How to Prepare for 2008 Windows Updates
All Windows machines will be recloned this summer. As a result, you'll need to make some preparations to ensure you do not lose any files that you may have saved locally. In addition, you will need to reinstall specialty applications (if you have any) once you've been updated. You will not need to worry about losing drive mappings, network printer setups, Favorites, Outlook signatures, or customized Office dictionaries. CIT will also re-install local printers on your PC.
It is very important that you follow these steps if you have important files or data stored on the C or D drives of your current PC. Please contact the CIT Help Desk at 465-2309 if you have any questions about these preparation procedures.
- Normally you should be saving files that you create in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. to your personal network drive M or another network drive. However, there may be specific files that you have stored locally (on drives C or D) that you wish to have transferred to your new machine. Files that you wish to have transferred should be moved to a folder called Backup on your D drive immediately prior to your update. (You will probably need to create this folder using the Explorer menu command File, New, New Folder.) CIT staff will copy the contents of this folder to C:\Backup on your new or updated PC.
Note: Files and folders on the network drives M, O, etc. will NOT be touched. You do not need to worry about backing up any files saved to network drives. Also, please only copy department documents and personal files from your local C and D drives to the Backup folder. DO NOT copy files installed by applications or CIT.
- You will need to reinstall any unique applications you use that are not provided as part of the campus core software offering. You should locate a copy of the original media along with registration numbers so you can reinstall on your PC. You will now be installing these applications on your computer's C drive. CIT will assist with the installation of certain department-specific administrative applications.
Note: SAS (Statistical Analysis System) and Visual Studio are not installed as standard on all campus workstations. If you use either of these applications, we can assist you with installing them on your PC. Please inform the rollout staff or the CIT Help Desk if you use SAS or Visual Studio. SPSS will continue to be included on all workstations.
- You should have installation CDs for your PDAs, local printers, scanners, and other special peripheral equipment. We will assist you with reinstalling this equipment following your update.
Refreshing Your Windows Profile
You should make note of any special settings so you can reinstate them. Your Windows profile stores configuration information (desktop settings, file locations, etc) that take effect on any workstation when you log in with your account. These settings will be reset to the standard defaults with your new profile. Refer to the instructions below for preparing to reinstate any customized settings.
- Customizations you have made to your desktop or Start menu will have to be recreated. For example, if you have created special desktop shortcuts or added icons to the Quick Launch pad to the right of your Start menu, you will have to redo these.
- Any custom settings in Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint will be cleared. Make note of default file locations, optional settings (Tools, Options), special global macros, and AutoCorrect features (Tools, AutoCorrect) that have been configured in your Office 2003 applications. These settings will need to be recreated following your profile refresh.
- Outlook will be reconfigured and any special settings and additional mailboxes that you're accessing will have to be added back. At this point, just make note of these settings.
- You will also lose your library of “autocomplete” addresses in Outlook, whereby you are prompted with addresses that match the initial letters you type. These will be rebuilt as you start to address messages in Outlook 2007.
