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Password Questions
Email Questions
Internet Questions
Purchase Questions
Security Questions
How do I change my password?
To change your Duck ID password visit account.uoregon.edu.
Log in with your current Duck ID, then click Change Password.
I forgot my password. How do I change it?
To reset your Duck ID password visit account.uoregon.edu.
Enter your Duck ID username and click the Forgot Your Password? button.
You will then be asked to answer your security questions.
I tried resetting
my password and I don't remember the answers to my security questions.
What do I do?
If you cannot answer your security questions, see What
if I can't reset my password?
My password stopped working. Why?
The most common reason a password stops working is that Duck ID passwords
expire every 180 days. Our system sends a notification email a week
before your password expires.
Why do I have to change my password every six months?
Duck ID passwords expire every 180 days (six months). The purpose of
the policy is to improve system security.
Admittedly, most of us do not store restricted or secret data in our
accounts. However, our servers have over twenty thousand users, and
each user account can serve as a point of entry for skillful hackers.
A house is not secure if all the doors are locked but the front window
is left open.
How do I get my email address and initial password?
New to the UO? If you're new to the university, you
can claim your account by visiting the Duck
ID page.
Enter your UO ID number and PAC to log in the first time. Any
letters in your PAC should be IN UPPERCASE for this form. Also,
if your PAC is longer than 6 characters in length, only use the
first 6 characters of your PAC as the password.
Already have a UO email address? If you already have
a UO email address, you already have a Duck ID. Your Duck ID will be your
username—the part of the address to the left of the @ sign—and
your current password.
For tips on creating a valid password, changing or resetting your password,
and other information about Duck ID, see the Duck ID help page.
For information on reading your email and other important facts, see
our University of Oregon Email page.
How do I read my email?
For information on reading your email and other important facts, see
our University of Oregon Email page.
I've graduated. How long do I get to keep my email
account?
Students retain email accounts for one year after the last term of
enrollment.
How do I set my account to forward mail to another account?
You can set your account to forward new mail messages to another account
by visiting account.uoregon.edu.
How do I turn on a vacation/auto-response message?
You can create a custom auto-response message, sometimes referred to
a vacation message, by visiting duckid.uoregon.edu/vacation.
What is the maximum email message size?
The University of Oregon mail servers will accept messages up to 25MB
in total size. Note that email programs encode attached files before
sending, and this process often inflates file sizes by 20 percent.
How do I get internet access through
UO?
Current students, faculty and staff can use the university as their
dial-up Internet Service Provider (ISP) free of charge. All that's
required is your Duck ID.
To set up modem access, please see our Get
Connected page.
The university cannot serve as an ISP for cable modem or DSL connections
for financial and contractual reasons.
How do I transfer files to and
from my account?
Currently, the best way to transfer files to and from your account
is to use an SFTP program. For an explanation of how to transfer
files, see our Transferring Files Online page.
You can store 1GB of data in your account. This total is all-inclusive.
Can I access the Internet from my home or dorm?
On campus: Most university housing has high-speed
Ethernet connections to UOnet, the UO’s campuswide computing network.
Nearly all computers come equipped with an Ethernet port, and
connecting to UOnet is usually simple. For assistance, contact
ResNet in 101 Douglass Hall. Call (541) 346-4223,
email reshelp@resnet.uoregon.edu or
see the ResNet web site.
Wireless access is also available throughout
most buildings on campus. For more information about using
wireless, see Get
Connected.
Off-campus: Modem service provides access to UOnet
from home or any remote location where a telephone line is available.
The UO modem number is 225-2200. DSL and cable modem subscribers
can connect via the UO’s Virtual Private Network (VPN). See
VPN
Overview. Information
on how to configure your computer to connect to the UO modem
pool is available on the Duckware CD or at http://it.uoregon.edu/help/getconnected/ .
Should I buy a computer?
Personal computers have become an extremely valuable tool in the university
environment. Many courses use the Internet as a regular
part of their course content. Whether you own a computer or use
one in a campus computing lab, you’ll find personal computers essential
for preparing term papers, doing research, and staying in touch
via email. Even if you’re
not thinking about buying a computer soon, you should be aware
that educational discounts are available on a number of popular
computer products through many sources—direct, retail, and mail
order. See Where can I buy a computer on campus? for information about buying a computer on campus.
What kind of computer should I buy?
Some departments emphasize Apple Macintosh computers; others use Microsoft
Windows. Check with your department before you make a decision.
Here are some links to a few departments with specific hardware requirements:
Where can I buy a computer on campus?
If you’re unsure which computer system will work best for you,
consider visiting the The Duck Store or
your local computer store. This is one of the easiest ways to sample a
variety of computers before buying one.
Before purchasing your computer, check with your
major's recommendations as to operating system (Macintosh or Windows),
minimum hardware and required software that your department or major
advises. If you have not yet determined your major, you may want to
use this information as a guideline in your purchasing to facilitate
your future success.
You may wish to generate price quotes online prior to shopping locally.
In some cases, stores will match the online quote. For Apple
equipment, visit their online
education store. For Dell
equipment, visit their online education store, Dell
University.
You'll sometimes find better pricing on their Home & Home
Office or Small Business websites.
Oregon has no sales tax. You can save up to ten percent off
the purchase price if you buy equipment and have it shipped
to an Oregon address.
You will usually need more RAM and disk space than the minimum requirements
listed on software packages. Most modern laptops include integrated
wireless Internet capability. We do recommend that you purchase
a model with this capability. For full access to network resources
from off-campus, you should consider subscribing to high-speed
cable modem or DSL service. Aside from email and casual web browsing,
a traditional modem is unlikely to be fully satisfactory for
network-intensive work at home. Those living in campus residence
halls or family housing have Ethernet access to the campus network
and the Internet. For additional guidelines on computing purchases, see
the Buyer’s
Guide.
How will I know what software to buy?
It’s best to wait to buy until you see what you need and what
you like. Some software may be bundled and pre-installed as part
of the overall price of a system you purchase, although it may
not necessarily be the best combination of packages for your
needs. The
Duck Store, TechHead and
other outlets also sell selected software products at educational
discounts to qualified students, faculty, and staff.
When you do buy software, you’ll want a word processing package
for term papers and the like. One popular word processing package
on campus is Microsoft Word. Selecting one program over another
is largely a matter of personal preference. However, less popular
programs may make it difficult for you to share files with others.
Some specific disciplines may require additional software. Check with
your department to see if they have any specific requirements or recommendations.
Before buying, make sure you have enough RAM and disk space to handle
the software you’re getting. See what other people are using, talk
to your instructors, and look through computer magazine software reviews
for a sense of what might work for you.
Do I need to buy a printer?
A printer is one of the most valuable of all the peripheral devices
you can add to your personal computer system. However, if your
budget is tight and your printing needs modest, one option is
to print your documents in one
of the public computer labs on campus.
Be sure the lab has the software you need for printing your document.
(Note that most labs charge for printing. For instructions on
how to print to the lab printers, and pay for your printing,
see the CampusCash web site.
A&AA also has printing services available, with wide-format
inkjet printers capable of printing up to 44 inches wide. The
A&AA Output Room accepts CampusCash and their own printing punchcards.
For more information, see the Output
Room web page.
Is it safe to have a computer in my dorm room?
Protect your computer much as you’d protect an expensive bicycle
or stereo—engrave or stamp your ID number on major components of
your system, investigate insurance coverage, and lock
your property down with a cable when you’re not using it.
Our experience has been that the majority of computer thefts on campus
are crimes of opportunity. If you leave your computer on your desk, unlocked,
and your room open and unlocked as well, there are individuals who will
take advantage of that opportunity. Keep your door closed and locked,
your computer equipment secured, and you'll reduce your risk of theft
dramatically.
You should also consider purchasing a surge suppressor or an uninterrupted
power supply (UPS) device. Residence hall power circuits are often shared
by students using a variety of appliances (such as popcorn poppers and
refrigerators) that may impact your system’s power. Spilled liquids
pose another common threat to your computer. Avoid eating and drinking
around your computer, and consider protecting it with a waterproof cover
when it isn’t being used.
Do I need to worry about computer viruses and spyware?
Computer virus and spyware infections can cause you grief and often
require several hours of work to remove. Depending on the severity of
the viral incursion, a complete re-install of your operating system may
be required.
The University of Oregon has a site license for McAfee VirusScan for
both Windows and Macintosh. This software is free to all currently
enrolled students. VirusScan is available on the Duckware
CD and via download.
By using current virus protection software and avoiding
software, email attachments, and links of suspicious origin,
you can substantially control the risks you face. Other essential precautions
include routinely running Windows Update if you use a PC, and using a
firewall product.
For help with McAfee VirusScan, contact the Information Services Help
Desk at (541) 346-HELP or visit them in 151 McKenzie Hall.
Also remember to routinely back up your important files. Frequent backups
will allow you to recover from any software or hardware problems
that may arise. External USB- or Firewire-connected drives are relatively
inexpensive, and the first time they allow you to recover your computer's
files from a hard drive crash they will have paid for themselves.
What if my computer breaks down? Is repair service available?
Information Services Help Desk has
factory-certified hardware technicians who work on many brands
of computers and peripherals, including Apple and Dell machines.
These technicians can also offer advice regarding upgrades. For
more information, call (541)
346-3548, visit them in 151 McKenzie Hall, or check their website.
For assistance with software problems, call the Information Services Help
Desk at (541)
346-HELP, visit 151 McKenzie Hall, or email helpdesk@uoregon.edu .
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