Creating Your Student Computer Account

By Mike A. Gomez


Introduction

In order to use the PC's in the student computer labs, each new student needs to create an account on Trex2. The following instructions will help you set up your account. These instructions are also available as handouts located in the computer labs in Roberts, Reid, and the Help Desk located in the Information Technology Center. You may use the student computer labs in Reid 305, 306, Roberts 109, 110, 111, Cheever 121 or EPS 110. User Support Associates (USA's) are available to assist you in Roberts 110 and Reid 306.

Lab Authentication Explained

Registered students are allowed their own personal share on a network server. This means that all students are allowed 20 Mb of disk space on a server for their exclusive use. Every person therefore needs an account and password so that only he or she can access their own disk space. Lab authentication serves this purpose. In order to use any computer in the student labs and before you can access any applications, you must login to your share.

Account Creation Process

  1. In the Enter Network Password (lab authentication) window, type guser in the User name textbox and then click on [OK].

    2.  
     

  2. The Pathworks VT320 screen appears (below).
    1. You will first be prompted to enter your Registrar student ID number (8 digit number), then your last name, and then your PIN number. The PIN number is a six-digit number and is usually your birth date in the format MMDDYY (month, day, and year).
    2. If you made an error and the system logged you off, press <Enter> and then type guser. Then go back to step 3a.

     
  3. The next screen will provide a list of usernames for you to select from. Select (with careful consideration) a username by typing the corresponding number and pressing <Enter>. You will be presented with information about your account and then automatically logged out. Your account will be created in about 5 minutes.

    4.  

  4. Please take note of your username and email address. Your email address is in the form of username@trex2.oscs.montana.edu where username is the Trex2 username you selected in step 4 above. An abbreviated form of the email address is: username@montana.edu

    5.  

  5. You need a password to be able to login to the computers in the student labs (lab authentication). You also need a password for your Trex2 account. The following steps will create a common password for both accounts. Please take time to think of a good password before proceeding with the next steps. Keep in mind the following rules:
     
    1. a) Alphanumeric characters only, no blank spaces allowed;
    2. b) Minimum length of 6 characters, maximum length of 31 characters;

    3. c) No words from the dictionary.


      You should still be in the Pathworks VT320 window. Press <Enter>. Type in the word password for the username and press <Enter>. Type your Registrar student ID number, last name, and PIN number when prompted. Type in your new password and type it again for verification. If it is a valid password, the following screen appears.
    1. You will be prompted twice with: Use the new password? (Yes or No [No]) ->
      The first password change is for Trex2. Type a yes and press <Enter>.
      The next password change is for lab authentication. Type a yes and press <Enter>.

    2. You will be automatically logged out of Trex2. Your password change will be effective in five to ten minutes. You are through with your account creation process.

    3. Logout of your PC. Click on [Start] button on the bottom left of screen, select LogOff.

    PC Login Procedure- Authentication

    1. If you are not in the lab authentication window (see below) click on [Start] button at bottom left of screen and select Shut Down, and then click on LogOff.

      2. Note: Use the mouse or the <Tab> key to move to each entry in the authentication window. Using the <Enter> key may generate an error.

    2. Enter your Trex2 username and then your password. Click on [OK].

    3. If you get a Windows Networking message box, click on [No].

    4. At this point, you should have access to all the applications and the network.

    PC Logout

    Warning!

    It is critically important that you logout of your personal share when you are through using your computer. Failure to do so will allow anyone to access all your files, your email, and allow them to send email from your account in your name.

    To logout of your PC you may either:

    1. Click on the LogOut icon on the desktop

    2. Or click on the [Start] button on the bottom left of screen and then click LogOff.

    Address questions or comments to Carol Shannon()

    (Last modified 2/11/02)

    MSU-Bozeman ITC