This page describes the UserSetup program that sets logon options for Windows XP lab and classroom workstations, connects to file server(s) at logon and shows current news titles. A setup window is presented for all first-time logons and a desktop icon can be launched later to review or change settings. The three settings that can be changed are:
First time users must select a place for their Home Folder and can change their display name. To simplify the first logon, the news option is not presented at that time and the news window is not shown. It looks like this:
The Home Folder is a location where your My Documents folder is saved and where files for many applications will be stored. It can be one of three "places" (file servers), that will appear as the same location on any CLC Windows XP lab or classroom machine. Most users should store documents and other files in their My Documents folder and sub-folders, but there is no requirement to do so. The location may be changed any time by running the User Setup program (double-click the icon on the desktop).
if you change the Home Folder location from one file service to another, be aware that no files are moved or copied. See Moving Files below.
Choices for the Home Folder are described below.
Jargon note: below we talk about "mapping a drive", which in Windows jargon means to connect to a particular directory or folder on a remote computer and assign it a letter as if it was a disk drive on the local computer. This doesn't have to be done to access remote computers; for example, your Eudora folder on the U-drive can be accessed as \\udrive.win.psu.edu\users\x\y\xyz123\Eudora, but V:\Eudora is easier for most.
The "U-drive" is file space on central Windows servers that is available to all students, staff, and faculty. Details are here. This is the recommended choice. The "root" of the U-drive is always mapped as the "U:" drive; if you have space on it, your personal folder is mapped as "V:", regardless of your selection for the location of your Home Folder.
The PASS file service is available to all students, staff, and faculty. Details are here. You may choose the option to "Map PASS as W: and X:" without selecting it as your Home Folder location. If you do, the "root" of that file system (\\win.pass.psu.edu\pass) is mapped to the "W:" drive, and your personal folder (\\win.pass.psu.edu\homes) is mapped to "X:".
Your "profile" is a collection of files and registry entries that are copied to the local disk every time you log on and saved back to a central file server when you log off. Details are here. Your profile will always be in C:\Documents and Settings\xyz123 (where xyz123 is your Access Account userid). Everyone using a CLC Windows XP machine will have a profile.
You may change your "display name", which is text used in the setup of some applications. Changing this does not affect how your names is shown on the start menu or by any other systems.
You may check the "Do not show news unless it is newer than the last time I saw it" option to not have the news window open when you log on unless (duh!) there is new news.