About Upgrading to Windows 7

Schedule

Over the coming summer months we will be upgrading all the University’s PCs from Windows XP operating system to Windows 7. 

Students: All student open access rooms will be upgraded to Windows 7 by the end of summer 2011.

Staff: Every head of department has been asked to identify the best time for this process to be carried out to minimise disruption and IT Services now has a schedule for this. We are starting the upgrades on 20th May 2011 and will be getting all teaching staff, teaching room and open access PCs upgraded by the end of summer 2011.  Professional service staff will also be upgraded over the summer.  Some departments require specialist software and although this may hold up the process, we still hope to get the majority completed by September 2011.  Your head of department will let you know when you will be upgraded.

Q. Why are you doing this?

A. Windows XP is now an old operating system, it has become very slow with some log in times of over 10 minutes.  We need to keep up with the rest of the University sector and with our student expectations, as well as taking advantage of a very fast, modern operating system.  Teaching room log in times have been reduced to as little as 30 seconds.

Q. Will I get training in Windows 7?

A. Every head of department has been asked whether their staff require training, or can be upgraded straight onto Windows 7.

Q. When will the lecture / teaching rooms be upgraded?

A. This process will begin mid-May 2011.  Please note that if you are currently teaching and your PC has not been upgraded to Windows 7, but the teaching room you are in has, you will need to take any PowerPoint or electronic teaching materials you need on an USB stick with you as until your office PC has been upgraded to Windows 7 you will not be able to see your H Drive. This also applies to students who try to log into teaching room PCs. Only teaching that is being carried out from now until September 2011 will be affected.

Q. Is Microsoft Office being upgraded as well?

A. Yes, the new version is Office 2010.  It is very similar to Office 2007 with only a small number of changes to the menus.