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Windows 8

The end of Windows 7

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019

After 10 years support Windows 7 came to an end on 14 January 2020.

How does this affect you?  

If you still use Windows 7, after January 14 your PC will no longer receive security updates or technical support from Microsoft. Subsequently your PC will pose a threat to the university’s network and we might have to remove it from the network in future for security reasons. This also means that you data will be unprotected, and you could potentially have no access to the network (in other words, no internet, email, etc.)

Therefore, if your PC is still running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 you will have to upgrade to Windows 10, an operating system which can provide the latest security updates to keep your data safe.  You can read more on Microsoft’s software life cycle on their site. 

Upgrades from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10 will be free for staff. To request this upgrade, please log a request on the  ICT Partner Portal(Windows 7 to Windows 10 upgrade) after which you will automatically receive and email. Please include the following information in the request: 

  1. the computer’s asset number
  2. device type
  3. contact numbers
  4. building name
  5. room number

Your device will be checked for an upgrade possibility as older equipment may need components for the upgrade, and this will be for the account of the department. There might also be a possibility that very old equipment or devices that do not meet the minimum requirements will not be able to be upgraded.  

If any other actions are needed, an IT technician will also contact you. 

IT will do the following without charge: 

  1. Guide you with work related data to be backed up to OneDrive
  2. Upgrade the operating system from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10 
  3. After the upgrade a technician can assist with if needed: Installing of non-standard campus related software such as SPSS, Statistica, etc., install printers.

You will have to pay for: 

  1. Backups of all data if and IT technician has to do the backup
  2. Hardware components necessary for the upgrade to Windows 10 

If IT is requested to backup data, the cost will be as follow: 

Less than 15GB – R1310-00 
More than 15GB – R2240-00 

Relevant articles on the end of Windows 7: 

Windows 8 – really a better option?

Thursday, March 28th, 2013

Launched in October of 2012, the latest version of Windows showcases what seems to be a full re-design of what we have come accustomed to. However, upon closer inspection one could easily find a fair amount of resemblance to Windows 7.

Windows 8 has seen Microsoft take a radical new approach to Touch Screen enabled computers/devices.  For the first time ever, the operating system features an application store, similar to what one might find on Apple Mac devices/computers and Android devices. The store allows the downloading of (free and licensed) software/applications via the portal hosted by Microsoft. The operating system also features a new look, boasting “live” tiles on its Home Screen. These tiles can be linked to contacts, or your contact’s Facebook status, to the latest news, or weather forecasts, and many more.

Still, with its entire prowess, one must understand that the operating system is still very immature in the sense of security and vulnerability. Windows 7 offers a vastly more stable and secure solution at this present moment, mostly because it’s been around for longer, and that it has gone through the baby steps . It has had several updates, security- & hotfixes, as well as a Service Pack. These updates all contribute to a more secure and stable operating system.

It is this reason that compels IT to still choose Windows 7 as our supported operating system – used campus-wide. Thus, we roll out all new computers with Windows 7 installed. Any PC/device that is work-related, will either be upgraded (older Win XP PC’s) OR downgraded (some new PC’s ship with Windows 8) to Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.

*** Side note

The IT team is already testing Windows 8 and its customisations for future use on campus. This is a tedious task, necessary to facilitate a secure and trusted environment for all our colleagues.

(INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY TIAN PETERSEN)

 

 

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