Frequently Asked Questions
Question categories:
- Email Related
- File Storage & Backup
- Computer Support and Hardware Repair Related
- Networking
- About Other Biology IT Services
- Application and Operating System Software Related
- Migration Related
- All Questions
- Graduate Student Orientation Handout (PDF)
Is there a FAQ that you would like to see here? Please let us know by sending us a request!
Email Related Questions
- How to connect an IPhone to the Biology Email Server
- What is the name of the email server for Biology?
- How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Microsoft Outlook?
- How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Entourage 2004 on Macs?
- Why are Biology Email “Out of Office” Replies limited to campus addresses?
- How do I recognize a fake/phishing email?
- Why should a faculty member decide to use Biology Exchange Email rather than campus email?
- What are the Biology Listserv addresses for Faculty, Post Doc, Staff, Graduate Student… mass emails? (This page requires a valid biology account for authentication.) For a more comprehensive list, please go to the Biology Intranet Page.
- Why can I not send emails to Biology Listservs?
File Storage & Backup Questions
- How do I access the BioArk file server from outside of campus (FTP & VPN)?
- How do I access my lab/faculty folder on BioArk?
- Is there file server storage available for Graduate Students & Post Docs?
- How does FacultyShare allow me to share data and documents among other faculty members?
- How does ResearchShare allow me to transfer data between computers in different labs (using research equipment in labs other than your own)?
- Is there a size limit for storage space on the departmental file and web servers?
- How do I recover a lost or deleted file?
- What options do I have to backup my files from my computer?
Computer Support and Hardware Repair Related Questions
- What should I do if my USB device isn’t working properly on my CCI IBM computer or any other computer?
- Who do I contact if I am having hardware problems with my CCI machine?
- How do I submit a UNC campus help request? (962-HELP, help.unc.edu)
- Is there support for Macintosh (Apple) computers?
- How can I send a biology computer support help request in?
Networking Questions
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- I have a new computer, I would like to connect it to the internet and to the biology network. What should I do?
- Why can’t I access BioArk and the departmental email server?
- How do I setup the correct DNS servers if having trouble accessing Biology resources such as BioArk and Exchange email?
- How do I get an Ethernet/internet port activated?
Questions About Other Biology IT Services
- What Website services does the department offer, and how can I request them? (Faculty, lab and course pages)
- How do I setup a shared lab printer?
- How do I access Blackboard and other UNC links?
- Can a visitor access departmental IT resources?
- Where can I make reservations for or see availability of Biology meeting rooms and vehicles?
- How do I create a webpage?
- How can I get an LCD projector for my class?
- How can I send a biology computer support help request in?
- Is video conferencing equipment available through the department?
Application and Operating System Software Related Questions
- How do I get UNC licensed software for my departmental computer?
- I have Windows XP Home Edition and am unable to access Biology resources. Why should I upgrade to Windows XP Professional?
- My PowerPoint presentation comes up with the warning, “This presentation cannot be edited because it contains a read-only embedded font.” What does this mean and how can this issue be solved?
- How do I upgrade to Microsoft Updates so both Windows and Office updates are being installed regularly?
- How do I access Blackboard and other UNC links?
- Is there support for UNIX/Linux-based operating systems?
- Is there support for Bioinformatics Applications like VectorNTI, Sequencer or GCG?
- Can I run my UNIX application on any of the departmental servers? (BioLinux)
- How do I create a webpage?
- Why and how should I upgrade my Antivirus Client?
- How do I get and setup AdmissionPros (for MACs with Virtual PC)?
- Is Office 2007 backward compatible with Office 2003?
- Can I share documents made in Office 2007 with users of earlier versions of Office?
Migration Related Questions
- How do I setup my new AD Email Account in Outlook 2007?
- How do I setup my Outlook 2007 to allow Off-campus Email Access without VPN?
All Questions
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- What is the name of the email server for Biology?
- How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Microsoft Outlook?
- How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Entourage 2004 on Macs?
- Why are Biology Email “Out of Office” Replies limited to campus addresses?
- How do I recognize a fake/phishing email?
- Why should a faculty member decide to use Biology Exchange Email rather than campus email?
- How do I access the BioArk file server from outside of campus (FTP & VPN)?
- How do I access my lab/faculty folder on BioArk?
- Is there file server storage available for Graduate Students & Post Docs?
- How does FacultyShare allow me to share data and documents among other faculty members?
- How does ResearchShare allow me to transfer data between computers in different labs (using research equipment in labs other than your own)?
- Is there a size limit for storage space on the departmental file and web servers?
- How do I recover a lost or deleted file?
- What options do I have to backup my files from my computer?
- What should I do if my USB device isn’t working properly on my CCI IBM computer or any other computer?
- Who do I contact if I am having hardware problems with my CCI machine?
- How do I submit a UNC campus help request? (962-HELP, help.unc.edu)
- Is there support for Macintosh (Apple) computers?
- How can I send a biology computer support help request in?
- I have a new computer, I would like to connect it to the internet and to the biology network. What should I do?
- Why can’t I access BioArk and the departmental email server?
- How do I setup the correct DNS servers if having trouble accessing Biology resources such as BioArk and Exchange email?
- How do I get an Ethernet/internet port activated?
- Where and how can I use wireless network access with my computer?
- What Website services does the department offer, and how can I request them? (Faculty, lab and course pages)
- How do I setup a shared lab printer?
- How do I access Blackboard and other UNC links?
- Can a visitor access departmental IT resources?
- Where can I make reservations for or see availability of Biology meeting rooms and vehicles?
- How do I create a webpage?
- How can I get an LCD projector for my class?
- How can I send a biology computer support help request in?
- How do I get UNC licensed software for my departmental computer?
- I have Windows XP Home Edition and am unable to access Biology resources. Why should I upgrade to Windows XP Professional?
- My PowerPoint presentation comes up with the warning, “This presentation cannot be edited because it contains a read-only embedded font.” What does this mean and how can this issue be solved?
- How do I upgrade to Microsoft Updates so both Windows and Office updates are being installed regularly?
- How do I access Blackboard and other UNC links?
- Is there support for UNIX/Linux-based operating systems?
- Is there support for Bioinformatics Applications like VectorNTI, Sequencer or GCG?
- Can I run my UNIX application on any of the departmental servers? (BioLinux)
- How do I create a webpage?
- Why and how should I upgrade my Antivirus Client?
- How do I get and setup AdmissionPros (for MACs with Virtual PC)?
- Is Office 2007 backward compatible with Office 2003?
- Can I share documents made in Office 2007 with users of earlier versions of Office?
Q: | How to connect an IPhone to the Biology Email Server |
A: | First make sure that your 3GNetwork connection is working.Next if you want to access the campus WI-FI use the following Link: https://help.unc.edu/restricted/6543 Next choose “Settings” on your IPhone, then choose “Mail setup” and then choose In the Email address enter your Biology Email Address for example: Next enter the domain name: Biology And next your Biology Userid and Password. Choose “Next” and when ask for the email server enter: webmail.bio.unc.edu Choose “Next” again and your Biology Email Exchange Account will be Next choose Save to save the account. Now go to the main screen and press the Mail Icon. Your
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Q: | What is the name of the email server for Biology? |
A: | The email server’s name is Email.bio.unc.edu for Biology email. Please see Help.unc.edu article id#96 to get help setting up Outlook as the email client. Please note that the Email server is a Microsoft Exchange 2003 server, so you may access your emails by setting up your email program as an exchange client on campus or though the UNC VPN client from outside of campus. For security reasons, the departmental (Email) exchange server does not support IMAP and POP.
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Q: | How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Microsoft Outlook? |
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Q: | How do I setup Biology Exchange client access with Entourage 2004 on Macs? |
A: | We are sorry, but the entry is under construction.
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Q: | Why are Biology Email “Out of Office” Replies limited to campus addresses? |
A: | You can only setup Out of Office reply for emails arriving from campus email (including biology) addresses. Setting up automatic reply to all incoming emails (from outside of campus) is dangerous, because all senders, spammers and virus attackers will be able verify that your email address is valid, and they will keep sending more messages. Also, Out of Office reply can be used to relay messages by entering false sender addresses into the original message.
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Q: | How do I recognize a fake/phishing email? |
A: | Many times spam/fake phishing emails will have pictures and links in them that if you click will take you to various web sites. As rule of thumb, do not open any emails you are not 100% sure about without contacting and asking BioHelp about it. If you do open up and seems to be a legitimate email, please make sure that the links are in fact taking you to the site you are expecting. In Microsoft Outlook and most other graphical email clients, if you move your mouse over the link (not clicking it), a little pop-up window will show the URL (the link would take you) if it is not exactly the same as you can read in the email. If you see a different URL popping up than the one is written in the email you should be very suspicious about the legitimacy of the email and should contact us.
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Q: | Why should a faculty member decide to use Biology Exchange Email rather than campus email? |
A: | At this time, only faculty and staff member in the Biology Department can have Biology Exchange email accounts instead of the campus email. Some of the reasons why one might change to Biology Exchange email:
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Q: | Why can I not send emails to Biology Listservs? |
A: | Due to high volumes of spam being sent to our Biology Email Distribution Lists/Listservs from off-campus sources (addresses), we restricted them to only allow messages to be received from specific email addresses. Presently, we allow faculty members to send to any of our listservs, and all other biology members are allowed to send to the listservs they are on.Our email address lists receive email addresses for the listservs from two sources: from our internal Biology Exchange email accounts and from the Campus Directory. It is important, because biology members will only be able to send messages to the listservs from the email addresses they are registered under both on our listservs and on the Campus Directory If you are on a specific Campus Directory Update page.
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Q:: | How do I access the BioArk file server from outside of campus (FTP & VPN)? |
A: | You may access the files on BioArk server through the Biology FTP server (host name for FTP clients): ftp.bio.unc.edu by using your biology login in the following format: Biology\biologyusername. You may also install the Cisco VPN client on your computer and access BioArk through your Network Places by adding a new network place in the following format: \\BioArk\yourlabname or \\BioArk\Faculty\lastname.
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Q: | How do I access my lab/faculty folder on BioArk? |
A: | You can either browse to the BioArk server through My Network Places/Entire Network/Microsoft Windows Network/Biology/BioArk/ and select the appropriate share (\labname or \facultyname), or you can add a new Network Place by clicking on Add a network place in My Network Places. In the Add Network Place wizard click Next, select Choose another network location and as the address enter either: \\BioArk\labname\ or \\BioArk\facultyname\. If you are using a MAC with OS X of higher on it, you may
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Q: | How does FacultyShare allow me to share data and documents among other faculty members? |
A: | FacultyShare is a BioArk network share, which allows all biology faculty members to share files and data among each other. All biology faculty members have read and write access to the folder. The folder is accessible at the following location: \\BioArk\FacultyShare. Please see this article about how to access this folder.
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Q: | How does ResearchShare allow me to transfer data between computers in different labs (using research equipment in labs other than your own)? |
A: | ResearchShare is a BioArk network share, which allows all biology faculty and lab members to share files and data among each other and to transfer their research data produced with a different lab’s equipment. All biology faculty and lab accounts have read and write access to the folder. The folder is accessible at the following location: \\BioArk\ResearchShare. Please see this article about how to access this folder.
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Q: | Is there a size limit for storage space on the departmental file and web servers? |
A: | On the new file server BIOARK, each faculty member has a storage space limit assigned and can decide how much of their space they want to allocate to their lab/student use.
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Q: | How do I recover a lost or deleted file? |
A: | We can only help recovering files that were saved to our servers (mainly to BioArk) and that resided on the server for at least one day. Please send us the date the file was deleted/lost and its name and location (folder path on the server), and we will try to restore it for you if it is possible.
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Q: | Is there file server storage available for Graduate Students & Post Docs? |
A: | The Biology Department offers 7GB file storage allocation for its graduate students and post docs for personal research data and files. This storage is allocated on the departmental file server: BioArk. The storage allocation is individual-based and separate from all other lab or resource storage spaces. This storage is only accessible by the individual graduate student/post doc, contrary to shared lab spaces that are accessible by all lab members. The individual is still able to access her/his files on the lab shares, but other lab members cannot access the personal space. To request the personal storage, please contact BioHelp at BioHelp@bio.unc.edu with the following information:
Accessing your personal storage requires the following steps:
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Q: | What options do I have to backup my files from my computer? |
A: | You have different options depending on what operating system you are running:
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Q: | What should I do if my USB device isn’t working properly on my CCI IBM computer or any other computer? |
A: | Some of the CCI IBM computers (8187 and 8189 series) have trouble automatically recognizing external USB devices plugged into them (USB memory keys and other external drives). To install your USB device follow this procedure:
If you keep using the same port for your device every time you use
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Q: | Who do I contact if I am having hardware problems with my CCI machine? |
A: | If you have any software or hardware problems with you CCI IBM computer, please contact us, so we can help you decide if it is a hardware problem. If it is, you may contact and open up a ticket with CCI’s IT Response Center by calling 962-HELP or going to http://help.unc.edu/.
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Q: | How do I submit a UNC campus help request? |
A: | You may contact and open up a help request ticket with CCI’s IT Response Center by calling 962-HELP or going to http://help.unc.edu/.
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Q: | Is there support for Macintosh (Apple) computers? |
A: | Apple computer support is limited at UNC-CH, but ITS has an agreement with Apple for support for OS X operating systems bought through ITS’s software acquisition system (only for Faculty & Staff). You may get additional help about supporting Apple computers from theUNC-CH community .
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Q: | How can I send a biology computer support help request in? |
A: | You may send an email to BioHelp@bio.unc.edu (or BioHelp@unc.edu) or submit a ticket through the request web page.
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Q: | I have a new computer, I would like to connect it to the internet and to the biology network. What should I do? |
A: | First, register your computer on the Campus DHCP web site (at http://onyen.unc.edu). If you are not sure how to do that, you may read the help article on the help.unc.edu web site.If you have a built-in wireless card, you have to register it separately (you need one registration for the Ethernet connection and one for the Wireless). It takes around 20 minutes for the registration to take an effect. Then, you need to install Norton Antivirus and all the Critical Windows Updates on your computer before you can use it on the network. As a last step, please contact BioHelp to add your Windows computer to the Biology domain.
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Q: | How do I setup the correct DNS servers if having trouble accessing Biology resources such as BioArk and Exchange email? |
A: | Most likely, the network card’s TCP/IP settings do not have the appropriate DNS (Domain Name Service/System) server names set. Please let us know if you would like us to correct this, or you may set the following server addresses yourself:
Please note, that all your network cards, including your wireless card need to be setup for this individually. If you are running IBM Access Connections on your IBM ThinkPad, please consult your
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Q: | How do I get an Ethernet/internet port activated? |
A: | ITS’s networking group does all new port installations and activations. Please call ITS at 962-HELP or open up a ticket at http://help.unc.edu. You will need the following information: building name, floor, room and port number(s).
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Q: | Where and how can I use wireless network access with my computer? |
A: | There is very limited wireless access within the department (wireless available in only some of the teaching labs and classrooms and in their proximities), but a list of buildings with wireless access can be found here. For directions to setup your computer for wireless access, please see help.unc.edu‘s article #4976.
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Q: | What Website services does the department offer, and how can I request them? |
A: | The Biology Department maintains its own web server, which allows its faculty members to store their faculty, lab and course web pages. Please contact BioHelp to request any new web pages or correction on existing ones!
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Q: | How do I setup a shared lab printer? |
A: | You need to have a printer with a network card in it to be able to share it for lab use. Please contact us for help to choose an appropriate printer to but or to setup your printer with an IP address!
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Q: | How do I access Blackboard and other UNC links? |
A: | You may access UNC-CH’s Blackboard services at https://blackboard.unc.edu/webapps/login. You may find other UNC resources at the following URLs: |
Q: | Can a visitor access departmental IT resources? |
A: | UNC allows now for visitors to receive a temporary ONYEN, so they can use UNC campus IT resources. For more information, please read ITS’s ONYEN Policy.
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Q: | Where can I make reservations for or see availability of Biology meeting rooms and vehicles? |
A: | The Departmental Meeting Room Schedules (including the Fordham meeting rooms) & the Vehicle Reservation pages are maintained on ITS’s SharePoint web site (https://share2010.unc.edu/sites/bio/). You may find the link on the Biology Resources page at: http://www.bio.unc.edu/resources/, but the specific address for all the calendars is: https://share2010.unc.edu/sites/bio/.
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Q: | How do I create a webpage? |
A: | You may create a departmental faculty/lab web page (at http://www.bio.unc.edu) by contacting BioHelp, or you can create your personal web site on the UNC campus web server by setting up the service on the ONYEN web page under “Subscribe to UNC Onyen Services.” You may see the following tutorials forFrontPage and
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Q: | How can I get an LCD projector for my class? |
A: | The department has two LCD projectors for lecturers and TAs to use for classes. In the past, they have been accessible by checking them out from the Zoology Library. Since the old part of Wilson Hall (where the library was located) is under construction the library had to move to a different building, so the projectors can be checked out form the Biology Administrative office: 216F Coker Hall.
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Q: | Is video conferencing equipment available through the department? |
A: | Yes, 133 Wilson Hall (meeting room) is available for video conferencing. You may find a short Users’ Manual for the equipment here. Please note that Wilson 133 is used for many functions within the Biology department, so scheduling for access to this room is handled by the Secretarial Office in Coker 216. Please call Julia Young at 962-3776 or Sandra Brandon at 962-2266 to schedule your use of this room. We recommend that a test call be placed in advance of the pre-arranged teleconference call. We also recommend a short training session to be arranged withBioHelp before the first time use of the equipment. Please
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Q: | How do I get UNC licensed software for my departmental computer? |
A: | You may get UNC licensed software form the Biology Departmental Software Install site (please not you have to be logged in with a valid Biology account), UNCBioinformatics site, UNC’s
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Q: | I have Windows XP Home Edition and am unable to access Biology resources. Why should I upgrade to Windows XP Professional? |
A: | Windows XP Home Edition, like its name suggests it, was created for home use and not for enterprise network environment we have here on campus. The Biology Department has its own Microsoft Windows Active Directory
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Q: | My PowerPoint presentation comes up with the warning, “This presentation cannot be edited because it contains a read-only embedded font.” What does this mean and how can this issue be solved? |
A: |
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Q: | How do I upgrade to Microsoft Updates so both Windows and Office updates are being installed regularly? |
A: | You may start the Windows Updates web site by clicking on the windows icon Windows Update on the Start/All Programs menu, or you may follow this link . On the right side of the screen you will have an
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Q: | Is there support for UNIX/Linux-based operating systems? |
A: | There is desktop support for both UNIX and Linux-based systems on campus. You need to have Red Hat Enterprise Linux to receive support from Red Hat for your Linux computer. There is a yearly fee ($1000) for each of the UNIX workstations that ITS charges for UNIX Desktop Support and UDS. You may access UNC tutorials at the following link.
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Q: | Is there support for Bioinformatics Applications like VectorNTI, Sequencer or GCG? |
A: | Yes. UNC Bioinformatics has support for these bioinformatics applications.
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Q: | Can I run my UNIX application on any of the departmental servers? (BioLinux) |
A: | Yes. You may use the departmental Linux server BioLinux to run your UNIX applications.
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Q: | Why and how should I upgrade my Antivirus Client? |
A: | The most important reasons to have the most recent Antivirus Client installed on computers are:
The most up-to-date Norton Antivirus Enterprise Edition Client is Biology
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Q: | How do I get and setup AdmissionPros (for MACs with Virtual PC)? |
A: | AdmissionPros is the Graduate School’s new application to manage admissions electronically. It requires a special username and password, which is supplied by the Graduate School. Information about how to gain access and how to install the software can be found on the AdmissionPros web site . This software was written for Windows
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Q: | Is Office 2007 backward compatible with Office 2003? |
A: | Office 2007 is not backward compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft Office in a traditional way, but it is fairly easy to make Office 2003 able to read Office 2007 files. Microsoft has a compatibility plug-in available to solve this problem, called: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats . You may install it from the
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Q: | Can I share documents made in Office 2007 with users of earlier versions of Office?? |
A: | By default, Office 2007 is not backward compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft Office, and Office 2003 will not be able to open documents saved in Office 2007 file formats. It is possible, and fairly easy to use the Save As option to save files in Office 2003 file format from Office 2007. Also, Microsoft has a compatibility plug-in available to allow Office 2003 to open Office 2007 files, called: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats . You may install it from the
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Q: | How do I setup my new AD Email Account in Outlook 2007 (preferred client)? |
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Q: | How do I setup my Outlook 2007 to allow Off-campus Email Access without VPN? |
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If you have any questions, you may email us at BioHelp@bio.unc.edu or send in a help request from http://BioHelp.bio.unc.edu/Request/Submit.html. |
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BioHelp |
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