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Frequently Asked QuestionsThis frequently asked questions page will be updated regularly during the Desktop Excellence project. If you have a question and it does not appear in this list, please email desktop.excellence@adelaide.edu.au. This frequently asked questions page will be updated regularly during the Desktop Excellence project. If you have a question and it does not appear in this list, please email desktop.excellence@adelaide.edu.au.
The Desktop Excellence ProjectWhy is the University upgrading? The University's staff computers primarily run Windows 2000 and in some cases, XP. This raises a number of issues around vendor support and possible security risks, including the potential theft of Intellectual Property and loss of staff time, if the software fails. Because of this, the University has decided to bring everyone up to the same standard – Microsoft Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. Why set up a Secure User Environment? The Secure User Environment is the introduction of Corporate Governance, just as an SOE is. The main reasons are to minimise the risk of breaking any licence agreements and incurring unacceptable penalties and to protect the University’s Intellectual Property. Prudential Services, the internal body who provide advice and assistance in this area, has reviewed both the SOE and SUE and support these initiatives. You can find more information about the SUE here. When will my computer be upgraded? ITS will progressively rollout the new Windows Vista Standard Operating Environment (SOE) to staff members throughout the University from January 2009 and throughout the rest of 2009. This will be done in consultation with schools and areas and will ensure minimal disruption to your work. A fixed upgrade schedule is unavailable. This is so we can adapt and meet the needs of each area in terms of readiness and timing with specific events including grant submissions, enrolments, 'O' Week etc. You will see a prescence in your area starting in January and for the first half of the year undertaking Discovery. Timing is largely dependant on availability. It is worth noting, NEW Computer orders from January 2009 will move straight to Vista unless there is a specific business requirement to do otherwise. Will my Mac/Linux be upgraded? No. We have outlined the minimum requirements for hardware and you'll find more information on our hardware page. What if my research computer isn’t compatible? We recognise that some computers will run software and hardware for business critical research activities that may not be Vista compatible. During the hardware and software discovery phase of each school's upgrade these computers will be identified and initially excluded from the upgrade and noted with the School Manager to agree the next steps.. I use specialised software applications that I manage myself, what will happen to them? Some applications may not be compatible with Vista and if loaded onto the new version without prior testing, may impact on the overall operation of your PC. This includes the various ‘little’ applications that may be unique to your area. If you have a large number of specialised applications, we will work through these with you during the upgrade process. Yiou can contact us to arrange for a test computer. When you get Vista, all of your departmental printers will be delivered to you automatically, so it’s all automated and set up for you – double-sided printing, number of trays and paper sizes. New printers will be seamlessly incorporated into your printer management and you won’t need to mess around with print queues any more. It will also give us the opportunity to adopt greener practices with our printing – using double-sided printing or even scrap paper for drafts. It will also help us to take advantage of the cost-benefits of using multi-functional devices like combination photocopies/printer/fax machines.
Pre-Upgrade TasksWhat do I have to do to prepare for the Vista/SOE upgrade?
The tasksheets on preparing your PC/laptop (pdf 402kB) will be able to provide more information for you.
After the Vista deployment, what data storage options do I have? And which locations are backed-up by ITS? Please refer to the tasksheets on preparing your PC/laptop (pdf 402kB) for more information. Click the “help” button on the toolbar of the applications and select “About Application XYZ”. This will provide the version number. I'm not using Outlook for my email, how can I have my email file migrated? Outlook is the standard email application and it is recommended that you begin using this as soon as possible (this can be done prior to your Vista migration by contacting the ITS Helpdesk). If you choose to use another email client (as with all non-standard applications), any complications you encounter will not be supported by ITS. This means that the Help Desk will not be able to help you with any problems concerning this software. The University has previously completed a project (called "Interim SOE") to establish Outlook as a standard for email. Click here to see a document which explains the differences between Netscape mail and Outlook. Although this document was written for the Interim SOE project which utilised Outlook 2003, the concepts remain relevant. If you require your current email mailbox migrated to Outlook, please contact the ITS Helpdesk on 830 33000 or email helpdesk@adelaide.edu.au.
Windows Vista & Microsoft Office 2007What is the difference between Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007? Vista is literally the “mechanism” that allows you to navigate and access products and tools within the Windows environment (in IT terms it’s called an Operating System). Office 2007 comprises the applications that are common to Microsoft, eg Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc. Vista is fairly new and the University will be one of the first in Australia to deploy it. What quality assurance steps have been put in place? We have collaborated closely with Microsoft during the early stages of Desktop Excellence to ensure that the new environment takes full advantage of the Vista features. Microsoft was also engaged to review and make recommendations on the University's Vista Standard Operating Environment. During the pilot, academic and research staff have been engaged to independently verify that their software works with Vista and they have worked with ITS to build software 'packages' for automated deployment for learning and research software. So we’ve taken steps at each stage of the project so far. As some staff move to the latest version of Office, how will those staff on the older version collaborate with them? Microsoft has released a forward compatibility pack for Office 2003. This means that if an Office 2007 user sends a document without saving it as an Office 2003 version, the recipient, on Office 2003, will be able to open the document. We installed this software to staff and student computers in 2007, recognising that some staff and student’s home computers are likely to have Office 2007 as well as other institutions adopting the newer technology. If you would like to install the compatibility pack on your personal PC, you can download it from here. I’ve heard some negative stories about Vista/Office 2007 – are they true? We need to replace Windows 2000, as it is no longer supported by Microsoft and will pose security risks after mid-2009. A review was conducted and presented to Divisional Management along with all faculty IT Deans, who then determined that the Vista/Office 2007 rollout was the best solution for the University. On that basis, apart from the pilot, the rollout is scheduled to commence from July 2008, to be finalised by June 2009. Consultation will occur with each school/branch in advance, to determine the most practical schedule to minimise impact. There has been bad press around Vista and this is based on a few things Vista is substantially different from Windows 2000 and Windows XP; however different does not mean bad. As with anything new, training and access to online help are essential and users take time to adapt. We have answered a few of the questions and myths surrounding Windows Vista below. Rumour: Vista takes up enormous memory and requires a minimum of 2 Gb Fact: Vista has a number of new features and graphics to enhance the user experience. Vista automatically turns off some features if the hardware is not capable of running them with good performance. We have set the minimum specification at 2 Gb so that you will experience a performance increase while having available the full features of Vista. Rumour: Vista and Office 2007 won’t work with other applications Fact: There are some problems with older versions of some applications, which would impact users who do not identify them prior to upgrading. That is the exact reason we are conducting this research in advance to address any potential conflicts.
TrainingWill there be training available? Yes, training in working with Vista and Office 2007 will be available, free of charge to staff. At the time when you are scheduled to have your PC migrated to the Vista SOE, you will also be asked to make a booking to attend the "Moving Up to Vista / Office 2007" training. It may be of interest to know that the training primarily focuses on the use of Windows Vista in the context of the University, and that the majority of the time is spent learning about the new features and format of Microsoft Office 2007. I already use Vista/Office 2007 at home, should I be exempt from training? No. As part of the initial pilot, we identified that many people who use Vista are only using a small percentage of the enhancements and that they had set their home computers up very differently to the University Standard Operating Environment. As a result, a short training session will be essential for all PC users to make sure everyone understands how their computer will work within the University framework. The project team, training group and school/branch management will consult on the most effective training packages for each area. Will there be different levels of training available? Yes, not only will there be varying levels of training , based on the different requirements, there will also be comprehensive courses for specific applications, such as the current beginners, medium and advanced training that is available in Office 2003 or 2007. In addition, there will be differing mediums available, such as self paced online courses, classroom training and PowerPoint presentations. You can find information regarding all training provided by ITS at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/its/training/
Post-MigrationHow do I request additional software? Through the Self-Service Software Portal. This tool will allow requests for services and software to be made by an individual, authorised by a registered approver and delivered remotely to the desktop. This means no more CDs and it provides a comprehensive register of the University software licence catalogue. Up-to-date information about the Software Self Service Portal can be found here. Where can I go for help and support? The Help & Support page contains helpful information to help you once your PC has been migrated to the Standard Operating Environment (SOE).
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