The guidelines provided below are meant to help you determine if your existing computer will work adequately on the Hiram College campus network. If you have any particular questions, please feel free to call the Help Desk at (330)569-5313, Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 5:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am - 2:00pm.

1. Operating System that are supported under Hiram's network (HiramNet):

 

	Microsoft Windows Vista is what The Hiram College Computer Center recommends. Students wishing to upgrade their current Operating System are able to purchase Microsoft Windows Vista at the Hiram College Bookstore.
	Microsoft Windows XP Pro or Windows XP Home still works very well on Hiram College's network.
	Microsoft Windows 2000 works well on the Hiram College network, however, students should be aware that Windows 2000 is meant for a working environment and does not have strong gaming support.

Note: Students wishing to use other Operating Systems, such as any Macintosh OS or a flavor of Linux, are permitted to do so. However, please be aware that there is currently not as much support provided for non-Windows Operating Systems.

Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME are not supported nor allowed to be on the Hiram College Network.

2. Hardware

Because computer hardware availability and pricing is changing on a daily basis, the information provided here is meant as a general guideline.

For those looking to purchase a new computer, the following specifications are the absolute minimum you should consider to make it a worthwhile investment. Be aware that computers far exceeding these specifications are available for under $600.

• 1 Ghz processor
• 40 GB hard drive
• at least 256 MB RAM
• 15-17 inch monitor
• sound card
• 16MB RAM video card
• DVD or CD-RW drive
• 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Card

For those who need to purchase an Ethernet card because their computer does not currently have one installed,the following brands have been seen to work well and cover a range of prices (from approximately $10 up): 3Com, Linksys, D-link, and Netgear. Most are available at general retail stores, such as Wal*Mart, Circuit City, or BestBuy. The Hiram College Bookstore does carry Ethernet cards at reasonable prices for students who wish to purchase them on- campus. Please be aware that the Computer Center cannot install network cards in student computers.

Students who own printers are welcome to bring them on campus. There is no need to purchase a printer, however, each dorm has a computer lab which contains a network printer. Color prints or copies can be made in the campus Service Center or Library for a minimal fee.

3. Software

All campus lab computers come with Microsoft Office Professional (Word, Excel, Access, Power Point). You can purchase  Microsoft Office Professional for your personal computer through the Hiram College Bookstore (with an academic discount).

Any web browser will be sufficient for most of your work; however, some campus web pages have been optimized for viewing in Internet Explorer. IE should be included in all versions of Windows, and the most recent version (6.0) is available for free download from Microsoft.

A version of an antivirus product that automatically updates virus definitions is required for all students living on-campus.

Finally, please review the Acceptable Use Policy. Failure to comply with the AUP may result in the removal of your campus network privileges.