A Guide to using your Dell Laptop for Special Education

• Drive Mappings and Access to MCPS network shares (H:, T:, S:, etc   -  My Documents, teacher shared, student shared)

• Access to MCPS sites within the firewall

• Access to School Menu (Staff applications/links)

• Remote Troubleshooting or Installation of Applications by your ITSS

All MCEA staff as of 11/4/2020 now have remote access.

If you still require remote access, go here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fESXRXrHgqmZNqzaxQKRnYBgRo0-TlrJZiIuZ2yp_pU/edit?usp=sharing 

Your supervisor will need to start the process (step 1).   Feel free to forward these instructions to them when you request VPN access to get more out of your laptop.

• To access your mcpsmd.net Google files, please click on the "Google Drive File Stream" shortcut in 'LocalApps' on the menu and login with your Google email.   You should then see a G: drive with your files.   If you don't see a Google Drive File Stream shortcut, please login through Forticlient or on the MCPS network to get the updated shortcut.

• Users with VPN access and log in through VPN using the steps above, should be able to save to and access their home directory at school

• MCPS has limited the ability to save to the laptop’s hard drive, as it is not secure, nor is it recoverable if there is a problem with the device.  You should also be able to save to a flash drive.  

• For Home networks - Please click on the wifi icon on lower right, click your network name, and enter your password. 

• For MiFi devices: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/Coronavirus/Continuity_of_Learning/Getting%20started%20with%20a%20mobile%20hotspot.pdf 

• Please refer to the instructions above to request remote access.   If you are having trouble with VPN, try connecting to http://wvd.mcpsmd.org to access your files.

1. Make sure to login using VPN.

2. After 10 minutes of being connected to VPN, an update will install automatically to your laptop.

3. After 15 minutes, please restart your laptop. 

4. After the update to your Dell audio driver, your microphone should now be fixed. 

1.  Try disabling sound enhancements.  Right-click speaker icon on lower right->sounds->recording tab->right-click microphone->properties

• Most wireless printers (purchased within the past 4-5 years) on the same network should automatically show up

• If your printer is not on the wireless network, try connecting it using a usb cable

• Insert on either side of the laptop and you should hear a noise and the drive will appear under 'This PC' in windows explorer.

• If nothing happens, you may have a faulty flash drive.

• You can connect an HDMI cable from the side of your laptop to a monitor or television that has an HDMI input port.

• Usually when connected, the laptop will automatically discover the additional monitor/tv and begin to display either a mirrored display (showing your screen) or an extension of your screen. Please refer to your display settings, to adjust your display with your monitor/tv.

 You may be experiencing a slow internet connection and will need to use WVD (Windows Virtual Desktop) to connect. 

If this occurs, please go here to access WVD (windows virtual desktop).

• Make sure you plug your headphones before you start your computer.   If already started, please reboot your computer so it can detect your headphones.

• If no sound after rebooting, click on the speaker icon on the lower right and try selecting the headphones just above the volume bar

• Boardmaker and other applications are on the school menu under 'local apps'

• if you click on the search icon on the lower left and type in 'board' it should find it.

Yes, go here: https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/latitude-14-3410-laptop_owners-manual2_en-us.pdf