Archive
How to enable screen cloning and switching between display modes on the LRC reception desk dual screen Dell OptiPlex 780 with WinXP
Short, non-technical answer: on the keyboards of the reception desk computers, press key combination
- ALT+CTRL+F10 to mirror the same image on both monitors;
- ALT+CTRL+F11 to return to extending the primary screen, i.e. showing something different on the second screen.
- if this stops working, restart the computer.
We do not use any more key combination ALT+CTRL+F10 to cycle through the different desktop configurations, which include cloning/mirroring the same image on both screens (also keep pressing the key combination, in order to get back to extending the image to the 2nd screen, for running an informational display (calendar, PowerPoint) to display on the 2nd screen after mirroring the lab assistant’s screen onto the 2nd screen when interacting with a client on the other side of the help desk counter).
Longer, technical answer: You have to configure this. But the Win XP dialogue: Display Properties / tab: Settings only allows for “extending” the desktop to the secondary screen. However, button: Advanced leads to another dialogue, with a tab: ATI Control Center, by the graphics card manufacturer.
If you also enable the advanced settings in this dialogue, you can get to the hotkey settings where, among other things, you can enter a key combination for cycling through Display Configurations, one of which being cloning.
In addition, you can save this configuration as such:
Why all these minutiae? You cannot have LRC clients and staff at the help desk communicate with the help of a computer (and all the goodies accessible now, from intranet to interwebs) if they cannot easily share the screen (and, in order to both even interact with the screen, share keyboard and mouse, which are easy to duplicate, if you have some spare USB input devices lying around). If you can make them share, you have applied AI to business problems (compare dual screen system in the LLC entrance area here). If calling the after state “AI” sounds too lofty to you, you may call the before state “flying blind” instead: I just care about the delta which remains the same.
Computer Lab Imaging with Ghost Console and Deepfreeze Console
0. As of Winter 2011 Novell – AD and Deepfreeze 7 upgrade, flagged for updating: TBA.
1. DEEPFREEZE console
1.1. Unfreeze the image source client
2. Client PREPARE THE IMAGE
2.1. Login as labadmin,
2.1.1.NAL [tba], labtools, icon Microsoft Update (be sure to use icon in launcher it will disable policies that won’t allow it otherwise use windowsupdate.com
2.1.2 Remove the machine from the domain: My Computer / System Properties / Computer Name / Button: Change / Member of: Workgroup: LRC (if it asks for a user/pwd, leave both blank and click OK), restart as prompted using Ghost Console / Add to workgroup
2.2. Login as ITSadmin (work station only)
2.2.1.Create user testuser (Administrator), will be based on past default user template
2.3. Log in as testuser
2.3.1.Document what you are doing by running c:\temp\labscreencastfullhighaudio.wme / menu button: start encoding / when done, menu button: stop encoding, rename output file to not overwrite existing output,
2.3.2.Make changes ß centre_image_request_list_allda
2.3.2.1 if software installs complain about missing H: (home) drive, plug in a thumbdrive and change its driveletter to H:
2.3.3.Clean before making testuser default user:
2.3.3.1. control / internet options / clean history and temp files
2.3.3.2. recycling bin: empty
2.3.3.3. right-click start button: / menu item:properties / button:customize / tab:general / button:clear list + tab:advanced: clear list
2.3.3.4. C: / properties /disk cleanup, all, except: “Compress old files”, “cached installers”, “Office setup files”
2.3.3.5 Firefox: menu: tools / clear recent history / time range: “everything”/ check everything and click button “clear now:” ![]()
2.4. Log in as itsadmin
2.4.1.Document what you are doing by running c:\temp\labscreencastfullhighaudio.wme / start encoding / rename to not overwrite existing output,
2.4.2.Manage testuser – default user transition
2.4.2.1. USERS
2.4.2.1.1. Make testuser default user:
2.4.2.1.1.1. Unhide: explorer / tools / folder options / tab:view / show hidden files and folder, unhide protected operating system files
2.4.2.1.1.1.1. make a backup of old documents and settings/default user (entire directory, not only ntuser.dat): zip onto thumbdrive with date/version number )
2.4.2.1.1.2. xp copy profile windowskey+pause/break /tab:advanced / section:user profiles / button:settings, select the profile [you cannot copy the active profile, so log in as itsadmin], button: copy to, new window: copy to, section:copy profile to, button:browse, select c:\documents and settings\default user, button:ok
2.4.2.1.1.3. [not even the ntuser.dat seems necessary, since even the ntuser.dat gets updated by copy profile] c:\document and settings\testuser\ntuser.dat [+dolater:subfolders?]: back up ntuser.dat to ntuser.old, then copy into default user
2.4.2.1.1.4.Re-hide: explorer / tools / folder options / tab:view / do not show hidden files and folder, hide protected operating system files
2.4.2.1.2. Remove other accounts:
2.4.2.1.2.1. system / advanced / user profiles / clean profiles: delete all accounts except default user (it if shows) and itsadmin
2.4.2.1.2.2. administrative tools / computer management / treenode:local users and groups management / delete non built-in users and non-administrative users
2.4.3.Uninstall deepfreeze (by re-running the installer from unccapps/installs / df#wks.exe) (this will restart the computer; log in again as itsadmin)
2.4.4.delete c:\nalcache
2.4.5.backup the c:\temp \*.wmv screencasts onto a thumbdrive
2.4.6.do this as last step: run c:\windows\system32\trend\ImgSetup.exe, which gives a message: “this program has been configured to start whenever the system is restarted.”
2.4.7.if sysprep required (deploying to non-uniform hardware, e.g. dell optiplex 760 vs 780), run
2.4.8.Reboot to login screen
3. Ghost console configuration
3.1. Ghost console: upload/backup and download/deploy/clone the image
3.1.1. configuration resources / images / right-click: new / image pointing to a file with the NAME that includes today’s date in the format MMDDYY
3.1.2 task: “CAPTURE IMAGE” (not run): open
3.1.1.1. ISource machine: set to machine you have created the image on
3.1.1.2. Image: set to config resource that you have just created
3.1.1.3. [IF NOT CHECKED]check tab:general /checkbox: Remove machine from Domain before taking an image. You must remove the computer from its domain if you are going to roll out the image file to a number of computers. [except if using sysprep].
3.1.1.4 button: save, button:execute
4. DEEPFREEZE console
4.1. UNFREEZE ALL CLIENTS [LRC must be closed]
5. Ghost console configuration
5.1. Deploy task:
5.1.1.“DEPLOY IMAGE TEST”:
5.1.1.1. [ITEM IS ONLY FYI]tab:general / check: clone, but uncheck: configuration [tba: NOT unchecked now?] , refresh configuration, refresh inventory [tba: why?]
5.1.1.2. [ITEM IS ONLY FYI]tab: clone: check “use Ghost walker to perform a sid change”
5.1.2.configuration task “ADD TO DOMAIN”
5.1.2.1. [ITEM IS ONLY FYI] Alternative individually: ghost console / default configuration / right click computer / properties/ configuration / edit default configuration / tree: workgroup/domain membership
5.1.2.2. [ITEM IS ONLY FYI]alternative via batch configuration template: task “Add to AD group” to add to AD [for lcs? Is this why we do this separately from the domain?]: tab:general, check configuration , target machine group: browse for your default group / coed434, tab;configuration: browse for “add machines to ad” – based on template “add machines to ad”, check allow template settings, tree: workgroup/domain membership / check apply member of , check uncheck computer name which is already set, no description , workgroup/domain: its.uncc.edu, container:unccharlotte / labs / clas / lcs / workstations, uncheck: Move computers that are currently in a container.
6. Ghost console: TEST DEPLOY/ADD AD with 2 computers:
6.1. Test: template task: download/deploy to 2 clients
6.2. Test: on client:
6.2.1.Are clients joined to domain [cannot log in with domain account if not; global test: tba]
6.2.2.logging in (creating profiles based on default user) as staff and labstudent: language & translation apps coming up?
7. Ghost console : PRODUCTION DEPLOY/ADD AD
7.1. checks: are you deploying the right image? Are all computers turned on? Cancelling a Ghost deploy task is a pain, if it does not reboot to the login screen, run a token task like deepfreeze-boot-unfrozen
7.2. Clone/Download, Add to Domain/AD
7.3. Test the clients are joined to domain
7.3.1.For all: ghost console / default configuration / right click computer / properties/ configuration
8. Clients
8.1. Login as labadmin staff account (domain account ß uncheck “workstation only”, to freeze with this default)
8.2. DEEPFREEZE: install from novell-delivered application, from Ghost console: deepfreeze7-install, reboot to frozen install: from Ghost console:deepfreeze7-bootfrozen
9. DEEPFREEZE console
9.1. Test the clients are frozen (exclamation point denotes "not sure")
9.2 Add your scheduled maintenance window, again, to avoid domain trust issues .
Canon ZR-200 LLC Camera Basics
The camera can store only about 30 [check, might be 100 or more, recording size is 5MB per 1 min video] minutes on its SD card
Currently we are using my personal SD card, bring your own to extend the recording time (by swapping the cards. You can move video clips onto classroom computers’ network shares if the classroom computer is in MS-Active Directory (which most should be) and if the classroom computer has an SD card reader (which most will NOT have).
Video–clips (internal access only) showing how to operate the camera are here:
camera-canon-zr200-Inserting&Removing_Memory_Card_Starting&Stopping&Filming.avi
camera-canon-zr200-Inserting_Memory_Card_into_Card_Reader_on_Assistant-Computer.AVI
camera-canon-zr200-moving_video_from_memory_card_to_H-Drive.avi
For base documentation, see these graphics:
You can change the audio modes:
Optimum video mode with card is 320*240.
All in all: Quick and dirty recording and archiving for basic assessments…
Interpreting Suite: How to avoid audio feedback
- symptom: loud squealing noise over the classroom speakers
- context: left lectern microphone is turned on; Creston / main room /
[Elmo room] camera is chose (e.g. to display the speaker on the projector; may also be chosen for background recording purposes only)
- resolution: Creston / room controls / speaker: up/own, on/off, to turn the classroom speaker volume down or off entirely
- explanation: the Elmo camera works with the sound from the left lectern microphone (not from the right or DIS microphone); if the Elmo camera is room source, its sound is displayed over the classroom speakers; from where it feeds back into the microphone; etc (infinite loop, feedback).
How to Digital Audio Record: Olympus Voice Recorder
- Layout:

- To prepare
- Turn on by pressing “OK” (14) button on front
- No external microphone needed, but do not cove built-in microphone (2)
- Troubleshooting: If the device will not turn on/function, check the battery (compartment (23) on rear, uses AAA)
- Make sure
- the “hold” switch (21) is on unlocked
- the “mode” switch (22) on the left is not set to “music” , but “voice”
- Turn on by pressing “OK” (14) button on front
- To record: press record button (4) on right
- To pause, press “record”(4)
- To end, press “stop” (5) on right
- Advanced:
- Voice Activation mode: TBA
- Troubleshooting: if the device does not record and says “music mode”, change
- To saving recordings
- On rear, press release (24) button
- Slide the recorder out of the battery compartment to reveal the usb connector (8)
- Insert the usb connector into a pc of the booths, wait until windows recognizes the device, then move the (wma) files and store them on your home (x:) drive or email them to yourself.
- Loan policy:
- to borrow a digital voice recorder, leave your student or staff card in the plastic pocket of the recorder
- Students need to ask before they can borrow one. Tutors need to collect them back by the end of the session.
- You must return the recorder at the end of the lesson. Digital voice recorders must not leave the interpreting suite premises (MGB-36).
Whisper interpreting with radio transmitter/receiver (“bidule” by williamssound.com)
We have:
Usage:
- Speaker speaks
- Interpreter
- listens to speaker in room
- wearing one of the transmitters, whisper interprets into target language channel 1,2or 3
- delegates
- wearing receiver and headphones, listens to one of the interpreter channels
Troubleshooting:
- If you cannot send/receive audio at all, check
-
Channel selector on top of unit: make sure you are on the right channel
-
Power indicator light is on? If not , adjust batteries in compartment at rear of unit
- If you cannot send/receive audio well, check
-
Transmitter:
- microphone adjustment wheel under rear panel door
- position yourself and the microphone so that there is no ambient noise going into your (sensitive) microphone, especially not from the speaker
-
Receiver: Volume wheel on top of unit










