Desktop Services
Using an MCS Windows PC
The Help available from the Start menu (under Help and Support) is useful, but note that it is specifically about Windows as supplied, and may not match exactly what is provided on the MCS.
Note that the use of Linux on the MCS PCs is not described on this page. Posters on the walls in MCS rooms describe how to reboot a MCS PC to run Windows if it has been left by a previous user running Linux.
The MCS PC desktop
When you have logged in to a MCS PC, you will see a Message of the Day window. After reading the contents, close the window by clicking on the box containing an X in the top righthand corner.
You then see the following icons on the screen:
- My Documents - links to your Desktop Services personal filespace
- Recycle Bin - you can drag files to this to delete them
Also at the bottom left of the screen is the Start button which you use to carry out most tasks on the PC. When you click Start, Windows displays a Start panel which includes the following useful items among others:
- Information: news file, MCS documentation: click to open
- Programs: most of the applications you will need to use: click to open
- All Programs: the full range of utilities etc. supplied with Windows: opens as you pass the mouse over it
- My Documents: your personal Desktop Services filespace (same as the desktop icon)
- My Computer: open this to see all devices (disks etc.)
- Printers and Faxes: open this to select a printer or check print queues
- Search: search for files, folders, programs etc.
- Help and Support: general Windows XP information, not MCS or Computing Service
- Log off: log out from the MCS
Basic tasks on a MCS PC
Full lists of MCS applications are available. Most PC applications are stored centrally, in a directory called " Programs". Within this directory they are stored in groups according to function, e.g. word processors, statistical programs, and so on. A few applications are kept on the local hard disks of individual machines (usually for licensing or technical reasons).
The easiest way to start an application is usually to click on the Start button at the bottom lefthand corner of the screen and then on Programs. Double-click on the folder for the group of applications you want, and then on the program you wish to run.
It is also possible to double-click on a file produced by the application (e.g. double-clicking on an Excel file will launch Excel if it is not already running), but this is not the recommended method on the MCS.
Some useful Windows applications are:
- For web browsing: Internet Explorer, Firefox
- For email: a web browser and Hermes Webmail, or Outlook, pine or Thunderbird
- For office applications: Microsoft Office
- For reading Usenet News: Thunderbird
- For file transfer: WinSCP, FileZilla
- For remote login via SSH: PuTTY, FileZilla
When you have finished, it is important that you remember to save your files and log out of the MCS. Failure to do so could result in another user altering, deleting, or reading your files. After 35 minutes of inactivity a warning message will appear on screen. If no unsaved files are open and you do not cancel this message, you will be automatically logged out after a further 5 minutes. If unsaved files are open, you will be given an opportunity to save them before being logged out. You will not be logged out unless unsaved files are saved.
To log out, close all files then click on Start and select the Log off key symbol from the bottom of the list. You will be asked to verify that you want to log out.
Last updated: September 2011