Overview
Logging into your Windows PC
Computer administrator login
Logging into Outlook, Zoom, and Slack
Using VPN when off-campus
Connecting to printers
Connecting to shared drives
Transferring files and setting up file backup
Returning your Windows PC
Contacting DTS for support

Overview

Welcome to your Windows PC! This device is the property of USC and is assigned to you for the duration of your employment, to be used exclusively for University purposes related to research, teaching, and professional pursuits.

Before you begin

The guide below will take approximately 15–30 minutes to complete. You will need:

  • Access to an Internet connection.
  • Your USC NetID and passphrase. Your USC NetID is the 3-8 character username that you received prior to your first day.
  • A Dornsife Account. Typically, your department administrator or hiring manager will have requested this account already for you.

Logging into your Windows PC

The first time that you turn on your computer, you will need to perform the following setup:

  1. Follow the prompts on the screen to select your region, keyboard layout, and wifi network if you are not connected to Ethernet.
    • On-campus: To connect to USC Secure Wireless, use the following credentials:
      • Username: Your USC NetID
      • Password: Your USC NetID passphrase
    • Off-campus: Connect to a secure home wifi network.
  2. You are prompted to sign in. Type your USC NetID in the following format: 
    • USC NetID@dts.usc.edu
    • For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu

      Your USC email address (USC [email protected]) will not work for this step. You must use the dts version: USC NetID@dts.usc.edu


      Type your USC NetID at dts.usc.edu

  3. Click Next.
  4. Type your password, which is the same as your USC NetID passphrase, and click Sign in or Next.
  5. Windows proceeds to set up. Allow 15–30 minutes for the process. Once setup completes, the desktop appears.
    • If the process is taking significantly longer than 30 minutes, contact DTS for assistance: we may need to manually configure your computer.

Computer administrator login

If you are installing programs or performing other administrative actions, you may be prompted to type your username and password. Do not use your @usc.edu login. Instead, type your credentials as follows: 

  • USC NetID@dts.usc.edu
  • For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu

DTS login for computer administrator

Logging into Outlook, Zoom, and Slack

To find installed software, type the name of the application into the Windows start menu:

Search bar location in Win 11 vs Win 10 PC

Outlook, Zoom, and Slack are essential communication tools at USC. All three applications are already installed and available on Dornsife-managed computers. If you do not see an application, wait 30 minutes and check again: if the computer is new or recently re-imaged, applications may not be immediately available.

Log into Outlook
  1. In the Start menu, type Outlook in the search bar. Select the Outlook (classic) application.
  2. Outlook opens. 
  3. If a "Your privacy matters" message appears, you can click Close.

    Close privacy message

  4. Type your USC email address and click Connect.
  5. The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.

    Outlook - Shib

  6. The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.

    Outlook - Complete Duo verification

  7. Outlook adds your account. Deselect the checkbox "Set up Outlook Mobile on my phone, too." Click Done.

    Finish Outlook setup

  8. You are now logged into Outlook.
Log into Outlook: Troubleshooting

Outlook - Something went wrong

If you receive the "Something went wrong" error, you will need to perform some steps in Microsoft Word before trying to log into Outlook again:

  1. Close Outlook.
  2. In the Start menu, type Word in the search bar. Select the Microsoft Word application.
  3. If "Sign in to set up Office" appears, close the window by clicking the x in the upper right corner.

    Close Sign in

  4. In the left menu, click Account.

    Word - Account

  5. Click Sign out.

    Word - Account - Sign out

  6. Click Yes.

    Confirm Remove Account

  7. Click Sign In.

    Word - Sign In

  8. Type your USC email address and click Next. For example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, your USC email address is [email protected].

    USC email address

  9. The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.

    Shibboleth - Word

  10. The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.

    Outlook - Complete Duo verification

  11. You are now signed in.

    Word - Signed in

  12. Close Word and re-open Outlook.
  13. Type your USC email address and click Connect.
  14. Outlook adds your account. Deselect the checkbox "Set up Outlook Mobile on my phone, too." Click Done.

    Finish Outlook setup

  15. You are now logged into Outlook.
Log into Zoom
  1. In the Start menu, type Zoom in the search bar. Select the Zoom Workplace application.
  2. Zoom opens. If prompted for a domain, type USC and click Continue.

    Zoom Domain - USC

  3. The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.

    Zoom Shibboleth

  4. The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.

    Zoom Duo

  5. You are now logged into Zoom.
Log into Slack
  1. In the Start menu, type Slack in the search bar. Select the Slack app.
  2. Slack opens. Click Sign in to Slack.

    Sign In to Slack

  3. A browser window opens. Type your USC email address and click Sign In With Email.
  4. Complete the verification.

    Confirm email address

  5. Select University of Southern California and click Open.

    Open USC Slack

  6. Click Sign in with your USC NetID.

    Sign in to USC Slack

  7. The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.

    Shibboleth login

  8. The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.

    Slack - Authenticate with Duo

  9. Click Open Link.

    Open Slack app

  10. The Slack app opens. You are now logged into Slack.

Additional software

For more software, refer to our guide, "Software at USC."

For software installation instructions, refer to our guide, "Using Company Portal."

Using VPN when off-campus

You do not need VPN to access most applications, such as Outlook, Zoom, or Slack. Only connect to VPN if you need to access the following applications while off-campus:

  • Areas of myDornsife designated with a lock icon 
  • Remote desktop 
  • SPSS 
  • Secure CRT/SIS 
  • Dornsife network drives (such as G: and U:)
Connect to VPN
  1. In the Start menu, type VPN in the search bar. Select Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
  2. Cisco AnyConnect opens. Type vpn.usc.edu and click Connect.

    Connect to vpn.usc.edu

  3. The Shibboleth prompt appears. Sign in using your USC NetID and passphrase.

    Shibboleth for Cisco

  4. The Duo prompt appears. Complete the verification.

    Duo VPN

  5. You are now connected to VPN.
Disconnect from VPN

To disconnect once you're done, click Disconnect.

Disconnect from VPN

Connecting to printers

You will need a few minutes to perform the initial setup of installing the printer app and adding your department's shared printers to your computer. Once you've completed this setup, printing is as simple as opening your document and selecting a printer.

Step 1: Install the PaperCut Print Deploy app
  1. In the Start menu, type Company Portal in the search bar. Select Company Portal.
  2. Click the Menu icon, and select Apps.

    Company Portal menu Select Apps

  3. Select PaperCut Print Deploy.

    Select PaperCut

  4. Click Install. Allow about 5 minutes for the installation to complete.

    Install PaperCut

Step 2: Install your departmental printers
  1. Make sure you are connected to the USC network with Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
  2. In the system tray (lower right on the desktop), click the PaperCut icon and select View my printers.

    PaperCut icon in system tray

    • Don't see this icon? Click the Expand icon to see all icons.

      Papercut icon in expanded system tray

  3. Click Add printers.

    Select Add printers

  4. Click Install next to the printer you want to use.

    Select Install

  5. The printer installs in seconds. You can continue installing more printers, or click My printers to confirm that the printer was successfully installed.

    Select My printers

Step 3: Print your documents

Whenever you need to print something, make sure your computer is connected to Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless (do not use USC Guest Wireless). Open the document you want to print. You will be able to select any printer as long as you added it to your computer using the steps above.

Print dialog - Select printer dropdown

Connecting to shared drives

Not all departments or staff rely on shared drives. If, however, you are instructed by your department administrator or hiring manager to connect to the G:, U:, or S: drive, make sure to obtain the shared drive's address from them, and then follow the steps below:

Connect to a shared drive
  1. Connect to the USC network:
    • On campus: Use Ethernet or USC Secure Wireless. Do not use USC Guest Wireless.
    • Off campus: Connect using VPN.
  2. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar:
    • Windows 11 taskbar:

      Windows 11 taskbar

    • Windows 10 taskbar:

      Windows 10 taskbar

  3. To begin mapping:
    • Windows 11: Right-click This PC in the left pane and select Map network drive.

      This PC - Map network drive

    • Windows 10: Click This PC in the left pane. Click Map network drive at the top.

      Select This PC

      Map network drive

  4. In the Drive field, select G: (or another initial, depending on which shared drive you were asked to connect to).

    Select G drive

  5. In the Folder field, paste the address you received from your department administrator or your hiring manager.

    Paste the folder address for your department drive

  6. Click Finish.



  7. If you are prompted to sign in, type the following credentials and click OK:
    • Username: Your USC NetID@dts.usc.edu (for example, if your USC NetID is ttrojan, type ttrojan@dts.usc.edu)
    • Password: Your USC NetID passphrase

      Type USC NetID @dts.usc.edu and passphrase

  8. File Explorer opens the address. Double-click your department folder to open your department's network drive. Within your department folder, you can open the usr folder to find your user folder (also known as the U: drive).

Connecting to the network drive after you map it

Once the network drive is mapped, you can find it by opening File Explorer, selecting This PC, and selecting the network drive under "Network locations."

As long as you are connected to the USC network, you can access the network drive.

Network drive location

Transferring files and setting up file backup

Transferring files from your old computer

To transfer files from your old computer to this computer, follow our guide, "Transferring your files to a new computer."

Setting up file backup on your computer

We strongly recommend setting up Microsoft OneDrive for computer backups. Without OneDrive in place, DTS may not be able to recover your important files in the event of loss, theft, or damage.

Setting up automatic file backup is fast, secure, and easy: you only have to set it up once on your computer, and from then on, any files added to OneDrive will be backed up and available on other devices even if you lose access to your computer:

Returning your Windows PC

This device is the property of USC. In using this device, you commit to responsibly caring for and maintaining it throughout your employment. Upon separation from the University, or at the end of the device's useful life, you commit to promptly returning this device in the same condition as it was received, except for normal wear and tear. 

Returning a new computer for exchange

Requests to return new IT equipment should be initiated as soon as possible by opening a ticket with the Help Desk. Return policies vary by vendor, but DTS will assist Dornsife departments and staff in assessing the options available if the return window has closed.

Returning an old computer

You can return equipment for recycling or for repurposing within Dornsife:

Contacting DTS for support

Dornsife Technology Services
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 213-740-2775
Hours: M–F, 9am–5pm

You can also submit a ticket to our Help Desk or start a chat with us (red droplet-shaped icon FSchat icon in the bottom right corner of this page).