At the beginning and end of each academic year, hordes of students move into and out of residence halls and apartments all around Oakland. Moving all of your electronic devices can be a challenge. We’ve got the tips and tricks for a smooth and easy move that keeps your electronics — and your sanity — intact!

Proper Packing

Packing is the hardest part of moving! It’s tempting to just throw all your stuff in drawers, laundry baskets, and boxes and load it all into the car or moving van. But you need to take a little more care when moving computing equipment and electronics. Follow these steps to make sure they arrive in one piece and in working order!

1. Remove attached/inserted items before packing, including batteries, media, dongles, and toner cartridges.
2. Organize and label all cords and cables so you remember what goes with what and where. This takes a little extra time up front, but makes life infinitely easier when setting it all back up! Here’s my go-to technique for keeping it all straight:
   • Buy a pack of colored sticker circles. Put the same color sticker on the end of the cord that goes into the device and on the port it goes into (on the device itself).
   • Put numbers on the stickers that correspond to the device. (AKA – monitor is 1, TV is 2, etc.) Keep a list of all the devices and what their corresponding number is.
3. Create a separate box for cords and cables to prevent damage kinking, or loss. Put each cord and cable into a separate baggie, carefully (but not too tightly) rolled up and rubber banded.  Clearly mark each bag with what the cable goes with and/or its device number.
4. Vacuum/use compressed air devices before packing. Dust and dirt can move around inside devices in transit and cause serious damage.
5. Carefully wrap and protect devices in boxes.
   • Cushion the top and bottom of the box with towels, blankets, clothes, or bubble wrap.
   • Pack everything securely so it doesn’t move, filling in any voids with packing material.
   • Wrap large items in bubble wrap. Protect glass screens with a towel and an extra layer of bubble wrap.
   • Never use newspaper to against screens. Newsprint can get onto or scratch the glass.
   • Use packing paper or bubble wrap, not packing chips/Styrofoam peanuts, which can cause static electricity to build up and damage your devices.
6. Label boxes clearly, so you know which contain electronics. Don’t stack other boxes on top of electronics, and make sure are placed in vehicles securely so they don’t move.

Connect Helpers to Guest Wi-Fi

Hopefully you aren’t packing up and moving out all by yourself! If you have friends or family members coming to campus to help you move out, make sure they know how to connect to Guest Wi-Fi while they are here. 

In the residence halls, you can add guest devices to your MyResNet account.

1. Log in to MyResNet.com and click Manage Devices at the top of the page.
2. Enter your visitor’s device and its MAC address (see more detailed instructions).
3. Click Add Device.

Elsewhere on campus, just have your helpers connect their phones to the network named "Pitt Guest-WiFi.” They will simply need to read the Terms of Use and click Accept. 

Disconnect from Pittsburgh; Stay Connected to Pitt

Be sure to cancel your internet, phone, and cable service from your apartment or transfer them to your new address. In addition, you’ll want to update your mailing address for any online accounts so you get mail and packages at the right place.

Also remember that just because you will be spending a few months away from campus doesn’t mean you’re not still an active Panther. If you’re registered for classes in the summer or fall terms, your Pitt student computing account will remain active all summer long. We recommend that you check your Pitt email throughout the summer to ensure you don’t miss important announcements.

You’ll be able to log into your Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud accounts, including your OneDrive storage, Outlook, and other Office apps. Need other apps that you generally accessed in the Student Computing Labs? Just connect to the Virtual Student Computing Lab. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any location, on any device with an internet connection.

Come Back to Better Residence Hall Wi-Fi

If you’ll be staying in the residence halls again next year, you’ll discover that your Wi-Fi service will be even better when you return. Apogee, the University’s partner and MyResNet service provider, is performing a comprehensive MyResNet upgrade this summer. The latest Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e technology provides several benefits:

• Faster Speeds: Enjoy faster speeds of 120 mb download and 50 mb upload, per device. 
• More Devices: Connect up to 12 of your Wi-Fi devices to MyResNet at once.
• Better support for smart devices: Your own Personal Area Network (PAN) will be available to connect smart home devices like speakers, wireless printers, and light bulbs. 
• Simplified Setup: You’ll connect devices to MyResNet quickly and easily with a unique password.

You’ll receive more details this summer about how to get all of your devices connected and ready to go!

Enjoy Your Summer

Moving out of college apartments and residence halls is hectic. Take a little extra time to do it right, so nothing is lost or damaged. Then enjoy the summer before you start another year of your Pitt journey!

-- By Karen Beaudway, Pitt IT Blogger