Northern Illinois University

Residential Technology

Common Problems

If you're having trouble connecting your computer to the network, click here simple troubleshooting steps. If you still need help please call the ResTech Helpdesk at 753-6267.

ResTech Hours of Operation for 2011 - 2012

ResTech Helpdesk

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday
  • 8:00am-10:00pm
  • 8:00am-10:00pm
  • 8:00am-10:00pm
  • 8:00am-10:00pm
  • 8:00am-5:00pm
  • closed
  • 4:00pm-10:00pm

ResTech Computer Labs are open 24/7


Holiday and Other Closures:

Finals Week:

All labs will be open 24/7 throughout finals week.

The Helpdesk will be open regular hours through Friday December 9th

Winter break:

All labs will close Monday December 12 and will reopen January 9.

During the break, the Helpdesk will be open 8am-noon, and 1pm-4:30pm Monday through Friday, on the following dates only:

Monday December 12 through Friday December 16

Monday December 19 through Tuesday December 20

Tuesday January 3 through Friday January 13

Closed Jan 14-16, reopen regular hours Tuesday January 17

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

All labs will be open throughout the holiday weekend.

Helpdesk will be closed Monday January 16th for the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and will resume regular hours Tuesday January 17

Spring Break

All labs will be open throughout the break.

Helpdesk will be closed Sat and Sun March 10th & 11th.

Helpdesk will be open March 12th - 16th from 8am - 12pm, 1pm - 4:30pm and will reopen Sunday, March 18th for regular hours

Finals Week:

All labs will be open 24/7 throughout finals week.

Helpdesk will be open regular hours through Friday May 11th and will resume summer hours Monday May 14

All labs except Grant North will close Wednesday May 16th

Follow us on Twitter!

ResTech on Twitter For updates about everything technology in the Residence Halls @ NIU, including tips for getting online if you're having problems, news about our services, and more!

Important Information for Residents for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012

We strongly encourage you to have your personal computer prepared before Opening Day Move-In in order to avoid the peak demand for technical support that occurs at the start of the semester. All rooms have Internet access, and in order to provide a robust on-line experience we have a few guidelines for students moving into the residence halls.

General Information:

  • Cisco NAC is required in order to use the NIU network (see below).
  • You need an Ethernet cable and Ethernet card to use the in-room connection.
  • You need an 802.11b (or better) wireless network card to connect to the NIU wireless networks that are available in specific locations.
  • Personal routers and/or wireless access points are prohibited. Unmanaged switches can be used if residents want to connect more than one device in their room. Stevenson and Grant B residents sharing a bedroom may check out a hub at the ResTech Helpdesk, 110C Stevenson if they need to connect more than one device to the network.

Cisco NAC resides on the client's machine, authenticates the user, and scans for the required patches and software on both the wired and wireless networks. The software will be provided by NIU upon arrival.

Computer Requirements for Windows Machines:

IMPORTANT NOTE: UNINSTALL ALL ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE BEFORE INSTALLING NIU’S VERSION OF MCAFEE! Running more than one anti-virus program on your computer can cause many problems. Please call the ResTech Helpdesk for help in removing programs that may cause problems.

Other Information:

  • Detailed instructions to help you get online with your personal computer will be provided upon move in.
  • Cisco NAC requires Mac OS and Linux users to login with their Z-ID and may enforce security standards.
Copyright Information and Legal Alternatives

File Sharing and Copyright Infringement

Colleges and universities, including NIU, face increasing pressure from organizations such as the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), BSA (Business Software Alliance), SafeNet, Inc., and the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) to address copyright infringement issues on campuses.

Click here for more information about copyright infringement.


Free and Legal Music, Movies, and Television

  • EDUCAUSE - A great resource for legally downloading music, TV, movies and more.
  • BIRDTRAX - Illinois State University's links to both free and pay sites for legal multimedia.
  • IPTV - Students living in the residence halls and Northern View Community can watch TV free over the Internet! Over 30 channels of movies, sports, news, and more.
Watch TV on the Internet Now!

As a result of a collaboration between NIU and Northwestern University, students living in the residence halls and Northern View Community can watch TV over the Internet!

Over 30 channels of movies, sports, news, and more are available at: http://iptv.niu.edu

Valuable Links

Safe Computing - The information you need to keep your computer secure.

Information Security - NIU's security and technology policies.

The Everything Technology Handbook - Everything Technology at Northern Illinois University is brought to you by the cooperative efforts of Information Technology Services and Residential Technology. Each group contributes to the information provided so that students are able to make the most of the technology offered at NIU.

Blackboard - NIU's Course Management System

Password Reset - Forget your password? Look up, change, or reset your password here, 24/7.

NIU Weather - A small division of the Heating Plant and Environmental Health and Safety, NIU Weather provides updated meteorological information and weather warnings for the NIU campus.

Information About Residence Hall Phones - Students can view and print bills, obtain their authorization code for making off campus and long-distance calls, view services, and directory look-up.