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See Also

• Software in CCB's 5 classrooms.
• Mac OS Installation
• Windows 10 Fresh Install (Base system) (FYI: Windows install info also in a ChemIT's *.doc "hidden" document, on our file server.)

Windows

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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

Checklist

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BIOS updates

• IMPORTANT: If encrypted
• Adobe Acrobat/Reader
• Adobe Flash
  • Both IE (ActiveX) and FireFox
• FireFox ESR (Help > About Firefox). 32-bit (vs. 64-bit)
• FileZilla (if installed)
• BIOS updateIMPORTANT: If encrypted you should turn off encryption before updating the BIOS. Then, update the BIOS. Finally, re-encrypt. Failure to do this likely results in requiring the entering of FULL encryption key.
• Check BIOS current version- type "msinfo32" into Windows search bar

• Find newest BIOS version- www.dell.com/drivers => Enter/find machine => Use either auto detection or manual => Download BIOS

• Double-click on file. Note that restart is required.

Java:

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

• 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.

These software applications are installed and updated through ChemIT's Active Directory (AD) group policy.

• WebEx
• Java (see below)
• Windows 8: Flash ActiveX (IE) only. (Still must do Flash for FF by hand.)

By default these applications are not installed on ChemIT's Windows image. They are only installed (via group policy) on request.

Key: These are maintained by ChemIT's group policy. Therefore, do not try to update them by hand!

One can force updating the system's group policies via CMD:

• GPUpdate.exe /force

Remove

• Obsolete Java
  • Note: Remove //any// Java unless there is a need for Java for a business application. In which case we push the current version to the computer (see "Java", above)

Specific

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If iTunes, QuickTime, or other Apple software installed, run Apple Software Update. Pull in just Updates, not New Software.

• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2305

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

• http://filehippo.com/updatechecker

Only if computer not managed using ChemIT's infrastructure (how detect?), and for newly installed imaged machine:

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.

Oracle Java

(Remove, if possible. See above.)

ChemIT updates Java, if installed and managed by ChemIT (how detect?). Thus, not need to manually update this software.

If Windows machine not managed by ChemIT (how detect?):

• 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

To check software versions installed:

• 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, and their versions. Check the version against the latest and update if necessary.

NOTE: If Flash is not installed, do NOT install it.

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

Tip: Current Versions of Flash will auto-update; check File Hippo before manually updating. (Oliver found this NOT to be true for version upgrades, 1/8/15.)

Tip: Do these updates within FF. Otherwise, if using IE, ActiveX's version will require you 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 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 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.

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• . 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

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 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 (

...

• • 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)

Update FileZilla

• Keep? If so:
  
  • Run it and it will tell you there is a new version, if there is. Download and install.

Browser Plugins

Mozilla 

Update plugins:

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

Mac OS

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Updates

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• Don't inadvertently upgrade the OS, though!

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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/

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• No need to revert to: Allow apps downloaded from: Mac App Store and identified developers. Just keep it as "Anywhere". (June 6, 2015.)

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