Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Helpdesk

Are laptop computers a required purchase for Alfred State College freshmen in all curriculums?: No. Alfred State College has embarked on a program to incorporate laptop computer technology in selected curriculums at this time. Laptop computers are popular among all students at Alfred State College and you may want to consider purchasing a portable laptop rather than a desktop. Alfred State maintains three general access computer laboratories (Alfred campus). Most software and services on the campus network are available in the general access laboratories. In addition, there are computers available in the college libraries for academic use.
Are there any restrictions on what I use for a password?: Password security is an important part of Alfred State College's security. Passwords are always case-sensitive, which means a lower-case "a" is different from an upper-case "A". The minimum password length is eight characters. Also, it is recommended you use a mix of alphabetical, numeric, and symbol characters for your password. When you change your password, you can not use the same password you used the previous three times. This is called the password history, and ensures users create new passwords more frequently instead of "bouncing" between a few different passwords.
Can I let my relatives or friends use my account?: Your username and password are your responsibility and should not be shared with anyone else. By sharing your account with others, you violate several Computing Policies as well as the Student Conduct Code. Violations of these policies and codes can result in account revocation, disciplinary action, and even expulsion. If you believe someone else is using your account, please change your password immediately. If you would like to report the incident, please contact the Help Desk at (607) 587-4357 or helpdesk [at] alfredstate [dot] edu.
Do all students have an Alfred State College e-mail account?: All students are given an e-mail account along with a limited network account within one week of paying their admissions deposit to the college. The network username is the first six letters of the last name, first initial, and middle initial.
Do I have to buy my laptop through the Alfred State College Bookstore?: No. You may shop for competitive prices but be absolutely sure the make and models meet the requirements of your curriculum. The bookstore prices are competitive when comparing identical brand models.
Do I have to pay for Internet Access?: There are no additional fees for Internet access. When students connect their machine to the network, Internet access is provided. Students living in dormitories are required to register their computers on the network prior to accessing the Internet.
How do I change my password while off campus?: You may utilize the "change password" utility in Webmail to alter your password. First you must log onto Webmail by going to http://webmail.alfredstate.edu. Click on the Options button in the upper right area of the Web page. Within the Options Page, scroll down and there will be a link called "Change Password" on the left side navigation bar. Click on the "Change Password" link to change your password. There are several text boxes to be filled in; old password, new password, and confirm new password. Once all text boxes are filled in properly, click on the save button toward the top of the page. A screen will report back if the change was successful. Next, click the OK button to take you back to the Webmail logon page where you may login with your new password.
How do I change my password while on campus?: All lab computers, and computers part of the alfredstate.edu domain, can be used to change your password. You will need to know your username and old password in order to change your password. The easiest way to change your password is to press Ctrl-Alt-Del keys. There should be a "Change Password" button listed. Click on this button. There are several text boxes to be filled in. The domain can be listed as asc or alfredstate.edu. You will need to fill in the old password, and type in a new password twice, and click OK.
How do I connect my machine to the campus network?: Both wired and wireless connectivity are available throughout most of the campus. For a wired connection, you will need to bring your own Cat5 network cable.

Laptops - To take advantage of the wireless network, please make sure your computer has a wireless card. To use the wired network, the laptop will need a traditional 10 base T Ethernet card and Ethernet cable. If you will be using the laptop in a laptop-required curriculum, please make sure the laptop meets or exceeds the minimum specifications for the program.
How long will my network account last at Alfred State College?: As long as you are at least a part-time student, faculty or staff member of Alfred State College in good standing your account will be active. Employees of Alfred State College will have their accounts removed at the end of the day of their last day of State service unless other arrangements are made. Account removal is permanent and includes all account related resources; including e-mail account and network drive space. It is highly recommended all employees back up their data on a regular basis. Accounts for students are removed annually in October. Students, who are not enrolled at that point in time, will have their accounts removed. Account removal is permanent and includes all account related resources. It is highly recommended all students back up their data on a regular basis.
How long will my password last? Is there a password expiration?: Passwords last approximately 120 days. This means if you set a new password today, approximately four months from now it will expire. When you log into Webmail, or a computer on the Alfred State Domain, such as a lab computer, you will receive a password expiration reminder approximately 14 days before your password expires. Once your password has expired, you will need to immediately change your password upon your next successful logon. Until you change an expired password, you will not be able to access Alfred State College resources. Although password expiration is around 120 days, it is recommended you change your password at least once in the middle of each semester. If you suspect someone is using your account, change your password immediately. Keep in mind if you change your password on a regular basis, you will not have to worry about password expirations at all.
I don't see my question answered here. Who can I ask?: Contact the Help Desk to resolve any other account or password questions. Phone: (607) 587-4357. E-mail: helpdesk [at] alfredstate [dot] edu. Office: Allied Health Building, Room 123.
I have tried several times to log on, but am not successful. Now it says I need to contact my Network Administrator. Why?: After five failed attempts to log on using the same account, the account becomes locked out. This policy ensures others do not try to guess or otherwise hack another user's account. After 15 minutes, your account will be unlocked and you can attempt to log in again.
I'm new to Alfred State College. What is my username and password?: Alfred State College uses a standard username format as follows:

First six letters of your last name + first letter of your first name + first letter of your middle name

For instance: John Q. Hopkins username would be HopkinJQ

Deb Q Long's username would be LongDQ

Greg Troops (no middle name) username would be TroopsG

Occasionally, there will be several users with the same username. In this case, a numeric value is appended to the end of the username.

For example, let's say there are three John J Adams. Their usernames would be: AdamsJJ AdamsJJ2 AdamsJJ3

For a password, Alfred State College initially uses your birthday typed like so: mmddyyyy. So, if your birthday was Nov. 22, 1983, your initial password would be: 11221983

Note: Users should change their password from the initial one as soon as possible.
Is there a benefit to purchasing the laptop recommended by Alfred State College?: The brand that the college is using as a standard model is Nexlink made by Seneca Data. The models sold through ACES campus store have been tested extensively on the campus network. As part of this program Alfred State College has teamed exclusively with Seneca Data to provide laptops at a competitive price. These laptops also come with Antivirus and Microsoft Office pre-loaded at no extra cost. We have worked hard to evaluate laptop computers for our students to determine the best models, in both price and quality.
What do I do if both my roommate and I bring a computer to school and want Internet access?: The campus is actively upgrading the number of data ports available in student dorm rooms. For rooms that still have one data port, a competitively priced switch can be purchased at the campus bookstore.

Most laptops will have built in wireless cards, so connecting to the campus network is not limited by the number of data ports in a room.
What is my e-mail/Webmail account and password?: Your e-mail/Webmail account and password are the same as your network account and password.
What kind of Internet connection does the school have?: The campus has a 100Mb land line connection to the Internet.
Where do I get my Seneca Data laptop serviced?: The warranty service is fully supported at the Alfred State College Technology Services Help Desk. Students will be given a loaner laptop, if available, to use if their Seneca Data laptop is taken out of service for repairs. Warranty service is provided by a factory-trained technician for Seneca Data laptops. The college cannot provide service for other brands of models of laptops.
Which majors require a laptop?: View a list of laptop required curriculums. Laptop computers are available to purchase through the Campus Bookstore.
Why is Alfred State College recommending a Seneca Data laptop?: The computers are network certified and tested. The laptops at Alfred State College will all be attached to the network on campus to access campus-wide computing resources including the internet. Seneca Data will guarantee that the brand of laptops we recommend will function properly on the network. That same guarantee cannot be made with other models purchased outside of the college. If you purchase another brand, Alfred State College cannot guarantee it will work on the Alfred State College network.
Will I have an Internet connection in my room?: The campus is actively upgrading the number of data ports available in student dorm rooms. When students connect their computer to the network, they will also have high-speed Internet access.

The campus is also equipped with a wireless network, which allows students Internet and network access using a laptop and wireless card. Wireless access is available in all campus buildings, including residence halls.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Computer Helpdesk