Tuesday, 8 April at last saw the end of the XP era. From this date onward Microsoft will no longer release any new patches and updates for XP.
Although your XP operating system will keep on going, it does mean your pc will be much more vulnerable to virus attacks and security breaches. At the same time XP is an out of date system and not nearly as efficient as it should be.
There’s no need to panic just yet. IT has been working on the upgrade process since last year and we have gradually rolled out XP’s replacement, Windows 7, on campus.
We do realise that you have busy schedules and will try our best not inconvenience you during the upgrades. For this reason we appreciate your assistance and patience.
By implementing Windows 7 we lay down an acceptable standard of digital security and integrity, and just as importantly, we create an opportunity for users to learn new and master new technology.
This being said, it’s important to keep in mind not all computers are able to handle a heavier, newer operating system. Older workstations may need extra components and in cases like these a technician will make recommendations. In this case expenses will have to be covered by the department.
The upgrade from XP to Windows 7 will be free of charge, but there is a cost for backups of work related data, personal data (music, movies, etc.), as well as hardware needed (if any).
No third party software will be reinstalled – in other words if you ran AutoCAD or SAS, it will not be reinstalled. These software packages do not form part of IT’s standard software installations. We do, however, support selected packages and will be able to reinstall them if a request is sent to help@sun.ac.za. AutoCAD is not supported by IT and it will be the responsibility of the department to reinstall the software.
Cost for data backups are R950-00 for less than 15GB and R1650-00 for over 15GB.
If you’re in a hurry to get your pc up to speed, you’re welcome to contact us and schedule a time that suits you.
Unsure of your operating system? Try HTTP://WHATSMYOS.COM/ and the website will do the thinking for you. If you do use XP, send an e-mail to HELP@SUN.AC.ZA requesting an upgrade with the following information:
computer’s asset number, contact telephone number, building name and room number.
