

No, the county policy states only software that has been acquired through the county may be installed on your computer. Any exceptions must be approved by the IT department.

Q.

Can I use my Work PC for personal activities (write letters, play games, Internet, etc) during breaks and lunch?

A.

Yes as long as you are consistent with the policies of the county and it does not interfere with your job.

Q.

User receives this message: "Can Not Perform Connect to \\server\folder"

I have lost connection to my forms on _______ server. I am the only one in our office that is having this problem.

A.

Chances are you have lost the mapping to that drive and/or server. Follow these steps to restore your connection:

1. Right click on My Computer and select Map Network Drive.

2. Select the drive letter for the connection.

3. Select the path or folder (ex: \\ServerName\FolderName).

4. Be sure that Reconnect at Logon is checked.

5. Click on Finish.

Q.

How do I find out the name of my computer on the network?

A.

The procedure for Win9x or WINNT involves doing a right mouse click on Network Neighborhood, go to Properties, and then under the Identification Tab you will see the computer name.

The procedure for Windows 2000 is a little different in that you right click on My Computer, go to Properties and then under the Network Identification Tab you will see the computer name.

Q.

How do I adjust the volume of my PC speaker?

A.

Generally your  PC volume control can be adjusted by clicking on the yellow speaker icon on the right end of the start bar. A left click presents the master volume control; a right click lets you open a more advanced control panel.

Q.

Should I power off my PC and monitor at the end of the day?

A.

Yes. There are several benefits to shutting down a computer each day.  It refreshes the memory of the computer and may recover lost memory space. This is because some programs have memory "leaks" and do not return all of the memory back to the operating system.  It also saves energy.  Not a lot, but every little bit helps.  Your computer will stay cleaner inside. When the fan is running, it acts like a vacuum sweeper pulling in air (and dirt) from the room.  It prolongs computer life. Moving parts such as fans and hard drives will last longer. Your monitor will last longer if you give it a rest, You may deter unauthorized use of your computer by removing a temptation.

Q.

How do I change the user ID in the "Welcome to Windows" log on dialog box if someone else's name is there?

A.

Tab or point back to the User name field, erase the other name in the field, and enter your network ID.

Q.

 What should I do when I get a message "This page cannot be found?".

A.

These messages are sent back to you when the web page cannot be found on the internet. If you can find other web pages, then the problem is at the other end with the server hosting the web page. Try your request later.  If you can't find any web pages, then the problem is with your connection to the internet. Call the NHC Help Desk at extension 7107 (341-7107) for assistance.

Q.

What should I do if my Norton AntiVirus yellow shield has a red exclamation mark over it?

A.

This symbol indicates that something went wrong with an automatic update to your virus protection signature file.  Call the NHC Help Desk at extension 7107 (341-7107) for assistance.

Q.

What is GIS?

A.

GIS stands for "Geographic Information System".  Simply put, a GIS combines layers of information to build a map. What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose—finding the best location for a new school, analyzing environmental damage, viewing similar crimes in a city to detect a pattern, and so on.

Q.

What Can A GIS Do?

A.

A GIS can combine data by common locations, such as addresses, which helps departments and agencies share their data.  For example, a GIS can be used to help reach a decision about the location of a new housing development that has minimal environmental impact, is located in a low-risk area, and is close to a population center. The information can be presented clearly in the form of a map.  A GIS creates electronic maps and is much more flexible than traditional paper maps, since the electronic maps can be created centered on any location, at any scale, and showing selected information to highlight specific characteristics.

Q.

Is GIS Available To The Public?

A.

We offer current tax data as well as several of our GIS base mapping layers free of charge.  Much of the information we offer can be downloaded directly from the Internet using an FTP transfer process. For detailed information on available files & formats, or how to download files, please follow this link: Available Files & Formats .  We also have several interactive web-based mapping programs available at this link: Online Mapping.

Q.

How can I get learn more about GIS in New Hanover County, NC?

A.

To learn more about how GIS is used in New Hanover County, please visit our web page at http://www.nhcgov.com/DEPT/INFO/GIS/Pages/GIShome.aspx, or feel free to email us, or call us directly. 

Q.

How do I add a database to my Lotus Notes Workspace (such as Agenda, Budget, NHCForms)?

A.

Click File, Database, Open.  Change server from Local to NotesServer/NHC using the drop down box.  Scroll through the database list until you see the database you want to add and then click on it.  Click the Open button.  This will add the database to your Workspace and open it at the same time.  Some databases are in the Application Folder, so scroll through the database list until you see the Application Folder and double click on it.  Double click on the folder for the application you are looking for (such as Agenda).  Click on the database and then click on the Open button.

Q.

I deleted an invitation from my Inbox and it deleted it from my Calendar.  Why?

A.

Check your Calendar Preferences.  Click Actions, Tools, Preferences.  Click Calendar tab.  Click Autoprocess tab.  If you check "Remove meeting invitations from my Inbox after I respond to them", when you respond they will automatically be deleted from your Inbox.  If this is not checked and you accept an invitation, then if you delete the invitation from your Inbox, the calendar entry will also be deleted.

Q.

Can I connect to the County systems and work from home when necessary?  How?

A.

If you are connecting to anything other than the county's web page you must first get approval from your supervisor. A request would then need to be made through IT's helpdesk to enable dialup access.

Q.

The following error message is received during the workstation boot up process:

"No domain controller found to validate your password. You may not be able to gain access to some network resources."

A.

This problem occurs when attempting to logon to the NT Domain on computers that are not connected to our local area network, computers that don’t have TCP/IP running correctly, or when the Domain’s Primary and Backup Domain Controllers are unavailable. Below is a list of quick troubleshooting steps to verify connectivity and the TCP/IP protocol.

• Use the PING utility and ping the IP address of the default gateway, such as the Token Ring router or the Ethernet router.
  
• Use the PING utility and ping the IP address of a remote host, such as the notes server.
  
• Use the PING utility and ping your workstation name/address to verify that it’s okay.
  
• Run the TCP/IP utility IPCONFIG or WINIPCFG to check your TCP/IP configuration.
  
• Use Static IP addressing in place of DHCP addressing.

Q.

I've read through all of the Frequently Asked Questions, but my issue is not addressed anywhere. What can I do now?

A.

When all else fails, call the IT Help Desk (ext 7107).  They may not be able to resolve your issue, but they should be able to direct you to the right person or section.

Q.

Who do I call if I have a problem with my computer hardware or software?

A.

The first step would be to check with the IT Coordinator or others in your department.  It’s possible they have experienced the same problem and can quickly tell you what to do.  If that fails, call the IT Help Desk (ext 7107) or send an email to "Help Desk" describing the problem.  Help Desk staff will forward your issue to the appropriate support person. 

Q.

 I need a program modified to accommodate a new process we’ve just implemented.  How do I proceed?

A.

This should be handled the same way you would report a problem. Call the IT Help Desk (ext 7107) or send an email to "Help Desk" briefly describing the desired modification.  Help Desk staff will forward your issue to the appropriate support person.

Q.

I need to buy a new software system and hardware to handle departmental functions.  How do I proceed?

A.

All computer software and hardware purchases are approved by IT.   It’s OK for you to do some preliminary research to see what systems are available that meet your needs, but including IT in your initial discussions could save you a considerable amount of time and effort.

Q.

What are HOSTS and LMHOSTS files?

A.

They are files or tables used for Name Resolution. You should only add entries to these files that are unlikely to change, such as major servers and domain information.

• HOSTS tables are used by clients to resolve NAMES before using Domain Name System (DNS). These tables are automatically used without being defined under TCP/IP. The file consists of IP addresses and hostnames usually a Fully Qualified Name (FQN). If you have a DNS server on the network, it is not necessary to use HOSTS files.
  

• LHOSTS tables are used by clients to resolve NAMES before using Windows Internet Services (WINS). These tables must be defined under TCP/IP's WINS options. The files contain computer or domain names and their IP addresses. LMHOSTS files rely on broadcasts for name resolution, and WINS does not rely on broadcasts. If you have a WINS server on the network, it is not necessary to use LMHOSTS files.