Frequently Asked Questions

Laptops

  • What operating system and software are installed on the laptops and what media can I bring my presentation on?
    Our laptops run Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. They can take presentations provided on CD-ROM, DVD and USB Memory Stick. They is a mouse provided.
  • Can I access the internet on the laptop?
    Internet (web) access from our laptops is possible upon request, IT Services (x3838, infodesk@york.ac.uk) must be contacted to ensure that the network point in the room is "live". It is not possible to access your personal filestore, or any other applications (Agresso, SITS, Kinetics, Planon, Matlab, Maple, PureData etc).
  • How do I make my laptop talk to the projector / Plasma Screen (Windows)?
    If in any doubt, then we recommend that you switch the projector on, switch it to the right input, connect the VGA lead to your laptop and then switch the laptop on. This is the most reliable method to make sure the laptop detects the external display. Once the laptop and projector are on and the laptop is showing either the Windows logon screen or your desktop, check which displays are showing - either laptop screen, external screen or both. To change between screens, and more importantly both screens, there is a magic key combination. This key combination varies between makes and models of laptops, however, below are the most common ones.
    • Most laptops - hold down the Function key (marked Fn in the bottom left corner of the keyboard) and tap F5, wait for the displays to settle down and repeat as necessary.
    • Newer Toshiba's - hold down the Function key and press F5, keep the Function key held down and a display will come up, tap F5 until the correct setting is highlighted then release the Function key.
    • Dell Laptops - follow the instructions for most laptops but use Function key and F8
    If this doesn't work, check you are using the right F key - it will be marked in grey or blue with either "CRT/LCD" or an outline picture of a PC and a separate screen
  • How do I make my laptop talk to the projector / Plasma Screen (MAC)?
    From the settings menu, select Displays, then Detect Displays. You may also need to select Mirror Displays or change the arrangement and drag the two screens on top of each other. The projector display should be set to run at 1024x768 (60Hz).
  • Some of my pictures and movies don't work when transferred from MAC to PC.
    This often appears as a message in place of the image saying that Quicktime is required. Often this is not the case and the original image will need to be re-inserted. There are two ways to avoid this problem in the first place:-
    • Use PowerPoint 2008 with the latest service packs. This version of the software inserts the files correctly
    • For earlier versions of PowerPoint, use the 'insert' options in the menus - do not drag and drop images.

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