Some of you might have received a mail with the subject “Windows 7 Service Pack 1 – Weekend rollout” from “IT – Algemene Navrae – General Enquiries”.

This is not a scam or a hoax! 

This mail was sent out by ITUS to a specific targeted group – all people with Windows 7 on their PCs that do not have Service Pack 1 installed. 

• If you did NOT receive the mail then your PC is already up to the correct patch level and no further action is required from you. 

• If you DID receive the mail then it is important that you follow the instructions in the mail mentioned above carefully, in other words, do NOT switch off your computer when you leave for home on Friday afternoon. You do not have to be logged in to the machine, it just has to be switched on and displaying the “Ctrl + Alt + Delete to log on” message. 

[ARTICLE BY DAVID WILES]

 

EXAMPLE OF THE NOTIFICATION E-MAIL

ITUS – Stellenbosch University – critical update

August – October 2013

The When:

• Weekend of …….  2013.
  If your workstation is a desktop PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT SWITCH IT OFF TOMORROW. 
  You may lock it or log off, but please do not switch the PC off this weekend (tomorrow) – once you leave the office at the end of the day.
  Please make sure to save and close your work (e.g. open word documents, etc.) before you leave.

The Who:

• ITUS has found that your version of Windows 7 requires a critical update: “Service Pack 1”.
  Please read this email thoroughly!

The What:

• As your computer forms part of our SUN network and is an asset of the University of Stellenbosch, it is crucial to keep your computer updated and secure.  ITUS will be engaging in a campus wide rollout of this “Windows 7 Service Pack 1” to all computers that require it.

The How:

• ITUS will be utilising an automated process to update your Windows 7. The automated process will target a few computers at a time starting tomorrow evening at 19h00 and will be completed before Sunday at 19h00.
• If you find yourself working on the office computer this weekend, this is what you could expect :
  This process will download and execute the installation of the update, automatically. These actions will execute in the background as not to interfere with your working experience.  However, at completion of the said installation, a computer “Restart” is necessary. This will also be an automatic action.

1. 1.       You will be notified via a pop-up, after which the computer will restart. This is pop-up will act as a countdown, to allow you to save any work if needed. This allows you 2 minutes to save your work or to send that last email! J
2. Please note the restart is mandatory and cannot be undone.
3. After the restart, the final stage of the installation will commence. This might include, but is not limited to, flickering of the screen, rebooting once, displaying the progress of the installation. This part of the process might take upwards of 10 minutes to complete.
4. PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to work on the computer at this stage; ideal time for a coffee/tea break! Please do not at any time manually switch off or restart your computer. 
5. Once the computer displays the Welcome screen, the installation is done and you may continue to log in etc.

 

**********************************************************

The automated process is one that ITUS will be using more frequently as there is much less interruption to workflow. In the unlikely event that the Welcome screen does not display within 30 minutes of the restart, please contact ITUS as soon as possible by dialling the IT Service Desk on 0218084367.

We thank you for your support and understanding!

 

Sedert Augustus het ons `n e-pos aan sommige kampusgebruikers gestuur oor `n opgradering wat vereis word vir rekenaars met Windows 7 (sien onder).

Indien jy ‘n e-pos ontvang het van “IT – Algemene Navrae – General Enquiries” met die onderwerp “Windows 7 Service Pack 1 – Weekend rollout”, hoef jy nie bekommerd te wees dat dit een van die vele gevalle van “phishing” of gemorspos is nie. Ons is wel vanaf Augustus tot Oktober besig om rekenaars met Windows 7 op te gradeer met `n kritiese Service Pack. 

Die e-pos dien slegs as kennisgewing en al wat van jou verwag word, is slegs om nie jou rekenaar af te skakel op die datums wat verskaf word in die e-pos nie. 

Indien jy nie `n e-pos ontvang het nie, beteken dit dat jou rekenaar op datum is met die nuutste program-opdaterings en geen verdere aksie word van jou verlang nie. Vir enige verdere navrae, skakel gerus die IT Dienstoonbank by 808 4367.

 

VOORBEELD VAN DIE E-POS

ITUS – Stellenbosch University – critical update

August – October 2013

The When:

• If your workstation is a desktop PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT SWITCH IT OFF TOMORROW. 
  You may lock it or log off, but please do not switch the PC off this weekend (tomorrow) – once you leave the office at the end of the day.
  Please make sure to save and close your work (e.g. open word documents, etc.) before you leave.

The Who:

• ITUS has found that your version of Windows 7 requires a critical update: “Service Pack 1”.
  Please read this email thoroughly!

The What:

• As your computer forms part of our SUN network and is an asset of the University of Stellenbosch, it is crucial to keep your computer updated and secure.  ITUS will be engaging in a campus wide rollout of this “Windows 7 Service Pack 1” to all computers that require it.

The How:

• ITUS will be utilising an automated process to update your Windows 7. The automated process will target a few computers at a time starting tomorrow evening at 19h00 and will be completed before Sunday at 19h00.
• If you find yourself working on the office computer this weekend, this is what you could expect :
  This process will download and execute the installation of the update, automatically. These actions will execute in the background as not to interfere with your working experience.  However, at completion of the said installation, a computer “Restart” is necessary. This will also be an automatic action.

1. 1.       You will be notified via a pop-up, after which the computer will restart. This is pop-up will act as a countdown, to allow you to save any work if needed. This allows you 2 minutes to save your work or to send that last email! J
2. Please note the restart is mandatory and cannot be undone.
3. After the restart, the final stage of the installation will commence. This might include, but is not limited to, flickering of the screen, rebooting once, displaying the progress of the installation. This part of the process might take upwards of 10 minutes to complete.
4. PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to work on the computer at this stage; ideal time for a coffee/tea break! Please do not at any time manually switch off or restart your computer. 
5. Once the computer displays the Welcome screen, the installation is done and you may continue to log in etc.

 

**********************************************************

The automated process is one that ITUS will be using more frequently as there is much less interruption to workflow. In the unlikely event that the Welcome screen does not display within 30 minutes of the restart, please contact ITUS as soon as possible by dialling the IT Service Desk on 0218084367.

We thank you for your support and understanding!

 

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)

 

Windows 8 het in Oktober 2012 die lig gesien en op die oog af lyk die nuutste weergawe soos `n splinternuwe bedryfstelsel. As ons die nuwe Windows egter van nader bykyk, is daar nie soveel anders as met Windows 7 nie.

Met hierdie nuwe weergawe het Microsoft `n drastiese nuwe benadering tot raakskerm rekenaars en toestelle. Vir die eerste keer ooit spog `n Windows bedryfstelsel met `n applikasies-winkel soortgelyk aan die wat beskikbaar is vir Apple Mac en Android-toestelle.

 Die Windows 8 winkel verskaf gratis en gelisensieerde  aflaaibare sagteware en toepassings via die Microsoft portaal. Die bedryfstelsel word gekenmerk deur `n nuwe voorkoms met aktiewe teels op die tuisskerm. Hierdie teels kan geskakel word met jou kontakte, Facebook, die nuutste nuus, weervoorspellings en vele meer. 

Ten spyte van bogenoemde, is dit egter belangrik om in ag te neem dat die bedryfstelsel nog baie onderontwikkel is in terme van sekuriteit en kwesbaarheid. Windows 7 bied `n veelomvattender stabiele en veilige oplossing op die oomblik, hoofsaaklik omdat dit langer beskikbaar is en dit reeds deur al die groeipyne gegaan het. Dit het reeds verskeie opdaterings en sekuriteitsregstellings, sowel as `n “Service Pack”. Al hierdie opdaterings dra by tot `n meer sekure en stabiele bedyfstelsel.

Dit is om hierdie rede dat IT steeds Windows 7 kies as ondersteunde bedryfstelsel vir kampusgebruikers. Alle nuwe rekenaars word geinstalleer met Windows 7. Alle bestaande, werksverwante rekenaar of toestel sal of opgradeer word (ouer Windows XP rekenaars) of  laer gegradeer word (rekenaars reeds met Windows 8 op) na Windows 7 met “Service Pack” 1.

*** NS.

Die IT-span is reeds besig om Windows 8 deeglik te toets vir toekomstige gebruik op kampus. Dis `n lastige, tog noodsaaklike taak, om `n veilige en vertroulike omgewing vir al ons kollegas te skep. 

(INLIGTING VERSKAF DEUR TIAN PETERSEN)

 

 

Are you still stuck with an outdated pc running Windows XP? We have some good news for you! From now until 15 December 2013 upgrades from Windows XP to Windows 7 will be done for free!

All you have to do, is send us an email to help@sun.ac.za to request the upgrade. Please include the following information in the e-mail:

–  the work station’s asset number

–  contact telephone number

–  building name

–  room number

An IT technician will contact you as soon as the work station’s specifications have been checked. Older workstaions may need components for the upgrade and this will be for the account of the department.

IT will do the following without charge:

1. Upgrade the operating system from Windows XP to Windows 7

You will have to pay for:

1. Backups of work related data (including MS Office extensions, .pst files)
2. The backup of personal data such as music files, video files and movies
3. Hardware components necessary for the upgrade to Windows 7

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

Less than 15GB – R950-00

More than 15GB – R1650-00

 

Sit jy nog opgeskeep met `n verouderde rekenaar met Windows XP? Ons het goeie nuus vir jou! Tot die 15 Desember sal IT jou rekenaar gratis opgradeer van Windows XP na Windows 7.

Al wat jy moet doen, is om `n e-pos te stuur na help@sun.ac.za om `n opgradering te versoek. Sluit asseblief die volgende inligting in:

–  die werkstasie se batenommer

–  kontaktelefoonnommer

–  gebounaam

–  kamernommer

‘n IT tegnikus sal u kontak sodra die werkstasie se spesifikasies nagegaan is. Ouer werkstasies mag komponente benodig en hierdie uitgawe sal vir  die departement se koste wees.

IT sal die volgende gratis doen:

1. Opgradering van XP na Windows 7

Jy sal moet betaal vir:

1. Rugsteun van jou werksverwante data.
2. Rugsteun van persoonlike data soos musiek, video en flieks.
3. Hardeware benodig vir die opgradering na Windows 7

Indien IT versoek word om data te rugsteun, sal die koste as volg wees:

Minder as 15GB – R950-00
Meer as 15GB – R1650-00