Best Practices for the Mobile Workforce

With the switch to mobile laptops and docking stations, issues arise that may have simple solutions users can help to prevent themselves. Please see the list of best practices, below, for possible fixes to any basic issues you may experience with your device. Also refer to this video for a general setup and description of the Dell docking station setup. 

Managing Files

• Save Files Immediately: When working on projects or files in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc., save them as soon as you open them up to ensure that no work is lost. Whenever possible, enable auto-save on the file to make sure all work is regularly saved. Saving files to the OneDrive will turn on the auto-save feature. Click here to see auto-save instructions with Word. All Office 365 software will have similar placement for the auto-save button.
• Limit the Use of Flash Drives: Saving files to Flash drives for anything other than quick file transfer is highly discouraged. Flash drives are not for storing working documents.
• Be Mindful of Your Network Connection: Before closing your laptop and moving it to another location on or off campus, save and close your documents. Don't reopen them until after you have successfully connected to the new location's WiFi. This is especially important when saving to Intranet Drives, like the J:\\.

Moving your Laptop: Un-Docking/Docking

• Close All Windows: When moving from the multiple monitor dock to your individual laptop screen, Program Windows may not relocate, i.e., they may still be spaced as if it was on a second or third monitor. To fix this, close the application and reopen it to force the window to open on the new monitor layout. To close an application that you cannot see, right click it's icon in the Task Bar, then select, Close all windows.
• Display Order: If you have a home docking station, or multiple offices you dock your laptop at, there can be display layout issues when moving from one to the other. When un-docking from one location and connecting to another the displays can get out of order. Under "display settings" on your computer, change the layouts back to your preference. Click here to see instructions regarding display settings.
• Restart: After closing the laptop and transporting it either on campus or to/ from home connection issues can arise. Computers have a difficult time with going to sleep on one network or Access Point and waking up to a different connection. Restarting the computer should fix this issue.

Other Issues

• Shut Down Regularly: For the best PC performance, shut down Windows and/or Mac computers at least 2 times a week.
• Dock Cable: If there are connection issues with printers, speakers, monitors, microphones, or other peripherals, unplug the "dock cable" and plug it back in. This is the USB-C cable that connects the dock to the computer. Click here to see an image of this cable.
• Turn it Off and Back On Again! If any problem occurs repeatedly on the computer, restart.