After successful testing with the various test groups we have released MD2012 workstation Patch 08, which is the fourth patch for MD2012.
This is the first patch in a series of three for updating MD2012 workstations to MD2013.

This update has been successfully tested with the UAT Phase 02 and 03 workstations and the update will be applied to the workstation at any time it is on, whether at the ctrl+alt+del screen or with a user logged in.

The update is being distributed in a phased roll out so it will take a few days to be applied to all MD2012 workstations, starting with the remaining MD2012 Lab machines to try and ensure all Lab machines are MD2013 before teaching commences.

Obviously this patch will not be applied to any machine that is using the MD2013 image that was released in July.

Patch-08 includes the following:

• Copy updated PRF files to C:\SHU\Settings\Office2010\PRF to use Outlook.shu.ac.uk as contact server
• Create C:\SHU\Images folder
• Copy LeftUSB.ps1 to C:\SHU\Scripts
• Copy LeftUSB.jpg to C:\SHU\Images
• Add Registry entry to stop IE10 form showing in Windows Update
• Set _PATCH environment variable to ‘8’

To test if Patch 8 has installed, _PATCH will be 8

The 2013/14 32-bit Windows 7 Managed Desktop has been released to the University.

This is built using the same process as the 64-bit image and has the same software installed.

After successful testing with the various test groups we have released Chrome 28.0.1500.71 to MD7 workstations in order to resolve critical flaws with previous versions and to provide new functionality.

The update is being distributed in a phased roll out so it will take a few days to be applied to MD7 Office workstations and will only install when the workstation is at the ctrl+alt+del screen.
In order to test the version of Chrome that is installed on your workstation, start Chrome and check the version number.

One of the major updates for this version of Chrome is the use of the Blink rendering engine, which has replaced the Webkit engine.

Due to changes licencing of Adobe Software we will be unable to upgrade any of the Adobe Software the University uses in teaching to the latest versions for next academic year as originally planned. Instead we will continue to provide the version of all Adobe software which were in use during this academic year typically v CS6. A list of all software versions including the Adobe software is available here.

The reason for this is that Adobe have recently changed their licencing model and we cannot use our current concurrent licencing arrangements of individual Adobe applications e.g. Photoshop or for newer versions of the software. Instead Adobe have launched a new licensing models which will require the University to licence Adobe software in suites and pay for each PC they are installed on or use a site licence.

Unfortunately these options require us to get a lot of information as to what each department needs in terms of software and licence numbers, where the software needs to be installed etc. There are also logistical issues around how we would deploy the new software and how we would manage any restrictions about use of certain software by specific groups of students and they we expect them to cost more than the current arrangements. Gathering this information at this time of year; negotiating a deal with Adobe packaging and deploying the software is not in our view possible before term starts. So the project board overseeing the installation of software for next academic year has therefore decided to delay the move until we have that information.

This is a situation which is applies to the whole HE sector and as far as we are aware no comparable University has yet come to an agreement with Adobe so we believe that running CS6 versions of the software we be common across the sector next year.

My team will be in touch with academic departments over the next few months to discuss your departments needs for Adobe software and possible timescale for any software upgrade.

Nigel Williamson
Head of IT Support

The 2013/14 64-bit Windows 7 Managed Desktop has been released to the University.

The new and updated software for 2013/14 that is included within the standard image includes:

• Windows Management Framework 3.0
• Adobe Reader 10.1.7
• Flash Player 11.7.700.169
• Shockwave Player 12.0.2.122
• Keyserver Client 7.0
• vWorkspace client 7.6
• Java 1.6 Update 45 x86 JRE
• Java 1.6 Update 45 x64 JRE
• Java 1.6 Update 45 x86 JDK
• Java 1.6 Update 45 x64 JDK
• RealPlayer Enterprise 2.1.10
• QuickTime 7.7.4
• UE-V 2013 Client
• DbtextVw and DbWebQViewer for E5

For a full list of the software within the Managed Desktop image see:
https://confluence.hallam.shu.ac.uk/display/ITSEXTRA/Software+Installed+within+the+MD7+image

Please Note, this is not a list of all the software available for Managed Desktop.
For a list of this see the Software List.

After successful testing with the various test groups we have released MD2012 workstation Patch 07, which is the third patch for MD2012.

The update is being distributed in a phased roll out so it will take a few days to be applied to all MD2012 workstations and will only install when the workstation is at the ctrl+alt+del screen.
This update will only be applied to Lab workstations once the exams have completed.

Some of the updates might require a restart, so if a restart is required and if no user has logged in between the patching starting and completing then the workstation will automatically restart.
If after the patch has completed installing a user has logged in then the workstation can be used as normal and updates will be applied during the next restart.
If no user has logged in between the patching starting and completing then the workstation will automatically restart.
If after the patch has completed installing a user has logged in then the workstation can be used as normal.

Patch-07 includes the following:

•  Hotfix KB2661663 to remove stale user profiles from workstations
•  Copy Delprof2.exe to C:\SHU\Delprof
•  Copy SophosProfiles.ps1 to C:\SHU\Scripts
•  Re-install HKLM MIME type reg file
•  Install Enterprise Vault client 10
•  Associates .m4p with QuickTime
•  Create C:\SHU\Drivers folder and change rights so that ‘Everyone’ has RWX rights to C:\SHU\Drivers in order to add files

After successful testing with the various test groups we have released Adobe Reader 10.1.6 to MD7 workstations in order to resolve critical flaws with previous versions and to provide new functionality.

The update is being distributed in a phased roll out so it will take a few days to be applied to MD7 Office workstations and will only install when the workstation is at the ctrl+alt+del screen.
Lab workstations will get the update once the exams have finished.

In order to test the version of Adobe Reader that is installed on your workstation, within Adobe Reader check the Help, About information.

We are distributing a plugin for Internet Explorer that will allow PDF files created by E5 to be viewed.

At present E5 produces files in a TIFF format but in order to aid compatibility with external suppliers Corporate Systems and Finance intend to update E5 to start producing files in the PDF format. This update can only occur once all MD workstations have the correct plugin installed.