Tips
- We recommend that the projector is switched on after you login to the PC.
- Drag/copy presentation documents from your USB stick onto the desktop.
- Any change/s and added files are auto-deleted on Restart.
- Choose VLC Media Player for DVD playback with sound.
Aston Teaching PC
All standard ‘pool room image’ teaching PCs are Windows10 with Office365 Professional Plus including PowerPoint, Excel, Word & Teams.
After login the PC automatically launches AstonApps Cloudpaging portal for all the latest pool room managed software. Panopto recorder, web browsers & important teaching software and links like Blackboard have ALL moved to AstonApps. Shared/network drives are dependent on your Aston login.
If your login or the network fails username .\teach & password T34chT34ch will allow you to present locally (e.g. USB drive), but without any network or internet access. Most rooms with Lenovo PCs installed will allow change to ‘Extended desktop’ for Powerpoint notes view [Windows+P].
The PC will shut down after 30 minutes of inactivity
This will remove any changes you have made, any work you have open will be lost, and any files on the desktop will be deleted. Unfinished Panopto uploads will also be suspended until Panopto is re-connected in that room.
Bear this in mind if, for example, you are running an event and want to get the PC set up early or you are breaking for lunch.
The PC is set up to record to Aston Replay and upload to Blackboard. There is option in Panopto Settings: Basic: ‘Highlight mouse cursor…‘ to make the pointer more prominent for recordings, and please check the mic levels are OK before starting to RECORD.
There are usually 2-4 extra USB ports on the lectern PC monitor.
We recommend that the projector is switched ON after you login to the PC. If you don’t need the computer to be displayed on the screen, you can use it without the projector on in most rooms. However, computer audio requires the projector to be ON, and all three control panel, computer and application volumes should be up (and unmuted).
Laptop (HDMI)

A flying HDMI cable (including audio) is usually* connected to the lectern faceplate.
Note All post-2014 refurbished rooms support both HDMI(digital) inputs as well as VGA, namely:
G11(Byng Kendrick LT), Great Hall, MB220, MB253, MB304, MB411, 417, 419, MB486, MB504, MB518, MB603, MB651(Sumpner LT), MB653(Wright LT), MB708b, MB755-9, NW104b, NW109, NW805, NW807, NX02, Adrian Cadbury and Susan Cadbury LTs, SW309 and VSG03, VS110, VS112.
Note Post-2019 refurbs like MB108, MB550, MB554, MB517, MB502 are HDMI ONLY, no VGA support!
Some laptops and tablets may require a special AV adapter and or cable/s. Newer rooms also have wireless presentation if you don’t have the correct cable/s.
*except some ‘non-pool’ meeting rooms.
Laptop (VGA)

A flying VGA cable (with integrated audio jack connection) is usually connected to the lectern faceplate.
The laptop audio jack can also be used for iPod playback when laptop is selected.
Note Post-2019 refurbs like MB554 will be HDMI ONLY (ie. no VGA)
Some laptops and tablets may require a special AV adapter and or cable/s.