Using a Laptop at Fletcher
Ginn Library Home || Technology Support || Using a Laptop at Fletcher

Introduction

Fletcher staff, faculty, and students may use their laptops in the library and connect to the Internet via either a wireless ("WiFi") or wired (Ethernet) connection. In both cases, the computer must first be registered with Tufts Online (see below). For wired access, the computer must have an Ethernet card. For wireless access, the computer must have a wireless card. See below for details.

Overview: A wireless ("WiFi") network is available in most of Mugar, the Ginn Library, Cabot (including the Hall of Flags), Goddard, Blakely, and all the academic classrooms. Other buildings on campus also have wireless (see map of wireless access points). All Fletcher students, faculty, and staff members may access the Internet wirelessly, provided they have a wireless-capable computer and have registered that computer with Tufts Online.

Computer Minimum Requirements: Your laptop must have either a built-in wireless card (known as WiFi, 802.11b, 802.11g, or "Airport") or have an available PCMCIA slot to use a wireless card borrowed from the library circulation desk (see below). While any wireless card should work, Tufts OnLine recommends certain kinds of cards. For wired access using the Ethernet network, your laptop must have an Ethernet jack.

Registering with Tufts OnLine for Network Access:

Before your laptop/portable computer can access the Tufts computer network, it must be registered with Tufts OnLine (TOL). Take the portable computer to the TOL office in Ballou basement (room 009) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. TOL will install and configure any necessary software and drivers on your computer. Once this is done you will be able to access the wireless and wired network.

Borrowing a Wireless Card: If your computer does not have built-in wireless capability and has a PCMCIA card slot, you may borrow a wireless card from the Ginn Circulation Desk for use during library hours. Because we have a limited number of wireless cards, you must must return the card to the circulation desk before the library closes each day.

Laptop Printing

Before printing from your laptop, you must download the correct software package from the page provided by ITS. There are separate instructions for PCs and Macs.
Printing from the laptop is similar to printing from the public computers.

  1. Select "Print" from the "File" menu.
  2. Confirm that the printer selected is "Medford Public Labs and Ginn."
  3. If you wish to print on both sides of the page (You must first do a one-time configuration of your settings):
    • Click "Properties" on the Print window
    • On the "Finishing" tab, check the box labeled "Print on Both Sides"
    • Click "OK"
  4. If you wish to print multiple pages per side:
    • Click "Properties" on the Print window
    • On the "Finishing" tab, next to the "Pages per Sheet" heading, select the number of pages you wish to print on each sheet.
    • Click "OK"
  5. Confirm the number of copies and page range and click "OK."
  6. A window will pop up requiring you to input a username and print job name. These can be anything that you will remember.
  7. Go to the print station computer next to the printer and enter the same username you designated in the pop-up window.
  8. Select the document you wish to print. Its name will be the job name you designated in the pop-up window.
  9. The cost of the print job is displayed on the screen. Insert your copy card into the card reader.
  10. If you are ready to print and have the cost deducted from your card, click the "Print" button.

Once you have sent a document to the printer, you have two hours to print it before it is deleted from the print queue. If you print a document from your laptop anywhere on campus you can release the document at the Ginn Library, Mugar Computer Lab, Cabot 1 or Eaton Computer Lab.

If you have any problems with printing from your laptop, e-mail
student-printing@ase.tufts.edu
Walk-in support is also available Monday through Friday at Eaton Lab.

Getting Help: TuftsOnline can help with the following kinds of problems:

  • Network connectivity troubleshooting - they do room calls
  • Over-the-phone troubleshooting for basic computer questions or problems
  • Walk-in service available for laptops
  • Virus checks/removals
  • Data backup
  • Setup for the Tufts wireless network

They can can be found in Ballou Hall room 009 (in the basement) or by calling 617 627-4865.