First Sign in or New Computer Deployed - Windows
💼 Introduction and How It Works
Our goal is to provide a secure, reliable computing environment with access to your data whether you're on campus or working remotely. We use Microsoft OneDrive, included with your Microsoft 365 account, to automatically back up and sync your files.
All personal folders (Documents, Pictures, Desktop, etc.) are mapped to OneDrive. This ensures:
- Data is protected and backed up
- Files are accessible from anywhere with internet access
- Smooth transitions between devices
Note: Law School IT staff cannot access your cloud-based OneDrive data. In case of emergency, we may be able to retrieve a local copy from your workstation.
🔄 Computer Replacement Process
We’ve updated our computer replacement process to give you more flexibility. You now have two options for receiving your new computer:
Option 1: Direct Replacement
The simplest choice is to swap in the new computer. Your files will transfer via OneDrive, and the new computer will be set up with the standard application suite. If you're away from campus, we can leave the old computer in your office as a fallback until you've had a chance to confirm everything transferred properly.
Option 2: Remote Access Preview
Before the new computer is physically placed in your office, we can enable remote access so you can:
- Log in and test functionality
- Access your applications
- Confirm performance meets your expectations
We’ll provide you with the computer name, and you can connect using the Remote Desktop application. This lets you get familiar with the new setup while still using your current computer, minimizing disruptions.
🔖 Browser Bookmarks and Settings
To ensure your bookmarks, passwords, and other browser settings carry over to your new computer, it's important that you sync your browser profile before the replacement takes place.
Most modern browsers (like Chrome and Firefox) offer cloud-based sync services tied to a user account. However, simply being signed in on your device does not always mean sync is enabled. Please verify that you’re signed into the browser itself—and that sync is active—on the browser you actually use day to day.
🔹 Firefox
Make sure you're signed into your Firefox account and that sync is turned on.
Instructions from Mozilla: How do I set up Sync on my computer?
You can check your sync status by going to:
☰ Menu → Settings → Sync
Ensure the features you want (bookmarks, passwords, etc.) are selected and that Firefox shows you're syncing with your account.
🔹 Google Chrome
Ensure you're signed into Chrome with your Google account and that sync is turned on.
Instructions from Google: Sign in and turn on sync in Chrome
Check this by clicking your profile icon in the top-right corner of Chrome and verifying that it says “Sync is on” beneath your name. If not, click it and enable sync.
Once your new computer is set up, just sign back into the same account in your preferred browser, and your data should sync automatically.
🖥️ First Login Steps
- Log in using your NetID and password.
- Locate OneDrive:
- Look for the OneDrive icon in the system tray (bottom-right corner), or
- Search for "OneDrive" in the Start Menu.
- Sign in to OneDrive with your
NetID@wisc.edu
. - Reboot your computer to finalize folder redirection and begin syncing with OneDrive.
🔁 Post-Reboot Steps
- If prompted, sign in to OneDrive again.
- Start Microsoft Outlook and sign in with your
NetID@wisc.edu
. - Launch Adobe Creative Cloud and sign in using your
NetID@wisc.edu
.
Be sure to select "Work / School Account." - Microsoft Teams Setup:
- Click the Start button and search for "Teams."
- Right-click on "Microsoft Teams – Personal" and select Uninstall.
- Visit Microsoft Teams Download and download the "Teams for Work or School" (64-bit).
- Install and log in using
NetID@wisc.edu
.
- Sign into your preferred browser (Chrome or Firefox) to restore your bookmarks and settings.
🖨️ Printing
If a required network printer isn’t listed, follow these steps:
- Open File Explorer.
- In the address bar, type:
\\law-printapp
and press Enter. - A list of available Law School network printers will appear.
- Double-click the printer you need to install it.
It may take a few minutes to complete. Once installation is done, the printer queue window will appear with the printer name at the top.
🌐 Access to Google Services
Your @wisc.edu account also provides access to various Google services. To sign in to your UW Google account, follow this guide:
Accessing Google Services with your @wisc.edu account
✅ Final Notes
We understand that transitioning to a new computer can be disruptive, and we do our best to minimize that impact by offering flexibility and support throughout the process.
Once you’ve logged into your new computer and confirmed that your files and applications are working properly, please let us know. If your old computer was left behind “just in case,” we’ll arrange to pick it up at your convenience.
If anything doesn’t look quite right or if you encounter issues during the transition, don’t hesitate to contact the IT team. We're here to help ensure everything goes smoothly.