Extension Information Technology provides critical IT services and support to Extension staff across Iowa. We also work with educational clients and partners in support of learning, discovery and engagement. Please spend some time exploring our site to discover the services we can offer.

Question of the Week

Several reasons:

1. Computers lose their Network Registration if they have not been connected to the ISU network at least once in the last month. Network Registration is required for any computer on the ISU network to access the Internet and to receive email.
2. Computers need to update Windows and Office. Updates are delivered automatically and are critical to your computer's smooth operation, particularly from a security standpoint. If you have a computer that hasn't been on the network for a month or several months, there can be many, many critical updates requiring hours of download and installation time.
3. Virusscan also needs to update regularly. The longer the computer is off the network, the longer this will take. Meanwhile, your computer is vulnerable.
4. If the computer is off the network long enough (3 months or so), it will no longer be a part of Active Directory. This means that it will not be possible for EIT to remotely change your administrator password (something that might be quite likely if no one in your office has used that computer for 3 months or more).

Note: THIS ALSO APPLIES TO NEW COMPUTERS SHIPPED TO YOUR OFFICE.  When we set up computers on campus, they receive a Network Registration, are added to the domain and receive all current critical updates for Vista and Office.  HOWEVER, you will need to unpack and hook that computer up to the network as soon as possible (within a month of receipt) or you will have to redo some computer setup steps--specifically Network Registration and adding to the IASTATE domain.