Before you start


You'll need the following:


  • A computer that meets the minimum requirements to work with Lavalla. If you're not sure, see our specifications on our website here: Lavalla BYOD Specifications
    • Chromebooks are NOT supported at Lavalla, as they don't run Windows. Please make sure that you have a laptop with either MacOS, or Windows on it!
  • Your student's Lavalla username and password. These will be provided to you before the first day of school
  • The charger for the laptop, as you'll need to leave the computer switched on for a while and you don't want it to run out of battery half way through
  • A good internet connection. Everything that is required is downloaded via the internet and may take some time to download.


Please make sure that you read and follow the steps carefully. Each step will explain what is going on and why it's being done. 



Setting up your laptop


Download the Company Portal app


This step will have you download the Company Portal app from the Microsoft Store. This provides access to all the Lavalla-specifc apps your student will need


To download the Company Portal app:


  1. Click on Start, and locate the Microsoft Store app:
  2. Click the Search icon up the top, then search for "Company Portal".
  3. Click on "Get" on the listing.


If you can't find the Microsoft Store you can try using these alternative instructions:

  1. Click on this link to go to the Company Portal page on the Microsoft Store: Company Portal on the Microsoft Store
  2. Click on "Install". Your browser will ask if you want to allow the store to open Be sure to click allow!

  3. In the box that appears, click "Get"



Signing in to the Company Portal app


Next step is to sign in to the Company Portal which registers your laptop with Lavalla


  1. Open the Company Portal app
  2. You'll be prompted for your student's Lavalla email address and password. For example:
    1. Email address: smitjoh1@lavalla.vic.edu.au
    2. Password: 1School2Password3%
  3. If your details are correct, you'll be presented with a box asking you to stay signed in to all your apps. You MUST keep the box ticked, then click OK. Lavalla will never reset your device and will only install applications your student requires at Lavalla, and cannot access any personal files.
  4. You may need to click on the yellow exclamation mark and follow the on-screen steps to finish setting up Company Portal


Wait 5 minutes and then restart your computer


This step is really important! You need to wait 5 minutes, then restart your computer. An important update will be applied to your computer. This update lets you install and run the apps Lavalla provides. This upgrade adds features to Windows, but you likely won't notice them because most of them are behind-the-scenes features most useful for schools.


Depending on which version of Windows you have, you may not see the "updating" screen.


If you're not sure how to restart your computer, follow these steps:


  1. Click on Start
  2. Click on the power icon and click Restart

Windows may tell you it's updating. Let it continue. If you don't see the update screen, continue on, and check the troubleshooting section if you run into troubles with the remaining steps.



Installation of Apps


Once your laptop has been restarted, Company Portal will apply the necessary settings to work at Lavalla (e.g. setting up the wifi) and will also install some software. You will need to install the remaining software that wasn't automatically installed: 

  1. Open the Company Portal app again
  2. You should see a list of apps including Microsoft Office. If you don't see a list of available apps, wait five more minutes and then restart your computer again.
  3. Click on the apps that appear in the list, then click "Install"
  4. The app will download. It may take a while depending on the app, so leave the laptop switched on and plugged in. After a while, you'll get a notification saying it was installed



Setting up Microsoft Outlook


This step will set up the school emails.


When Microsoft Office is installed, click on the Start Menu and look for Microsoft Outlook:



When Outlook opens, you'll be asked to set up the email. The email address should be automatically filled in for you:



Click on "Connect", then enter in the Lavalla password when prompted.


IMPORTANT:


If you are asked to select an email provider, you MUST click "Exchange"



Outlook should now be set up


Setting up OneDrive


This step will set up OneDrive so that students can back up their school work safely. OneDrive is a Microsoft product that lets students back up their school work. Students at Lavalla get 1TB (1,000GB or about 250 DVDs) worth of storage for school work.


OneDrive is already installed on Windows, but just needs to be set up. To do this:


Click on Start, and look for OneDrive in the Start Menu. When you find it, click on it



If this is the first time you're running OneDrive:

  1. You should be prompted to sign in to OneDrive. Enter in the Lavalla email address and password as you did before
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up OneDrive. 


If you've already set up OneDrive once before, you just need to add the school account. To do this:

  1. Find the OneDrive icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen and right-click on it. OneDrive will appear. Click on Settings as shown
  2. Click on "Account", then on "Add an account":
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts, entering in the Lavalla email address and password as you did before


You're all done!


In this article, you've successfully downloaded the Company Portal and signed in to it to register the laptop with Lavalla. The Company Portal has installed Microsoft Office, set up the Lavalla wifi, updated your version of Windows, and got your student ready to go first day. You've also set up their emails.


Troubleshooting


If something isn't working, follow the troubleshooting steps below, and if you're still having trouble, reach out to us on the Helpdesk.


The Username or Password is incorrect


Double check that you've typed everything correctly. "i" (as in ice), "l" (as in "lemon"), ! (an exclamation mark) and the number 1 look similar, same with "o" (as in orange) and the number 0. Also make sure that you've got capital letters where necessary, because "Password" and "password" are different!


Some systems and websites require a username (e.g. smitjoh1) while some require an email address, which is the username (e.g. smitjoh1), with @lavalla.vic.edu.au at the end (e.g. smitjoh1@lavalla.vic.edu.au) so be sure that you're using the correct one when mentioned above!


I didn't see the update!


This may be normal. There are three main versions of Windows, Home, Professional (or Enterprise) and Education. Only the Windows Home version will get the update mentioned. Professional / Enterprise and Education won't need the update. So if you don't see the "updating" screen but you do see Microsoft Office, you can continue on as normal.


I don't see any apps available!


Wait another 5 minutes and restart the laptop. Windows should do an update, but sometimes it may take a minute or two to apply. Also make sure that you've fully restarted your laptop by clicking Start and clicking on the power button. Closing the lid or pressing the power button on the laptop will just put the laptop to sleep, which is different from a restart


I'm still having troubles!


If you're still having trouble getting the laptop set up, visit the Lavalla Helpdesk and put in a ticket:


https://helpdesk.lavalla.vic.edu.au/support/tickets/new


Be sure to include an informative title (e.g. "I've restarted but I don't see any apps"), and provide more details in the description, including what type of computer you have, who the student is, and any additional things you've tried to resolve the issue. You'll receive an email when someone replies to your ticket, but please keep in mind that Lavalla IT may be busy at the very start of the year and it may take a moment to get back to you.