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Notes by ChemIT staff from when we updated computers. Nice reminders, gotchas, etc. related to updating computers.

Windows

Log out of the user account and sign in with Admin account

Overview

Typical service outcome, from 5/3/13 service call from Michael Hint, after installing the requested software:

While on the machine, I also updated Acrobat, Firefox, Identity Finder, Sketchup, Filezilla, and Symantec Antivirus. I removed Java as it is a security risk. I updated your laptop's motherboard software and removed some unnecessary network wires from your desk.

Update

• Adobe Acrobat/Reader
• Adobe Flash
  • Both IE (ActiveX) and FireFox
• FireFox
• Symantec AV: Upgrade (not update definitions!) to 12.1.4xxx (as of 3/5/14)
  • Do using ChemIT's "files" file server.
• BIOS update

Java:

• Remove if not needed, especially if obsolete (dangerous if left).
  • For example, in Fall'13, version 6 would be asking for trouble!
• If required, either install managed Java, or stand-alone Java. Known needs in Research:
  • SciFinder Scholar; the "fat" version needs it.
  • Some instrument machines.

Remove

• Obsolete Java, unless there is a need for java for an application. In which case we push the current version to the computer.

Specific

Log out of user account and into Admin account

Run Windows Update (enter "update" in Run command, for example). Pull in just Important Updates, not Optional Updates.

• In Windows, this covers MS Office software updates and IE, too.

Run Apple Software Update. Pull in just Updates, not New Software.

(Alternative: Use File Updater from FileHippo.com to check for freeware updates)

Oracle Java

(Remove, if possible. See above.)

Go to Java.com. Press Free Java download. Click on "See all Java downloads." (Not the "Agree and Start Free Download" button!)

Select Windows Offline (32-bit). You may also need Windows Offline (64-bit).

Adobe Flash

Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features (click on Uninstall a program to get this last folder)

Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features

You will see both Flash Player Plug-in and Flash Player ActiveX installed.

Adobe Flash Player, Flash Plug-in, and Flash ActiveX

Tip: Current Versions of Flash  will auto-update; check File Hippo before manually updating

Tip: Do these updates within FF and for ActiceX won't have to quit IE's browser.

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Select, "Do you have a different operating system or browser?". Select Win 7. Then select:

FlashPlayer 11 for Other Browsers

KEY: De-select software being pushed! (Chrome, McAfee, etc.). If do my mistake, cancel, then agree to continue just with application. Extra apps will cancel, but Flash Player resumes downloading/ installing.

Then repeat, but choose:

FlashPlayer 11 for Internet Explorer (this is for the ActiveX version; ActiveX is MS's tech; IE only)

KEY: De-select software being pushed! (Chrome, McAfee, etc.). If do my mistake, cancel, then agree to continue just with application. Extra apps will cancel, but Flash Player resumes downloading/ installing.

See Also

• Software in CCB's 5 classrooms

Checklist

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BIOS updates

• IMPORTANT: If encrypted turn off encryption before updating. If left on it will require entering the full encryption key
• Windows key + r → "msinfo32" will give the current BIOS version
• Check against dell.com drivers
• Will need to long restart and install

Windows OS Updates

Forcing an OS version upgrade (ChemIT ONLY)

1) Check current OS version build

• type winver into Windows search bar

2) Check latest version in our repository and apply if a more recent one exists:.

• Check on the T: drive for the latest OS upgrade file.
  • Example for Win10: T:\Windows\Microsoft\Windows\Win10\
• Move the correct version upgrade to the desktop.
• Follow included instructions.

Forcing an OS update

• Settings → Update
• Check for updates
• "Check online..." option should appear, if not restart

Software application updates

True for all: Remove application icons from the Desktop

• If a software update (or installation) leads to an icon being added to the Desktop, remove it.
  • Rationale: Often these icons are for "All users" not just for the user who updated or installed the program. Thus, users get them on their Desktop whether they want or need them AND don't have the authority to remove them.
    • If any user wants that icon, they can put it there themselves.

Check updates for ALL installed software

• Below are tips on updating select, more common software.

Apple

• iTunes
  • https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201352
• Run Apple Software Update, do not pull in new software

Adobe

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Adobe's idea of facilitating the deployment of installs and updates within an org. is licensing and local hosting if not using SCCM? ! (As of fall 2014, at least.) See:

• http://www.adobe.com/products/players/flash-player-distribution.html

NOTE: Adobe

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To Update:  Help -> Check for Updates

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products in particular tend to add Desktop icons. Remove them. (Users cannot remove these.)

• Adobe Creative Cloud

  • Adobe CC Licensing

• PDF Reader

  • Open, then select Help → Check for Updates → Choose "Manually update (

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Browser Plugins

Mozilla 

Update plugins:

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

Mac OS

Log out of the user account and sign in with Admin account

Updates

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• To switch to ESR version: 
  • http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/
• Browser plug ins (Silverlight, flash, etc.)
  • http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/

• • not 

• Flash

  • ONLY if installed
  • Check version: Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
  • You will see both Flash Player Plug-in and Flash Player ActiveX installed, and their versions. Check the version against the latest and update if necessary.
  • https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Chrome

• Menu → Help → About Google Chrome → Checks to see if running most recent version of Chrome
• Do NOT allow this to be a desktop icon (for users cannot remove it if you leave it for all users).
• Ensure that it is x64 bit (As of 2/9/18, OSD was shipping 32-bit!!)

FileZilla

• ONLY if installed
• Run the program and it will automatically check for a newer version
• Allow update if available

Firefox ESR

• Firefox ESR will check and automatically update upon program start up
• To check: Menu → Options → Advanced → Update → Show Update History
• Active plugins/extensions will automatically update
• Do NOT allow this to be a desktop icon (for users cannot remove it if you leave it for all users).

Java

Caution: Please don't update this yourself if it's centrally managed by ChemIT!

• Remove if not needed, especially if obsolete
• If required, either install managed Java, or stand-alone Java. Known needs in Research:
  • SciFinder Scholar; the "fat" version needs it.
  • Some instrument machines.

• If Windows machine not managed by ChemIT:

  • Go to Java.com. Press Free Java download. Click on "See all Java downloads." (Not the "Agree and Start Free Download" button!)
  • Select Windows Offline (32-bit). You may also need Windows Offline (64-bit)

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