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Home Directory Service

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for

Windows Users

If you have a question that this document does not address, please contact the UVa Help Desk.

Available Space

Error Messages

Unexpected File Names

Accessing Home Directory

Retrieving Files

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage space do I have available in my Home Directory account?
See the Home Directory quota page to find out the amount of storage space allotted to you. Then, log into Home Directory Accounts Maintenance with your UVa computing ID and blue.unix.virginia.edu password to view how much space you've used so far. This information appears in the center of the page labeled Configuration Options.
I'm getting an error message when I try to log in to Home Directory. What's the problem?
  • You may not have a Home Directory account. In order to have an account: If you have not completed these steps, you will lack a Home Directory account and will be unable to log in successfully.
  • Check to see if you logged in first to UVa-Anywhere, especially if you are off-Grounds.
    • If you don't have UVa-Anywhere, go Software Central, identify your operating system, and download and install the version of the software you need. You will also need a certificate, and you will see the option to obtain one on the VPN download page.
    • If you're using Windows XP, you must also override the XP Service Pack 2 built-in firewall by downloading the Windows SP2 Firewall Script; scroll down to Free Tools, then select Windows XP SP2 Firewall Script. Double-click to download this file.
  • If the error message indicates your login and/or password is incorrect, check the login box to ensure your UVa computing ID, for example, mst3k, is correctly entered, with no typos.
    • Windows computers automatically enter the Windows login ID, which, by default, is not the same as your UVa computing ID.
    • Remember that your login must also be ESERVICES\ followed by your UVa login ID (for example: ESERVICES\mst3k if your computing ID were mst3k).
  • Are you using your Eservices password?
    • While initially identical to your other passwords, if you changed your email password, then your email and Eservices passwords may now be different.
    • Reset your Eservices password if necessary.
  • Are you on a Windows Vista machine?
    • UVa-Anywhere with the Cisco VPN does not currently work with the Windows Vista operating system. If you are using Vista, access Home Directory through the Web Interface.
  • You may have another firewall blocking your access to Home Directory (for example, ZoneAlarm). Turn off any other firewall you installed in order to enable the VPN and Home Directory.
  • Check your Internet connection to ensure it is "live." If your computer has been on for a long time, you may need to reboot and reconnect.
I'm getting an error message when I try to add or change a file. What's the problem?
Most likely, adding this file puts you over your allotted storage space limit on Home Directory. You either need to compress the file or remove some items from your Home Directory account. Alternatively, you can ask ITS to increase your disk quota by emailing your request to accounts@virginia.edu. Another possibility is that you lost your connection to the Home Directory server. Check your Internet connection if you're sure that you're not exceeding your disk quota.
I'm getting an error message that I have an invalid file name error. What's the problem?
The most likely culprit is that you have lost your connection to the Home Directory server between saves. If you reconnect to your Home Directory, the error will probably disappear. Some characters valid on a Windows machine in file names are not valid on a UNIX (Home Directory is on UNIX) system, in particular, the forward slash with the dot: / .
I see lots of files that begin with a dot—for instance, .forward. Can I delete such files?
No! These files are important files that UNIX systems use for your default settings. Because your Home Directory is shared between your UNIX account (used for Web publishing) and other access methods, you see files created for those other systems. The standard behavior for UNIX systems is to place files, used to hold configuration information and startup information for your account, in files beginning with a dot. Removing these files could have unexpected consequences. The .forward file, for example, keeps your mail going to the correct server. Since the files use very little space, you should definitely leave them in place.
I'm having trouble connecting to Home Directory. What's wrong?
  • You may not have a Home Directory account. In order to have an account: If you have not completed these steps, you will lack a Home Directory account and will be unable to log in successfully.
  • Check your Internet connection to ensure it is live. If your computer has been on for a long time, you may need to reboot.
  • Check to see if you logged in first to UVa-Anywhere.
    • If you don't have UVa-Anywhere, go Software Central, identify your operating system, and download and install the version of the software you need. You will also need a certificate, and you will see the option to obtain one on the VPN download page.
    • If you're using Windows XP, you must also override the XP Service Pack 2 built-in firewall by downloading the Windows SP2 Firewall Script; scroll down to Free Tools, then select Windows XP SP2 Firewall Script. Double-click to download this file.
  • If the error message indicates your login and/or password is incorrect, check the login box to ensure your UVa computing ID, for example, mst3k, is correctly entered, with no typos.
    • Windows computers automatically enter the Windows login ID, which, by default, is not the same as your UVa computing ID.
    • Remember that your login must also be ESERVICES\ followed by your UVa login ID (for example: ESERVICES\mst3k if your computing ID were mst3k).
    • You may have to reset your Eservices password.
A link to a directory, which is mounted from any other file server, will not work from a PC with access to the Home Directory Service. That is because the home1 or home2 servers can not mount filesystems from other servers. Links, which can be resolved within the Home Directory server itself, will be followed.
Is there a way to retrieve a file I deleted from Home Directory?
Yes, you can. Log into Home Directory Accounts Maintenance with your UVa computing ID and your Home Directory password. Choose Restore Your Files from the lefthand side. For more information, see Recovering Lost Files.

  Page Updated: Thursday 2013-03-28 11:19:58 EDT

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