The University of Sheffield
Information Commons

What do I do if...


 

...I need computing help during unstaffed hours?

Try the self-service helpdesk in MUSE. Students will find it in the SSiD tab; Staff will find it in the Staff Applications tab.

...I think my laptop has a virus?

Take it to the Computing Centre drop-in service. They will remove viruses for free, but it may take a few days.

...I can't find an available PC?

A guide to the current availability of PCs in the IC is displayed on every information screen.

Even when the IC is full, the computer rooms nearby are often half empty. PC availability for other sites is displayed on one screen on each floor. This information is also available on the web and on your mobile.

Alternatively, why not book a PC in advance?

...I can't log on?

If you get a message saying "LDAP Error", the problem is with the PC - try another one. Please report the PC to us.

If you have entered your password incorrectly a few times, you will get a message saying you have been locked out. After about 45 minutes, you will be allowed to log in again if you've remembered your password. Otherwise, go to the Information Desk and ask for your password to be reset.

If you get a blank screen, or an error mentioning your profile, go to the Information Desk to have your profile reset.

...I've lost my work?

During service hours, call us from a Business Unit phone (press the help button) and we will come and help you. Otherwise, you could try these things:

If your PC has crashed before you could save your document, try rebooting the PC, logging on and opening the software again. Often, you will see an auto-saved document that you can click on.

In My Computer, click on Tools/Folder Options and the View tab and put a tick in the "View hidden files" box. If it is a Word document, you may find a copy of the file in the following place on your U drive.

U:\ManXP\Application Data\Microsoft\Word

Finally, you can try right-clicking on the Word folder in the above location and going to Salvage Files. By sorting them in date order, you may be able to locate a .tmp or .wbk file that was saved just before the PC crashed. By clicking on the salvage button, you will save it back to the Word folder, where it can be opened.

If it is your file, remember to re-save it to your My Documents folder.

...I tried to log onto a PC which crashed and now I can't log onto another one?

If this happens during service hours, go to a Business Unit and press the help button on the phone and someone will come to help you.

If the PC you originally tried to log onto was on Level 4, 5 or 6, you can also solve the problem yourself:

Log onto MUSE on a kiosk and go back into the myPC booking system. You will see that a booking has been made for the PC you tried to log into, even though you're not on it. If you delete that booking, you will then be able to use any PC.

...I've booked a PC, but someone else is on it?

The most common reason for this is that you were late getting to the PC. A PC stays booked for 10 minutes after a booking, which means no-one else can log on. After this time, if the person who booked it doesn't log on, the PC becames available to anyone again.

The second most common reason is that as PCs can be booked 24/7, the system uses the 24 hour clock. A booking for 03:00 is for 3 in the morning, NOT 3 in the afternoon!