Getting ready for Windows 10 – make sure your files are backed up.
Microsoft’s newest operating system, Windows 10, will soon be installed on PCs across the University. It will be rolled out in phases over summer and during the 2018/19 academic year. This is the same operating system many of you and students already use. We will be publishing more information about this soon and you will receive detailed instructions about what to do before you move but it’s worth making sure you’ve tidied up your files and that everything is stored in the right place – especially if you’re planning to be away over summer.
What should I do now?
Check all your files are stored in the right place so you don’t lose them. When you move across to Windows 10 (or upgrade from an earlier version of Windows 10), Microsoft requires a reformat of your hard drive so anything you have stored on your C:Drive, D:Drive or desktop should be copied to another place. You will lose access to everything currently on your PC’s internal drive (partitioned into your C:Drive and D:Drive) including your desktop. Make sure you’ve tidied up your files and saved everything you need so you will be able to find it after Windows 10 has been installed. This table may help you decide the best place to save files. For example you can use OneDrive, a cloud-based storage system as part of Office 365 – further info on that can be found here.
When will I move to Windows 10?
We can’t yet give exact timescales but you will receive plenty of warning before you move across. We’re currently piloting it on computers around the University and will be deploying it to some PC labs. We will be working with contacts in Faculties and Directorates to discuss how we roll it out in your area and the best way to provide any information you may need about working with Windows 10.
You can find more information about the move on the Windows 10 blog site. This will be updated with more details as they become available as well as through future issues of Eview.
So why is the University upgrading to Windows 10?
Using the Windows 10 operating system allows us to have the latest features and security updates which are required to keep the University protected. It also allows access to up-to-date software, including the latest version of Office, and automatically connects to files saved in your University OneDrive cloud storage area.
Windows 7 is no longer compatible with the latest hardware and some software – and the operating system is becoming out of date. Most new equipment is now supplied with Windows 10 installed so we need to move to a more modern desktop. It’s also what many students are already using and future employers are likely to expect people to be familiar with it.