BAD Files - When Files Don't Work

After bringing an essay to school, you may find that it "doesn't work" - you cannot open it or print it.  Students sometimes blame the "old" computers at school, but this is rarely the case.  The most likely causes are : incompatible file types, broken storage devices, can't find the file.

Word-Processing Documents

MS-Works, Lotus WordPro, and some other word-processing programs save files in a different format than MS-Word.  MS-Word can open some of these file types, but not all of them. And once it opens the file, the essay might look different - table are formatting don't look correct.

Solution:  If you don't have MS-Word at home, you should save essays as RTF (Rich Text Format). This format works correctly in all word-processors, including WordPad which is part of Windows. You could also try converting to an older MS-Word .DOC format (for example Word-6.0).  This is compatible with many word-processors (but not all).  Just don't save documents as .WPS files (MS Works format). You could also install Open Office at home - it's free and opens MS-Word files.

Pictures (graphics)

Web-sites can only display some graphics file formats - .JPG, .GIF, and .PNG .  If you use PaintBrush to draw a picture, it normally saves in .BMP format - this will not work correctly in a web-page.  

Solution:  Most graphics programs (including Windows PaintBrush) will save in .JPG format .  Choose .JPG format when saving graphics to get pictures that work everywhere.

== Broken Storage Devices ==

Diskettes are easily broken when thrown in a back-pack with heavy books.
Solution : Be careful with your diskettes - put them in a pocket in the backpack.

USB sticks might not work if they need installation because student accounts can't install software.
Solution : Log in as Lab329 (then you can install software), or ask a teacher for help.

USB sticks might not work when plugged into the front of the computer.
Solution : Use a cable that is plugged in the back, but DON'T plug the stick in the back.

Hot-Mail sometimes doesn't work at school - you can't log in.
Solution : Ask the teacher whether you can try logging in at his/her computer.  Or use Yahoo - it's a better E-mail system, less spam, more reliable, and has more storage space.

Your Z: drive won't work if you aren't logged in, or if the network is down.
Solution : Make sure you are logged-in properly.  If the network is down, try again later.

[Can't find my Files]