Guide to the School of Dentistry Laptop Program

All Dental students and most residents are required to purchase a laptop computer for their educational program at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Click on the link above for details on requirements and ordering information.

Security Updates and Virus Software

Keeping your computer running like new isn’t very difficult. By following these few easy steps you can avoid the frustration of using an ailing computer. The most important actions you can take are:

• Install antivirus software and keep it current, ideally updating it daily. This is your first and best defense.
• Use Windows Update to scan and update your Windows operating system with the latest free software patches, including those for Microsoft Internet Explorer.
• Use Office Products Update to keep Microsoft Office programs up-to-date to help guard against virus intrusions.
• Use a program that keeps other malicious types of programs, often referred to as spyware, off of your computer. While these programs are not viruses they can cause major problems with your computer. While we do not provide support for programs to remove spyware, they can be very beneficial in cases where your computer is overrun with spyware. BOL offers free Webroot Spy Sweeper which runs resident and scans always.
• Be very cautious about visiting unknown Web sites. Disreputable Web sites can transmit a virus directly into your computer.
• Don't open e-mail attachments from anyone you don't know—and be wary of those from people you do. Some viruses spread by mailing themselves to contacts in an infected computer's address book. If you have any doubts about the safety of an attachment, check with the source before opening it.
• Installing peer-to-peer file sharing programs, such as Kazaa, Bittorrent, BearShare and others, often cause a variety of problems with your computer. They leave major security holes that can allow an attacker to place files onto your computer and possibly execute destructive programs. They also install applications that are often poorly written which can cause your computer to be unstable. We would urge you use commercially available programs that don’t rely on other internet users to provide you with files for download.

By using discretion, keeping your antivirus software up-to-date, and erring on the side of caution, you can protect the health of your computer system. Prevention is often the best medicine.

Free Sophos Antivirus

If you need to install anti-virus software, please follow the instructions given on the BOL website for installation. If you need assistance with the installation please bring your laptop to the Computer Services office located in room B3-022.

If you already have the VirusScan/Virex program installed you should uninstall it and install the Sophos Antivirus program as our license for VirusScan/Virex has expired and you are now using the software illegally.

Laptop Repair

To submit your qualified laptop for repair, bring your laptop along with your ac adapter to B3-022 and fill out the check-in forms  You will be contacted by phone when your laptop is ready for pick-up.

Laptop Loaners

Beginning August 1, 2005, SOD will begin issuing late fines for loaner laptops kept out past their due date.

Why Fines ?
From 2000 to 2005, SOD checked out laptops without an effective enforcement mechanism to ensure that students returned their laptops so others could use them.  Over time, we had more and more of a problem getting students to bring their laptops back. SOD staff would have to spend hours sometimes trying to chase down students who hadn't returned laptops sometimes employing Student Affairs or other students.   The fines are meant to provide an incentive to return laptops on time.   Consider that SOD has a student population of around 400.   There are around 10 laptops available to check out.   Especially during midterms and finals weeks, the laptops are in high demand and we owe it to all students to get a fair chance to use a laptop.

Basic rules are:

• Laptops will only be checked out to students that have proof that they submitted their qualified laptop for repair to Gateway / Dell or have a repair appointment scheduled and have checked their laptop in at  B3-022 (the designated repair area).
• Laptops may be checked out for 3 business days and renewed for another 3 business days if no one is waiting.
• If you return a laptop 1 to 5 days late, you'll be fined $50 per day inclusive. You'll be fined an additional $100 per day for each subsequent late day.
• There is a 1 hour grace period starting at 8:00am for late returns on the morning after the due date. This is the ONLY grace period.
• We submit bills for late/lost laptop fines to your SBAR account during the last week of every month.

Office Hours

General:
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Open Door/Walk-in:
Monday - Friday
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Closed Saturday & Sunday

Contact Information

Grant Yano - Manager - x52081
Daniel Galley - Desktop Support - x63591
Paul Chao - Network Support - x63359