Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kind of computer should I bring to campus?
A: You may bring virtually any kind of computer to campus. Brands are not important. If you wish to connect to the campus network, you will want to make sure that you have a PC with Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, or a Mac with OS X. Our technicians are more familiar with supporting PCs so service may be slightly faster for PC problems.

Q: Can I bring my own wireless access point, router, or switch?
A: Routers, wireless access points, or any other devices that act as a DHCP server to generate IP addresses or allow multiple computers to access one connection, are not allowed on the network. Computers on these devices will not be able to complete registration.

Q: Does MacMurray College provide a network cable for my residence hall room?
A: No, MacMurray College does not provide network cables for students. Network cables may be purchased at the bookstore.

Q: Is my campus password the same as my email password?
A: No. Since the switch to Gmail, all MacMurray students will have two separate passwords to remember: one for campus access (e.g. - registration for network access) and the other for their Gmail account.

Q: How do I change my campus password?
A: See the "How To" section for help with changing your campus password.

Q: How do I change my Gmail password?
A: See the "How To" section for help with changing your Gmail password.

Q: What if the Registration Page doesn't come up when I open my browser?

A:
  • Your home page may be cached. Navigate away from your home page to an off-campus site, such as www.google.com.
  • Ensure the machine is properly configured for use on the MacMurray College network. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Release/Renew your computer’s IP address. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Restart your computer.
  • Scan your computer for any viruses and spyware and allow your software to remove the problems found.
  • Clear your browser history, cookies, and temporary Internet files. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Turn off the Windows firewall. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Unplug the network cable from the wall or computer and turn the computer off. Plug the network cable back into the wall and computer, then restart the computer. Open a browser window and see if you have network access.
  • (Optional) Try opening an alternate web browser, such as Firefox, to access the registration page. The Mozilla Firefox browser is less vulnerable to spyware than Internet Explorer, which may improve the likelihood of successful registration.
  • Contact the IT department for assistance.

Q: What if I’ve already registered and I am being asked to register again?

A:
  • Release/Renew your computer’s IP address. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Restart your computer.
  • Scan your computer for any viruses and spyware and allow your software to remove the problems found.
  • Clear your browser history, cookies, and temporary Internet files. (See the "How To" section.)
  • Turn off the Windows firewall. (See the "How To" section.)
  • It may take up to one hour for the network to complete your computer registration request.

Q: What if I have problems accessing the network after successfully registering my computer?

A:
  • If the computer has been infected with a virus or with spyware, network access may have been disabled. Scan your computer for infections and try again.
  • If successful registration has been indicated, but the Internet cannot be accessed from your computer, leave the computer on and plugged in to the network. Registration may take up to an hour to process after you’ve received a “successful registration” notice.
  • Other problems may be related to network outages, or wiring/physical port damage may have occurred. You may want to try a different network cable but do not attempt to use to a different network port, because it may interrupt the registration process.
  • Contact the IT department for assistance.

Q: Why won't the registration pages accept the MAC address for my game console as valid even though I entered it correctly?
A: The vendor code for the console has likely not been added to our database and is therefore not recognized. Contact the IT department with your console's MAC address and we will add it.

Q: Will you fix my computer?
A: Our IT department staff will assist students with network access issues. We require the “Student Network Issue Repair Request Form” (supplied by our office) to be completed either before or during the drop-off. Incomplete forms will result in longer resolution times. Additionally, if you are bringing a laptop, we will require the power cord, since we may need to keep the laptop past the life of the battery.

For licensing and warranty reasons, our staff cannot service students’ personal computer hardware or software.

If you are experiencing problems with your computer that are not related to MacMurray’s network, there are a few options:

  • If your computer is under warranty, contact the manufacturer for assistance.
  • Take your computer to a service center. There are a couple of options in Jacksonville:

    BLH Computers Staples
    (217) 245-2600 217-245-9648
    Located at 832 South Main Located at 1813 W. Morton Avenue
    http://www.blhcomputers.com/  

Note: These businesses are listed as a service to our students. MacMurray College does not endorse either business, nor does MacMurray College guarantee the quality of work or pricing from either business.