It is critically important for faculty and staff who borrow Macbooks to attach an ethernet cable to the laptop and log in with their username and password before they leave campus (while they’re still on the network). This enables the laptop to recognize them so that when they’re off campus (and off the network) they can still access their data. If this important step isn’t taken, we unfortunately can’t help them — they will be unable to use the laptop. As a way to protect our borrowers and their valuable data and files, the old “loaner/loaner” log in no longer works.
This information is spelled out clearly on the instruction sheets enclosed in each laptop case. Over the coming days I will work on increasing the alerts about this important step — in Mill, on the laptop itself, and on assorted blogs. All suggestions and feedback are welcome!
(FYI: One of our staff borrowers unfortunately forgot to login before leaving campus today, and discovered this error the hard way, miles from campus).