A Guide to IT at Oxford for New Students and Staff

Getting Started

Welcome to IT at the University of Oxford. This site is a brief guide to the essential IT information you will need as a member of the University. Most IT services and resources are provided by IT Services; links to library, college and departmental services are also included. Note that IT Services was created on 1st August 2012; previously most services were provided by OUCS (Oxford University Computing Services).

• Your Oxford Username - Your passport to accessing online services

• Connecting to the Internet - How to get connected to the University network

• Student Registration - Essential for all new and returning students

• Security

  • Online security
  • Password Security - Your first (only?) line of defence
  • No Phishing - protecting your cash, your identity and your connection
  • Be Mysterious
  • Public Computers and Open Networks
  • Viruses and Malware - Protecting your computer from viruses, malware, worms, trojans, adware, etc.
  • Software Updates - Get the latest to patch vulnerabilities
  • Loss and Theft - Devices
  • Loss and Theft - Data

• Solving Hardware Problems - Breakdown services, repairs, upgrades, etc.

• Getting Free and Low Cost Software

• Email - All about the Oxford central email service.

• Sharing Files and Personal Web Spaces

• University IT Resources and Services - IT courses, Mobile Oxford, WebLearn and more

• Getting Help - What to do when you need a helping hand

• College IT Information

• Departmental IT Information

• Computer Usage Rules - Essential reading

Your Oxford Username

Your Oxford Username entitles you to use all University resources provided by IT Services and others run by other parts of the University. It is also referred to as your Single Sign-On Username or SSO as you can access multiple services with a single login. You need to activate your account and change the password at least once a year.

An Oxford Username is created automatically for you when your University card is issued. For new students, your username and activation code will be sent by email to the address held by student records sometime before 1st September. Please ensure student.information@admin.ox.ac.uk has a working email address for you. Otherwise, it will be sent by internal mail to your main University address.

If you do not receive your Oxford Username and activation code by University post within three working days of receiving your University card, please contact either your college IT staff or the IT Services Help Centre. If you do not receive a University card, you should contact your college or department administration staff for further help.

Connecting to the Internet

Wired ethernet connections and wireless networks are widely available throughout the University and colleges, including some outside areas like the University Parks.

Every college and department chooses how to set up access in their own buildings but the Eduroam wireless service is the most widely available. It provides internet access not only in Oxford but in academic institutions around the world with the same username and password.

Generic Instructions for Connecting to Eduroam

1. Activate your Oxford username

2. Generate a Remote Access account. For security, use a different password to your Oxford account.

3. Access the wireless network setup option on your device

4. The SSID is eduroam in lower case

5. The username and password comes from your Remote Access account

6. The authentication domain is ox.ac.uk. If prompted for an Outer or Roaming Identity (may also be known as Anonymous Identity) specify @ox.ac.uk (nothing in front of the @ sign)

7. Wireless type: The device must support WPA Enterprise

   The device should automatically switch between WPA/TKIP and the newer WPA2/AES (which may be called WPA2-Enterprise on the device) based on what the access point it connects to is serving. Some clients (e.g. MS Windows) do not do this and hence require two profiles, one for each type.

8. The EAP type is PEAP, if asked for a sub authentication type use EAP-MSCHAP v2

9. The root certificate authority is AddTrust which may be listed as AddTrust External CA Root

10. RADIUS servers: If asked, the RADIUS servers to authenticate against are radius0.oucs.ox.ac.uk and radius1.oucs.ox.ac.uk. If you have to enter them ensure that you enter both otherwise connection might not be possible if one of the pair is unavailable.

More detailed instructions can be found on the IT Services Eduroam pages.

Other Sources of Information

• IT Services Network web pages - configuraton instructions
• Oxford Wireless LAN (OWL) Service and Eduroam
• ouls-reader network used in some libraries
• College IT Information
• Departmental IT Information

If you have the choice of using a wired ethernet socket or a wireless connection, the wired connection will generally give a higher speed and more stable connection. You will need an ethernet cable.

Email and internet access are also available from computer clusters located in colleges, some departments and IT Services.

Student Registration

All students are required to undertake the annual student registration process. This is necessary so that the University can obtain all the required information about each student and to confirm their new or continuing status as members of the University. This process is run by University Central Administration.

All new and continuing students on full or part-time Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught or Postgraduate Research programmes need to register online. Please see the Student Gateway information and advisory service page for more details and links to the online annual registration system:

All students should register between 1st September and 12th October 2012. Ideally you should register before you arrive at or return to Oxford, and you must do so by the end of first week of term.

All students will be able to update their personal details and print enrolment certificates via the Student Gateway site throughout the year.

Students who encounter any technical problems after successfully logging in, or who are unable to complete the information required to register online, should contact the Student Gateway.

Online Security

We use the internet all the time, but unfortunately so do criminals: they're after your computer, your bandwidth, your money, and your identity. However, you can take some simple steps to reduce their chances of success.

Computer Security is taken very seriously at Oxford University. Computer security ranges from the physical basics, such as securing a laptop with a small lock, to the more advanced measures that can be taken to protect email messages from prying eyes.

It's especially important to protect mobile devices. They are small, easily lost, misplaced or stolen and generally store a host of account details, personal information and more.

• Password Security
• No Phishing
• Be Mysterious
• Public Computers and Open Networks

• Viruses and Malware - Protecting your computer from viruses, malware, worms, trojans, adware, etc.

• Software Updates - Get the latest to patch vulnerabilities

• Loss and Theft - Devices

• Loss and Theft - Data

Password Security

• Passwords are a simple defence (often the only defence) for many secure operations
• Guessing one password may enable a criminal to access many of your systems, your money, your identity, etc.
• Make a password easy for you to remember, hard for others to guess

Never share your password with anyone. IT Services and your local IT support staff will never ask for your password.

If someone else does find out your password, you must change it immediately

• via the registration web site,
• or via your local IT support staff.

If you think you may have given your account details to someone else in reponse to an email (phishing)

1. Don't panic - mistakes do happen
2. Change your password as soon as possible
3. Let your IT staff know
4. If you still have a copy of the email, please forward it to phishing@it.ox.ac.uk so we can help others avoid making the same mistake

Please do not be afraid to own up: we would rather you told us than tried to cover up a mistake.

For a secure password, do not use:

• The account's username (whether identical, reversed or rearranged)
• Your first or last name or date of birth
• Names or dates of birth of your nearest and dearest
• Your house name or your home street
• Dictionary words

A good password includes a mixture of:

• Upper (A-Z) and lower-case (a-z) letters
• Digits (0-9)
• Other printable characters e.g. ,;:?%^*[]{}+-) if permitted

Why not choose the initial letters of words in a line from a favourite song or poem (e.g. ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?’ becomes ‘SIctta5d?’ But don't use this one!).

If your memory lets you down and you have to keep a note of your passwords, add it as a scribble in an already busy page. Don't leave it lying around or store it in a folder or document called Passwords!

Don't use the Administrator account

• Just like legitimate software, most malware requires Administrator privileges to be able to run on your computer.
• If you are using Windows try, where possible, to use a limited account for your day-to-day activities.
• Mac and Linux: Do not log in as admin or root. Instead, use a command like sudo to perform command-line operations requiring root access.

Personal Firewalls

• A computer firewall acts as a virtual wall against intrusion from the internet
• Microsoft Vista, XP and some other systems are supplied with a firewall as standard - check the firewall is active
• A range of Open Source and commercial products are available which provide basic protection against malicious attacks directed at your computer from the internet

No Phishing

‘Phishing’ is the name given to emails and websites which try to get you to reveal personal and confidential information about yourself.

For example:

• You may receive a fake email pretending to come from your bank or your email provider, saying there is a problem and asking you to send details about your account in reply (e.g. username and password). Never reply to these emails.
• A web site may have been set up to look like your standard bank log-in screen, but it is actually an impostor and is intended solely to collect your information (e.g. username and password).
• An email claims you have won a raffle/Ebay item/lottery/fortune but they need your account details to send the winnings.
• An email claims that an overseas fortune can be 'laundered' through your bank account and you can keep a share for your help.

How to avoid being caught by phishers:

• Is the Web address (the URL which appears at the top of your web browser) the one that you normally use for this service? If no, then avoid the site.

  • To check the correct Web address, use Google (or your preferred search engine) to search for the service you are using. For example, typing Barclays Bank into the search box shows that web addresses for Barclays in the UK start with http(s)://xxx.barclays.co.uk/xxxxx/.

• Most sites that require confidential information now have built-in security mechanisms. Look for https:// in the URL and the padlock icon in your web browser. If these aren't present, criminals may be able to read the information you send over the internet. However, the mere presence of a padlock does not guarantee that your information will be secure.

• How did you get to the site in the first place? Did you click a link in an unsolicited email message claiming to come from your email provider, bank, credit card company? If yes, steer clear of the site! Instead, type the site name yourself.

• Click on the padlock and check the site's certificate. For more information on secure sites see the Government and IT industry's Get Safe Online web pages.

• Beware of sites that start with all numbers such as http://147.46.235.54/ebay.com

• Make sure that your web browser is up to date.

• If you are shopping online, look for clear signs that you are buying from a reputable company. Does it have a physical address? Does a search for the company reveal user comments and reviews?

• If you are using eBay or a similar site, make sure that you read the basic help guides. If possible, check that the seller has a good reputation.

• Use safe ways to pay, such as PayPal or credit cards that insure you against theft.

• Use the filter in your email client to block spam emails.

  • This is the easiest way to deal with phishers; however, sometimes genuine messages are treated as spam by mistake. So, we recommend that you have suspected spam messages diverted to a Junk messages folder and check its contents periodically.

If you receive a phishing attack that asks for University credentials, report it to phishing@it.ox.ac.uk. For more information on this, and for guidance on how to secure your email in general, see Email at Oxford/>

Don't give away too much information about yourself

Restricting what others can find out about you online:

• Reduces the risk of identity theft
• Reduces the risk of property theft
• Prevents other people finding out things about your social life that you'd rather keep discreet

On social networks e.g. Facebook:

• Use the privacy settings to restrict how much data others can see, especially people who aren't already your friends in the physical world (e.g. see http://www.facebook.com/safety/).

• Don't post compromising photos of yourself or of your friends. Prospective employers use Facebook too.

• If someone else tags you in a photo, have a look at it and remove the tag if you don't want others to know you're in it. (Or ask your friend to remove the photo itself.)

• Contributions on discussion boards are often saved and can be read a long time after they've been made. An ill-advised comment may come back to haunt you!

Tell people only the bare essentials in your out-of-office emails. Use a vague statement like "I'm not going to be around much until the 20th" rather than "Off on holiday till the 20th (and the house is empty)".

Public Computers and Open Networks

On public computers and open wireless networks there is a greater chance that criminals are recording everything you do.

• If you have to use an internet cafe, library, or open computing room, only do simple activities that don't involve typing confidential information.

• If you do have to do a financial or other confidential transaction, do not leave any information about yourself on the computer when you have finished by clearing the browser's History and/or Cache

  .

• Consider changing your password (or other login details) when you get back to a computer that you trust.

• If you have a wireless network at home, make sure WPA security is enabled and use a strong password. If you have control over your wireless network, consider allowing only designated computers to access it.

• Consider setting up a separate email account (e.g. on Google Mail or Yahoo) to use when you are travelling.

• If you have to leave your computer for any length of time (even if it's in your office), make sure that the computer locks the screen when it activates the screen saver or goes to sleep. The screen can then only be unlocked when the username and/or password are entered.

Anti-Virus Software - your responsibility

There are thousands of pieces of software designed purely for malicious activity.

Owners of computers connected to the University network are responsible for the installation and maintenance of up-to-date anti-virus software. Virus-infected computers can be barred from using the University network.

Viruses are one example of malware, malicious software that corrupts, modifies or deletes data stored on your computer. Other examples of malware include:

• Adware: displays random advertisements or replaces your normal home page.
• Spyware: silently collects passwords, PIN and credit card numbers typed at a keyboard and forwards these over the internet.
• Trojans: destructive programs which masquerade as benign - a trojan can open your computer to attack by other malware.
• Worms: malicious software that spreads automatically from one computer to another.

See the Adware and Spyware section of IT Services for more information, and tools for the removal of malicious software.

Got a Mac and think this doesn't apply to you?

Malware gets onto your computer in a variety of ways:

• Attachments on email
• Infected files downloaded from the internet
• Pirate software
• Sharing USB sticks
• If your system software is not fully updated, then simply having it connected to the internet can result in attack and infection from outside.

The University has a site licence for the Sophos anti-virus client which is available for MS Windows, Apple Mac OS X and Linux. Members of the University can install the Sophos client on to their own computers for free.

To obtain Sophos Anti-Virus:

1. Visit Software Registration and Download
2. Select Sophos Anti-Virus
3. Click on Submit
4. Download and install the appropriate Sophos client for your computer system

Doing this also makes sure that you are registered on a mailing list so that you receive important announcements.

Full instructions are given in the IT Services Anti-Virus pages.

If you have alternative anti-virus software that you are happy with, then it's fine to stay with that as long as it is kept up-to-date.

If you leave the University you must remove Sophos Anti-Virus from your PC(s) and/or laptop(s). It is recommended that you install an alternative anti-virus product.

Software Updates

Why install updates?

• Computers that are not fully updated are much more at risk of being infected with computer viruses and other unwanted software.
• Infected computers pose a risk to the University and are therefore likely to be disconnected from the University Network.

In 2009/2010 the University Security Team dealt with around 1500 infected computers, of which around half were designed to steal personal data, banking details and passwords.

The main vendors and software suppliers regularly release security patches and free upgrades to their software. These are usually provided because a vulnerability has been found in the software, which puts your computer and its data at risk from hackers. Set your computer to check for the latest patches and upgrades automatically.

Loss and Theft - Devices

Of course, online security isn't enough: you also need to guard against mishaps in the real world. For example, your computer could break, get damaged, or be stolen.

If your computer is stolen, you have not only lost the physical device and your data but you have also given someone else access to any stored usernames, passwords, account details, etc.

While most areas in the University are secure from any non-University members, this can never be certain - the University is a regular target for opportunistic thieves. You should take basic measures to secure personal items:

• Lock down laptops and portable equipment

• Always keep an eye on your laptop when it's in a public place

• In your room, keep devices out of sight (i.e. so that they can't be seen through the window, especially if you are on the ground floor)

• Lock it away, or take it with you whenever you leave a room, even if it's just to pop out for 5 minutes.

• When setting an auto-reply email message, don't say that you are going on holiday, or give any indication that you will be away from your room or house.

Loss and Theft - Data

If you value your data (notes, essays, project work, favourite holiday photos) you need to back up your files. This simply means copying the files to another storage device, e.g. USB pen drive, CD, or external USB hard-drive that you keep separate from your computer and which is free from any viruses.

Take two backup copies (on to separate storage media) of important files. If you've just spent six hours writing an essay, it's time to do a backup!

Take care not to lose this storage device, especially if it's a USB stick and you carry it around with you.

Never put highly confidential information on a USB stick (or similar) in an unencrypted format.

If you sell your computer or give it away (even to a close friend or relative), make sure that all the data on it has been deleted. You can either reformat the hard disk or opt for a more robust solution that completely wipes the data from the disk (e.g. Darik's Boot and Nuke).

Most mobile devices (e.g. phones) allow you to access all kinds of services and store your usernames and passwords. If yours is lost or stolen then someone may be able to access all your information.

For staff and postgraduates, the University also runs a free back-up service, the HFS. You register your computer with this service, and can then back it up on demand and/or on a weekly automatic schedule.

Solving Hardware Problems

Bring all your software CDs for faster re-install, especially

• Any that came with the computer
• Any unusual or specialised software, non-English versions, etc.

Under Warranty?

• If you have a definite hardware failure on a computer which is under warranty, contact the equipment manufacturer. Their web site will usually have contact details.
• Manufacturer may still be able to help, or recommend a local service agent if out of warranty.
• The Apple Warranty Repairs Service is authorized by Apple Sales International to carry out warranty repairs on Apple Mac computers owned by the University or its members.

Computer Hardware Breakdown Service

• For hardware faults on your computer, printer, iPod, external hard drives, scanners, etc.
• On-site repair and a computer loan if fault cannot be fixed immediately
• Forward date cover to when your manufacturer's guarantee runs out
• Low-cost annual subscription
• Discounted prices for new subscriptions and combined cover

Hardware Repair and Upgrade Services

• Upgrades such as memory increases and larger hard disks
• Repairs on computers not covered by the Computer Hardware Breakdown Service
• Charged service

Data Recovery - Backup and Re-install

• Computer Backup/Re-install Service can recover data from physically undamaged hard drives
• Operating system re-install may be the only effective solution to a severe virus infection
• Charged service
• More complex cases, e.g. if a drive needs dismantling, may require a specialized data recovery company

Getting free and low cost software

Site Licensed Software

• Software at reduced cost is available from the IT Services Online Shop
• Special rates are available for students on Microsoft products via 'Student and Home' packs available from High Street retailers, or at even more reduced rates via Official Microsoft Education Partners. See Microsoft Student Licensing.

Free Software

• Open Office - a Microsoft Office replacement
• Firefox - a fully featured and secure web browser
• Thunderbird - a fully featured and secure email client
• Sophos anti-virus software is free to members of the University

All the above programs are available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux systems.

Email

Email is a major communication medium at Oxford. Students should read their University email at least once per day, as many tutors use email to contact their students.

The University email service is called Oxford Nexus and is run by IT Services. You will have been registered automatically for an account as soon as you were issued with your University Card.

• Before you can log in, you must activate your Oxford Username
• Once you have your Oxford account details, go to your entry in the IT Services Self-Registration service to find your email address.
• If you are new to email, New Email Users is a good introduction.
• There is further information about Nexus and OWA on the Nexus help and how-to pages.

Using Oxford Nexus

• Oxford Nexus offers an easy-to-use, fully featured web-based email service called Outlook Web Access (OWA) - https://nexus.ox.ac.uk (no 'www' at the start, and note the 'https').

• You can configure your email clients (Outlook, Outlook Express, MacMail, Mozilla Thunderbird, etc.) to work with Oxford Nexus.

• You can change your account settings, such as the default address, at Nexus Account Settings.

• You can set your email to be forwarded to another system (Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) via the self-registration pages.

Please note: Oxford Nexus only accepts secure connections from email clients. If you don't set your client up to use up a secure connection, you won't be able to access your Oxford Nexus email account.

Other Nexus Features

• Oxford Nexus also provides an online calendar. You can give other people access to your calendar, and schedule meetings, share contacts, tasks, files and folders with your colleagues.
• Anyone with an Oxford Username can use the Nexus SharePoint service. The service is aimed at collaborating over documents, but can be used for a wide variety of other uses - working on a research document, writing something that your tutor can see, keeping documents relating to your Club or Society, etc.
• For more information, please see Introduction to SharePoint and the SharePoint Support site to get started.

Email Spam

• Some of the messages you receive will be unwanted and unsolicited email often referred to as 'Junk E-mail' or 'spam'. Delete junk email - never reply. Be alert, be sceptical and vigilant when reading your email.
• Spam filters are available on Nexus to divert possible spam to a 'Junk E-mail' folder for later checking, or to delete immediately.
• Spam filtering may be set to Off, Low, Medium or High: the higher you set it, the greater number of email messages will be tagged as spam and therefore more email will go to your Junk E-mail folder.
• Junk emails are deleted from the 'Junk E-mail' folder after 90 days.
• Many email client programs, such as Outlook and Thunderbird can also 'learn' about spam and add to this functionality.
• You can also set up a whitelist of addresses which will never be treated as spam, and a blacklist of addresses from which mail is always junked.
• Further details about setting up spam filters
• Phishing emails, where someone tries to trick you into revealing bank or email account details, are covered in the No Phishing section

Oxford Nexus Quotas

• Your Nexus account has a 2 GB quota
• You can keep track of your quota, and how much data you have stored, via the self-registration pages.
• Please avoid filling up your quota as you may find that you cannot send or receive any email if this happens.

Sharing Information and Files

Nexus Email

• Can send to and receive from anyone with an email address
• Can send and receive emails up to 100 MB in size

Nexus Sharepoint

• Can be used by anyone with an Oxford username
• Aimed at collaborating on documents, but can be used for a wide variety of other uses - working on a research document, writing something that your tutor can see, keeping documents relating to your Club or Society, etc.
• 1 GB file size limit
• For more information, see Introduction to SharePoint and the SharePoint Support site

WebLearn

• WebLearn is Oxford University's virtual learning environment, to create and store materials to support teaching and learning activities
• Access rights needed to contribute to one or more sites
• 1 GB default site limit and a 60Mb file size limit

Oxfile

• Must be set up by someone with an Oxford username
• Once set up, can send to and receive from anyone approved by owner
• Files can be up to 25 GB
• Self-tidying: files are automatically pruned after a (user-selected) fixed period
• Can send out notification when files have been uploaded/downloaded
• Basic security (encrypted file transfer, server verification, and user access control) is included by default

Personal Web Space

• Available to anyone with an Oxford username
• 15 MB of personal web space
• Develop your own website or use as an online storage area
• To activate the web space, and later to check space and usage, visit Manage Web Space

IT Resources and Services

These are just some of the many IT services available to you.

IT Learning and Self-Study Resources

• The IT Services IT Learning Programme (ITLP) offers over 100 different IT courses that can help you with your studies, research, and future careers
• From fundamental courses in the use of standard office packages through to advanced programming, database design, academic use of office software and multi-media skills
• Lively, hands-on, teacher-led courses
• Scheduled courses are normally 3-hour modules, morning or afternoon, held in modern teaching rooms.
• Courses are low cost, typically a few pounds per module to cover materials
• Many resources are available through WebLearn for you to use in your own time
• Also drop-in sessions, lunch-time byte-size sessions, closed courses, tailored courses and more
• Windows, Linux and Mac
• Fully equipped teaching rooms available for hire
• We are an Apple Authorised Training Centre for Education (AATCe). We use Apple certified trainers to teach Apple software such as Final Cut Pro and Aperture. We also engage industry-leading practitioners to teach a wide range of multi-media skills including creating digital videos and podcasts, and how to look good in front of a camera.

Mobile Oxford

• Dedicated web site for smartphone users
• m.ox.ac.uk
  • Search for a library book and be guided to the libraries that have it in stock
  • Look at a map of Oxford to find colleges, departments, libraries, and the nearest pub, cafe, postbox, etc.
  • Get a live feed for bus stops in Oxford telling you when the next bus is arriving
  • Get access to the University’s podcasts
  • Quick search for phone numbers and email addresses of staff and students and lots more

WebLearn

• WebLearn is the University's web-based virtual learning environment (VLE)
• Holds course-specific resources including announcements, handouts, slides, reading materials with commentary, reading lists linked to the library catalogue, discussion forums, electronic pigeonholes with plagiarism detection, wikis, opinion polls, tutorial sign-up, course events schedule (calendar), newsfeed display, formative assessment, questionnaires, surveys and more.
• Find out more about the facilities offered in WebLearn
• Your tutor will provide you with a link or advise you where to find your course material, or browse the system
• Open access areas are available to everyone; log in with your Oxford Username to access restricted areas
• All students also get a personal dashboard called 'My Workspace' where all announcements and events are displayed and which also contains a wiki and an online file-store (Resources) for personal use
• Guidance on using WebLearn

IT Services Shop

• The IT Services online Shop provides selected software packages at reduced prices to University members
• CDs, USB sticks, printer ink, cables, batteries, etc. are available from the IT Consumable vending machine in the Help Centre

Electronic Library Resources

A large collection of online library resources is provided by the central library services, including online journals, bibliographic databases, and past exam papers (OXAM)

Data Backup and Archiving

• The central Hierarchical File Server (HFS) provides scheduled weekly and on-demand backups of your files to safeguard against computer loss or damage
• Also offers an archiving facility for data of long-term value to the University
• Available to senior members, staff and postgraduates
• Details on the HFS web site

Other IT Facilities

• Run a keyword search from the IT Services home page
• Browse the services available A-Z of Services index
• Refer to the web pages of your college or department for specialist local IT facilities
• Check the IT at Oxford site for more administrative information about University strategy and committees relating to IT

Help

Computers, like any piece of equipment, occasionally fail. And working computers may not always do what you want. Many problems turn out to have a fairly straightforward solution that you may well be able to find yourself. This is always worth trying as it is often the quickest route.

1. If your computer is still usable, check on-screen resources:

• Use your computer's on-screen help system
• Check your College IT pages - some list Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Look on IT Services web pages, which have advice on topics such as computer viruses or email. Use the IT Services search facility
• View the answers to IT Services's Frequently Asked Questions.
• See the IT Services Troubleshooting Guides for computer problems
• Check the System Status web page, which reports major network or server faults
• Look on the software or hardware supplier's support web site.
• Look at the Microsoft Updates or AppleCare Service & Support pages.
• Try a general web search using a search engine such as Google. Typing the exact wording of an error message into Google (within double quotes) often finds a page outlining the problem and its solution.

2. College and Departmental IT Support:

• If you cannot identify the problem yourself, consult your college or departmental IT support staff. They will be familiar with local IT procedures and will know of current problems affecting the college or department network or servers.
• New undergraduates who have brought their own computer should seek advice about connection to a college network and college anti-virus procedures from their college IT Staff.

3. Help Centre:

• Provides technical support and advice to all members of the University on a whole range of IT problems.
• Gives access to a wide range of expertise within IT Services to which problems can be referred. In some cases, an appointment may be offered to investigate a problem in more detail.
• Problems with accounts allocated by IT Services which cannot be solved through Self-registration are also handled by the Help Centre.
• Opening hours are from 08:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday, excluding English Bank Holidays and the period from midday Christmas Eve until New Year's Day inclusive.
• Please bring your University card with you when visiting the Help Centre. The Help Centre is at 13 Banbury Road, OX2 6NN
• Online form: www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/help/request.xml
• Telephone: (2)73200 Please have your University card barcode number to hand when calling us.

Colleges

Select your college or hall from the list below and follow the links to the college's local IT information page (if one exists) or the college's home page. Please note: some college IT pages may be restricted to computers connected to the college network.

See Department IT Section for links to departments.

The locations of all colleges have been plotted onto a Google map.

Departments

IT facilities and IT support within many (not all) departments are described by departmental web pages. However, the IT-specific pages may be inaccessible to computers outside the department. The links below connect either to departmental IT-specific pages, or, as a fallback, to the department's home web page. N.B. some departments/divisions are not supported by an in-house team but jointly with other departments.

See College IT Section for links to local college information.

• Area Studies
• Archaeology
• Biochemistry
• Centre for Criminology
• Centre for the Environment
• Chemistry
• Classics
• Computer Science
• Diabetes Trials Unit
• Division of Medical Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Economics
• Education
• Engineering Science
• English Faculty
• Experimental Psychology
• Geography and the Environment
• History of Art
• Law
• Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics
• Materials
• Mathematical Institute
• Medical Sciences : Information Management Services Unit
• Medieval and Modern Languages
• Modern History
• Molecular Biophysics
• Molecular Medicine
• Music
• Oriental Studies
• Pathology
• Pharmacology
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Physiology
• Plant Sciences
• Politics and International Relations
• Psychiatry
• Saïd Business School
• School of Anthropology
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Social Policy and Social Work
• Sociology
• Centre for Socio-Legal Studies
• Statistics
• Structural Genomics Consortium
• Theology
• Transport Studies Unit
• Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics
• Wellcome Trust Centre - Structural Biology
• Zoology

The locations of all departments have been plotted on to a Google map.

Computer Usage Rules and Etiquette

The University has various rules and conditions that apply to your usage of the local IT facilities. You are strongly advised to read about the local rules so that you know what is allowed and what's not. For instance, many Peer-to-Peer applications are banned on the network. This includes Skype unless you have configured the software according to our Skype instructions.

Regulations and Policies applying to all users of University ICT facilities - the definitive list.