Computer Lab: Frequently Asked Questions

Opening Microsoft Office documents

Q: I saved my paper to the Desktop of LAB 14 and it is no longer there.
A: Check the trash bin. And in the future, back up your personal documents to a flashdrive, or email them to yourself. Lab staff frequently deletes personal files from the Desktop and from My Docs. Depending on security settings, rebooting the computers can also erase personal files.

Q: I am trying to open my paper, but now my paper does not show up anymore. What happened?
A: The last time you saved the document, you might have inadvertently saved it under a different filename, saved it to a different path, or saved it to a different format. Changing to a different format would change the extension (filename.doc, filename.txt, etc.) and could cause the file not to display within the software program you have open. Use Explore (right-click Start button) to navigate to the place you expect your file to be, and to other folders where you might have inadvertently saved it. If the filename is there, look at the extension. File Type should be displayed, and if not--display in a different view (for example, Explore; View; Details).  Try to open the file since the computer will choose the correct program based on the file extension.

If you find that you accidently renamed the file to an erroneous extension (as in filename.xt instead of .txt), then you can rename it with the proper extension. You can also try File Search to look for a text word likely to be unique to your document.

If the filename is nowhere to be found, then might you have accidentally deleted the document? If so, look in the trash at whichever computer you last used.

 

Compatibility issues

Q: My Word document opened but it shows a bunch of garbled text and symbols.
A: Check the filename extension. If it is Filename.docx, then this is a Word 2007 file. Inform library staff about which machine you are using. The Windows compatibility pack probably needs to be reinstalled.

Q: Can Microsoft Office 2007 files be opened in the computer lab?
A: Although the lab currently uses Microsoft Office 2003, the Windows compatibility pack has been installed on all machines. This enables conversion of Microsoft Office 2007 files to the 2003 environment. You can easily recognize a 2007 document by its file extension. Word_filename.docx, Excel_filename.xlsx, PowerPoint_filename.pptx. Once opened and edited using the software in the computer lab, such files will have to be saved as the 2003 version with extensions of *.doc, *.ppt, and *.xls.

If you are concerned about compatibility between personal and campus computers, owners of Microsoft Office 2007 software would do well to save documents in the 2003 format before opening and editing them on campus.

Macintosh users

Q: Can Macintosh documents be opened in the computer lab?
A: If comparable software such as Microsoft Word for Mac is installed on your personal computer, then you should be able to open, edit, and save documents in the computer lab. You are advised to create a test file now, and try out each anticipated step in order to establish how best to safely work on files both at home and at school. Do not wait until a stressful time, such as an hour before your paper is due. 

For complete assurance of compatibility, documents created with any word processing program can be saved as a text file (filename.txt) or rich text format (filename.rtf), which preserves some basic formatting such as bold text. This is handy especially for people who do not own the Mac version of Microsoft Office Word.

Q:  Can I download Mac drivers, in order to print from my laptop?

A:  No, but you probably don't need to.  Simply add the printer (click “add printer” in the print dialog box) when your Mac is connected to one of the printers with the USB cable, and select the Konica/Minolta 200/250/300 option. Use the “generic post-script printer” driver option.

 

Printing Problems

Q: My print job failed in the computer lab, and the small screen on the printer says to insert A4 size paper in the manual feed tray. What can I do?
A: First, delete the print job at your computer. Then inform computer lab or circulation desk staff that this recurring problem has happened once again. Library staff will clear the printer. Your best bet for now is to save the document to a flash drive, or send it to your own email address for opening and printing elsewhere on campus.  The file will be easier to print in the library’s reference area or upstairs at the health center.

Q: I know how to connect my laptop to the printer cable, but how do know if my laptop has the correct printer driver for the Minolta printer?
A: In Windows: select Start; Printers & Faxes; If you see KM##### etc., this is the printer to select. For Macs, the generic Konica Minolta driver is generally preinstalled. It works, but it can only process requests for single-side printing. It cannot manage double-sided printing requests.

After selecting the KM printer, try to print the document. If it fails to print, save it to a flashdrive or email it to yourself, and print from a desktop machine in the computer lab.