Information Technology Frequently Asked Questions Here you should find answers to some of the common technology questions asked at VCOM.
Can I access the VCOM wireless network from my apartment across the street?	The answer to that is no, but you can set up your own wireless network in your apartment if you have a cable modem or DSL or Ethernet.
What is a MAC Address?	The MAC address is also called the hardware address or physical address of a machine; it is a unique 48-bit address that is encoded directly on the Ethernet interface of the computer. It serves to uniquely identify the physical network interface of the computer, regardless of the IP address it may have at the moment. The MAC address is made up of 12 characters and appears in the format of xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx, such as 00-00-00-15-89-EE.
What is a PID?	It is an unique personal identifier that is assigned to you and only you while at VCOM. With this PID and password you can access Blackboard, My VT, and VCOM's Restricted Library. Your PID is also part of your e-mail address while at VCOM.
What is my VCOM student ID number?	Your VCOM Student ID number is a 9 digit number, xxx-xx-xxxx, that is randomly generated for each student. This unique number is required on all answer sheets.
Where do I go to find a schedule of classes for the Block?	On this web site, there is an Academic Calendar on the VCOM Student Resources section that shows the day and time for each class during the block. Go to the Calendar page now.
I forgot my password to access Blackboard, how do I change that password?	The password to access Blackboard is your PID password from Virginia Tech. To have that password reset you need to call 540-231-4400 and tell the Call Center Operator that you need your Virginia Tech PID password reset. They will reset the password to a temporary one. You will then need to go to http://my.vt.edu, log on to the page with your PID and temporary password to change to he password. Once logged on to My VT, click on Preferences, Manage MyID and then My Password to reset your temporary password to a new one.
How do I access my VCOM e-mail from home?	You can access your VCOM e-mail from home by typing, http://mail.vcom.vt.edu and entering vcom\PID for user name and then your e-mail password.
Where do I go to find a schedule of activities for the Block?	On this web site, there is an Activities Calendar on the VCOM Student Resources section that shows the daily activities for that block. Go to the Calendar page now.
How do I register my wireless card to access the VCOM wireless network?	You no longer need to register your wireless card. Access is granted via your VT PID and password.
I recently reformatted my computer and now I need Microsoft Office installed. How do I get Microsoft® Office® installed on my computer?	To have Microsoft Office installed on your computer again, you need to call 540-231-4400 and have a trouble ticket created. Someone will call you back to schedule a time to meet with you to install Microsoft Office on your laptop.
Which password do I use to log on to Blackboard?	Since Blackboard is a Virginia Tech system, you will need to use your VT PID and Password. If you cannot remember your password, you will need to call 540-231-4400 and ask that your VT PID password be reset. Once the password is reset, visit http://my.vt.edu to reset your password.
For further information, see more IT links on the navigation bar on the left of this page.