This question-and-answer list doesn't answer all the questions that people often have about expired accounts, but here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Please direct unanswered questions and problems to us at cscf.accounts@uwaterloo.ca .
Q: Why is my account going away?
A: Accounts exist because they are sponsored. The Dean sponsors basic accounts for students in the Faculty of Mathematics, individual instructors sponsor accounts for their courses (including for students outside the faculty), and researchers sponsor accounts for themselves and their assistants.
When an account no longer has a sponsor, it enters an expiry process. You will receive notifications informing you that your account is approaching expiry and that you should copy any important files. During this period, you are expected to transfer any data you wish to keep before the account expires.
Q: What about my disk quota?
A: If you have any files in your home directory under your GENERAL account, you must copy them before your account expires.
You can transfer your files by mapping your home directory as a network drive on your personal computer or by using file transfer tools. Instructions are available here: How-to guides and tutorials | Computer Science Computing Facility (CSCF) | University of Waterloo
Once your account has expired, you will no longer be able to access your files.
If you were unable to retrieve your data before expiry, please contact the CSCF Help Desk at cscf@uwaterloo.ca as soon as possible for assistance.
Data is retained for up to 18 months after account expiry; however, access is not guaranteed, and delays may result in permanent data loss.
Q: Can accounts be retained for collaboration?
A: Researchers in the School of Computer Science can sponsor accounts in the GENERAL domain (linux.cs.uwaterloo.ca).
If you require continued access for collaboration, you should arrange sponsorship with your supervisor or a faculty member before your account expires. Without sponsorship, the account will proceed through the expiry process.
Q: Can I sponsor an account myself?
A: CSCF does not provide self-sponsored or paid accounts, and other departments such as IST and the Office of Alumni Affairs do not offer this service.
The Computer Science Club (MC 3037) provides free accounts to its members, who may be current or former students in any faculty. Please contact them directly for more information.
Q: I know it's going away. Why do you have to keep telling me about it?
A: Multiple notifications are sent to ensure that users are aware of the upcoming account expiry and have sufficient time to take action.
Once your account has expired, you will no longer be able to access your account or its contents.