Help Desk

Frequently Asked Questions for XP and Vista

1. How do I determine which operating system I have?

Right click “My Computer.” The icon is generally located on the Desktop.
Select “Properties.”
Under the “General” tab, look under “System” and it will tell you which operating system is running on the computer.

2. How do I determine which version of Office I have?

After opening Word, click on “Help” at the top of the screen. This will open a drop-down menu; click on “About Microsoft Office Word,” which will open a small window with all the program information. Towards the top of the window will be displayed “Microsoft Word” plus the year.

3. Is it necessary to upgrade my operating system if I don’t have one of those listed?

Yes. Windows XP and Vista are the only PC operating systems the SLC Help Desk support.

4. Do I need to purchase a new keyboard to be able to type in different languages or use the international keyboard setting?

No, you only have to change the settings in your computer.

5. If I am using my standard U.S. keyboard, but typing in a different language or using the international keyboard setting, how do I know which keys to press?

Click on the following link for an image of how the international keyboard is laid out on XP and Vista:

http://www.datacal.com/products/us-international-layout.htm

6. I don’t have Word 2008. How do I get it, and does it cost anything?

SLC does not yet support Microsoft 2008, and so cannot procure or troubleshoot Word 2008 for you. But it is important to note that students, teachers, and staff members receive a significant discount on Microsoft software.

7. The international keyboard setting doesn’t work in all programs. Why, and what do I do?

The most basic word processing commands (bold, underline, and italicize) can be turned on with the Alt keys as well as the Control key; in some Internet programs the text formatting tools will be turned on instead of the accent marks. There is another key that allows you to accent ‘i’ and ‘u’ without using the Alt key. It is the key directly to the left of the Return key; see your keyboard layout.

8. I have a PC and want to type in Russian. But it’s not listed under the language keyboards. Why, and where can I get it?

The PC does not have Russian readily available to users. However, it is simple to download the Russian language keyboard onto your computer. Click on the following link for directions:
http://pages.slc.edu/~support/article/configuring-windows-xp-keyboards-for-russian/

9. Where can I buy stickers for my keyboard?

   Details regarding this will be posted soon.

Return to the International and Language Specific Keyboard Guide

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