LAPTOPS

Support	Print Drivers
Purchase Guide	Software
Security	Laptop Exams
Wireless

Support

The Student Computer Services staff supports use of the University of Iowa wireless network and selected University of Iowa licensed software on personal laptops. They also offer Laptop Best Practices workshops for incoming law students during orientation to help law students ensure their laptops are in good operating condition and comply with the University's Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy.

The Student Computer Services staff does not troubleshoot or repair hardware. The staff recommends that students purchase a three-year complete manufacturer's warranty, which covers accidental damage as well as manufacturer's defects. If your personal computer requires service for a hardware problem, and is not covered by a manufacturer's warranty, the University's Campus ITS office maintains a list of Local Hardware Repair Centers students may contact for repairs.

The College of Law is a PC environment. The College does not recommend Macintosh computers. If you use a Mac for law school work, you will not have the same level of access and support as you will with a PC laptop.

Purchase Guide

If purchasing a new laptop for law school, the College of Law IT staff recommends the following minimum standards:

University of Iowa faculty, staff, and students can elect to purchase computer hardware through the negotiated University of Iowa vendor plans. If purchasing a laptop for law school through the University program, the Law IT staff recommends the Dell Latitude Laptop or Dell OptiPlex Desktop.

Security

To keep laptops in top operating condition, and to control access and maintain security, law students using a laptop on the University network should:

• Configure their wireless card for the appropriate operating system using the ITS Help Desk wireless instructions;
• Register both the wired and wireless network adapters;
• Ensure that Windows 7 Automatic Updates or Windows Vista Automatic Updates are configured to automatically download and install;
• Reboot your computer at least once a week to ensure that Windows Updates are applied;
• Use the built-in Windows Firewall;
• Install the University licensed antivirus software and maintain up-to-date virus definition files (to download the software, login to the university's software download site with your HawkID username and password; then choose AntiVirus Software, then the installer button for your operating system)

For assistance in completing these steps, attend a Laptop Best Practices workshop as part of first year orientation or contact the Student Computer Services staff. Instruction manuals and CD installation programs may also be checked out at the Circulation Desk.

McAfee Security Center, Zone Alarm, SpySweeper, and other firewall and anti-spyware programs are known to conflict with SofTest's ExamSoft software used to take final exams on your laptop. We recommend removing such programs if installed. If you feel you need more protection than our recommendations checklist provides, please consult with the Student Computer Services staff.

Wireless

Wireless is available throughout the campus and may be used by anyone in the University of Iowa community who has the following:

• a valid HawkID; and
• a laptop properly configured to connect to WPA2 Security enabled wireless network

To configure wireless, follow the ITS Helpdesk Wireless instructions for the appropriate operating system.

When you change your Hawk ID password, you also need to reset your wireless password. If you need help connecting or have any questions, please contact the Student Computer Services staff.

Wireless connections are strong throughout the Law Library. Students can also connect to the University network through the wired access points in the carrels.

Print Drivers

Law students can install the Law Library network printers on their personal laptops for the convenience of printing directly to the law school printers. The print drivers can only be installed on laptops running Windows XP, Vista, or 7. To install and configure the network print drivers, select the appropriate operating system from the list below and follow the instructions.

• Microsoft Windows XP (PDF*)
• Microsoft Windows Vista/7 (PDF*)

Currently, the Law Library printing account software is not available for Mac users. Mac owners wishing to print to the Law Library network printers should use the workstations in the Computer Lab (Room 174) or ground floor carrels.

When students print from a personal laptop to the Law Library's networked printers, their print account will be debited at $.10 per side.

Software

Downloading

Some University site-licensed software is available for downloading from the ITS Software Download site. Students can download antivirus software from this site free of charge. Other software, such as Adobe Acrobat Pro, will require purchasing a license and entering a serial number before downloading. To view a complete list of the software available, sign-in to the ITS Software Download Site with a valid Hawk ID username and password.

Purchasing

The University of Iowa has partnered with Microsoft, Symantec, and other vendors to offer discounted educational software to students. To learn more, visit the Campus Software Program.

WordPerfect

Law students may borrow a WordPerfect installation disk from the Law Library's Circulation Desk and use it to install WordPerfect software on their laptops free of charge.

Laptop Exams
Many professors give law students the option of taking law school exams using a personal laptop. Law students choosing to participate in laptop exams must purchase and install exam software. See the College of Law Laptop Exam web page for more information.

*This download is a PDF file. If you don't already have Adobe Reader (the application necessary to read PDF files), you can download it free by clicking the button below: