PC Certification
All students must complete the certification steps in order to be able to use their computers on the PennDesign network. This process is intended to ensure that students are addressing serious security-related issues and allow for access to PennDesign network resources. The following steps must be taken before connecting to the PennDesign network. Failure to do so will almost certainly result in virus infections or other compromises.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Name Your Computer and Join the Design Workgroup
- Open the System Control Panel, then click the "Computer Name" tab
- Click the "Change" button
- Remove existing Computer Name and enter a new name using the following convention: PDX-<PennName>, where X=the first letter of their department name For example, an Architecture student with a PennName of jdoe would be PDA-JDOE City Planning=PDC-<PennName> Fine Arts=PDF-<PennName> Historic Preservation=PDH-<PennName> Landscape Architecture=PDL-<PennName> Students in Dual Degree programs should use the name associated with their primary field of study
- Select the "Workgroup" radio button in the "Member of" section and enter DESIGN
- Click the "OK" button and Restart your computer when promptede
Step 2: Enable Windows Firewall (enabled by default with Service Pack 2, but it’s best to confirm
- Open the Windows Firewall control panela
- Click the "On" radio button
Note: that 3rd party firewalls (e.g. Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm, etc.) are unnecessary and will likely cause problems communicating with PennDesign resources such as Printers, Course Folders, and License Managers.
Step 3: Do a Full PennConnect CD Installation
In addition to installing the latest versions of various "Pennified" Internet Tools, this award winning CD will install Symantec Antivirus and configure your computer to get Windows Updates automatically from a Penn Server (generally faster than getting them direct from Microsoft).
- Open the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel
- Remove any previous versions of Norton/Symantec Antivirus
- Restart your computer
- Insert the PennConnect CD (the PennConnect Wizard should start automatically)
- Click the "Start" icon to continue with the Wizard (do not do a Custom Install)
- To install the proper software, you must indicate that you are a Student living in Sansom Place East or West
Step 4: Establish Secure Passwords
Whether you know it or not, your computer has an account called "administrator" which has complete access to your computer. Even a fully patched system with anti-virus software and firewalls can be infected or hacked if this account or your personal account has a blank password. If your computer doesn’t ask you for a password during boot, you may have a blank password. You are strongly encouraged to set secure passwords for these accounts. Instructions for resetting user password(s):
- Open the User Accounts Control Panel
- Click the name of the user account created during initial setup (probably your name)
- Click the "Create a Password" link
- Follow the on-screen instructions to create a password and optional hint
- When asked if you want to make your files and folders private, click the "Yes, Make Private" button
If you created additional accounts during initial setup, login to those account(s) and repeat the above steps.
After completing steps 1 through 4, laptop users should take their computers to Penn’s Computer Resource Center to confirm all steps have been taken. If you have a desktop, please schedule an appointment with a lab assistant. Sign-up sheets will be located at the lab assistant desk located behind the PC lab on the 3rd floor of Meyerson Hall. When your machine has been certified, see the lab assistant on duty to obtain a network cable.
Please refer to the Penn Information Security Brochure for information about secure passwords and other security-related issues.