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These are just some of the most common ones we update. Remember to check and update ALL APPS/PROGRAMS unless specified for good reason, even if not listed

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.

BIOS

  • IMPORTANT: If encrypted turn off encryption before updating. If left on it will require entering the full encryption key
  • Windows key + r → "msinfo2" will give the current BIOS version
  • Check against dell.com drivers
  • Will need to long restart and install

OS Updates

Forcing an OS version upgrade

  • Check on the T: drive for the image updating file
  • Move the correct version upgrade to the desktop
  • Follow included instructions

Forcing an OS update

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

Common Applications

Adobe

Firefox ESR

  • Initial program start up behaviors:
    • Request to import from Edge
    • Request to set as default browser
    • "Welcome to Firefox" home page
  • Firefox ESR will check and automatically update upon program start up
  • To check: Menu → Options → Advanced → Update → Show Update History

Google Chrome

  • Initial program start up behaviors:
    • "Welcome to Chrome" home page
    • Must open twice to get a blank page upon start up
  • Menu → Help → About Google Chrome → Checks to see if running most recent version of Chrome

Update

  • Adobe Acrobat/Reader
  • Adobe Flash
    • Both IE (ActiveX) and FireFox
  • FireFox ESR (Help > About Firefox). 32-bit (vs. 64-bit)
  • FileZilla (if installed)

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

Log out of user account and into Admin account

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

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

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.

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.

Adobe hard to deal with

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

Adobe PDF Reader

To Update, open Reader. Then, select Help -> Check for Updates

=> Choose "Manually update (not recommended)". Otherwise user account bugged all the time and there is no updating that can be done within that account!

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

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

Updates

  • Check OS updates
    • Don't inadvertently upgrade the OS, though!
  • Firefox browser (under "About Firefox") --> Updates automatically without prompts
  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Flash Player
  • MS Silverlight. If still not signed, you might have to run it from the System Preferences => Security and Privacy => "Click the lock to make changes." => Allow apps downloaded from: Anywhere.
    • No need to revert to: Allow apps downloaded from: Mac App Store and identified developers. Just keep it as "Anywhere". (June 6, 2015.)
  • And possibly other software
    • Adobe Acrobat, full version. (N.B. Almost no reason to have the read-only Acrobat installed (much less updated) since Mac OS comes with competent PDF reader, Preview.)
    • If Java installed, use Java Control Panel, available through the Java control panel in System Preferences (opens in a separate window).

 

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