Here at Virginia Tech, your computer is the most useful tool you will utilize in all your classes throughout school. Knowing where to go for software and repairs is important.
Software
Software for most classes at Tech will be bundled with books purchased at the bookstores. If a teacher specifically asks to use software from a book, make sure the book comes bundled with it before you buy it. Incoming freshmen should receive a software disc at minimum to get started. Engineering and creative classes will often utilize software not bundled with books.
Freshman engineers will get bundled software with all the programs utilized in freshman classes.
Other software or additional copies of software a student may have lost can be obtained either by visiting the Web site, or Student Software Distribution located in Torgersen Bridge. There is also a multitude of creative software that is available for purchase to all Tech students at discounted rates.
The return policy for software is within 30 days and it must be unopened. The Software Distribution Center can also help with software repair issues.
Repairs
The Tech Bookstore is a good place to get hardware problems fixed. If you purchase your computer through Tech this is the best place to go as they will see if the problem is under warranty and possibly fix it for free.
If you didn't buy your computer through Tech then they will attempt to diagnose the problem and fix it for a fee if you want.
This is usually quicker than contacting the company that the computer was originally purchased from and shipping it to them but it can also be more costly. Most of the time students will suffer the price tag consequences because computers never break at convenient times and getting it back in working conditions fast is important.
On average it can take up to a week for the computer to be fixed. Loaners are sometimes offered but don't count on one always being available.
Some problems are more difficult than others and may require longer than a week so be prepared to not have a computer. The best option would be to use a friend or roommate's computer.
4-HELP is Tech's computer help service. It is available to help with issues regarding wireless or on-campus Ethernet.
internet, list servs, Tech e-mail, and Hokie SPA. The Web site also has a lot of tips for computer issues so be sure to check that before calling 4-HELP.
Phishing and spam
On occasion a phishing e-mail makes its way through the Virginia Tech e-mail system. A phishing e-mail is one sent from a third party pretending to be a company or organization that asks for you to provide your username and password.
The phishing e-mails related to Tech usually pretend to be the Webmail maintenence team requesting that you provide your PID and password to allow maintence to improve your account.
A phishing e-mail comes through the system every few weeks and hits about 10 percent of all Tech e-mails. About 2 percent to 5 percent respond to the e-mail.
Tech will never ask for your PID or password, mainly because they keep such records and wouldn't need you to provide it.
There is a spam filter automatically placed on your Tech e-mail account if you use Webmail, as opposed to forwarding e-mails to another e-mail.
You receive a "junk mail summary" e-mail with the content considered spam. It is good to look through it to make sure that real e-mail hasn't been labeled as spam.