Friday, August 21, 2009

Windows 7

The next version of the Windows Operating System will be released in October of 2009. A few of us in Information Technology have been using this operating system over the summer and have found it stable and very usable. With Windows XP turning 8 years old we know that we need to update the standard OS running on our computers. Due to the issues that Windows Vista was plagued with in the beginning we opted to hold out on upgrading university owned computers until the next version of the OS.

With Windows 7 the time has arrived.

On the Winona Campus, we anticipate that we will install Windows 7 in a public usage lab in the Hendrickson Center over December break. This will give users a chance to test drive the operating system. We hope to be ready to do a mass install of Windows 7 on computers that meet the computer specifications over the 2010 Summer. Departments with departmental specific software will want to work with Information Technology to verify that their software will function in Windows 7. In some case new version of the product may be needed.

On the Twin Cities Campus, we are evaluating public areas that could be used for Windows 7 testing.

If you'd like to take a peak at Windows 7 the links below will provide some tutorials and information about the Operating System.

SuperSite for Windows
Microsoft Windows 7 HomePage

Stay Tuned to the HelpDesk Newsletter for more information.

Friday, August 7, 2009

2009 Recycle Day















The Saint Mary's University Helpdesk processed 12 pallets of recyclable material during its recycle day on August 5th, 2009. This is the second year that the program, jointly sponsored by Saint Mary's University and Apple Computers, has been offered. Though many computers, vcrs, and miscellaneous electronics were dropped off this year, the item that was most notable were televisions of all shapes and sizes, most still functioning. The pallets will be hauled to California and salvaged for precious metals by ECS Refining.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The G drive is now the U drive

The iT department has changed the location of your personal storage space. The G:drive is now the U:drive. This is in response to issues we have had on multiple computers whereas the G:drive disappears due to a media card reader or a personal thumb/flash drive hijacking the position. By moving up the alphabet, we give the end user the ability to use more thumbdrives (which typically take up lower alphabet letters such as e, f, and g) WITHOUT having a conflict with your new personal storage space, the U:drive.

The My Documents folder on your computer has typically pointed to the G:drive. Computers that have been reimaged this summer now have the My Documents folder pointing to the U:drive. If your computer has not yet been reimaged, your My Documents folder will still be pointing to the G:drive. However, you can get to the U:drive by simply looking at your list of network drives; the U:drive will appear near the end of the list.