Upgrading PC Operating
Systems: Win 95/98
Questions to be addressed
When do we upgrade?
Deployment Priorities:
What constituencies first?: students, labs,
classrooms, faculty, administrative offices?
What applications will no longer run with
an XP upgrade?
Are they critical?
Are there upgrades available?
Questions to be addressed
What User Interface? Custom or Classic?
What global user settings and group policies
need to be established?
What should be available for user
customization?
When is the best time to upgrade faculty?
How should training be offered to faculty and
staff?
What are our options?
Move to Windows XP
Stay at Windows 98
Why must we upgrade?
Microsoft will no longer support Win 95 as of
December 2001 and Win 98 as of July 2002:
no patches or improvements
Software developers are creating products
that will take advantage of Win XP features
and they will not run on Win 95/98
Hardware vendors support only new OS
3rd party vendor device driver support for older
OS disappears
What happens if we do nothing?
Future software upgrades may not run
on our network
No technical support from Microsoft
after July 2002 for Win 98 and
December 2001 for Win 95
Service support levels will remain the
same: no patches, improvements, etc.
What are the benefits of upgrading the
operating system?
SYSTEM RELIABILITY AND
END-USER SUPPORT
Reduced incidents of the ‘blue screen
of death”: reduces the need to reboot
Remote support enabled
Integrated services to manage software
installation, removal, and repair
Additional features
More benefits ……
More stable platform
Increased product life
Improved login security for wireless and
traditional networks
Increase performance and productivity
Decrease support costs and lower TCO
Other Windows XP benefits
Addresses application/hardware compatibility
issues (e.g. eliminates .dll conflicts)
Fastest Windows Yet
Boots faster, runs applications quicker, and
resumes from hibernate/standby more rapidly
than previous versions of Windows
Enables users to access their machine from
anywhere (field offices, home, etc.)
For Laptop users: improved battery life,
performance improvements, and device support
(ie. Wireless networking)
Enables a remote support infrastructure
What is the difference between Win
XP and Win 2000?
Technically, Windows XP is the next
version of Windows 2000, but it is
positioned as an upgrade for Windows
98, 2000
Key component of Microsoft’s dot.net
strategy
What is the difference between Win XP
Home edition and Professional?
Windows XP Home is designed as an
upgrade for Windows 9x/ME and
therefore ships with the same type of
consumer features found in Windows
ME.
No robust networking features
Not designed for corporate networks
New features in Windows XP
MSN (Instant) Video player- Win
messenger Media Play 8
Copyright encoding Fully integrated
of music Internet browser-
Remote access IE 6.x
CD burning Firewall
Audio encoding Data compression
software Moviemaker
Digital Audio player Radio
Enhanced User Interface
New Visual Design or Classic Mode
Designed to allow users to get the most out of
their PC
Can retain the ‘classic’ Windows 9x interface
More end user customizations
Adaptive User Environment
Smarter Start Menu
Displays the most frequently used apps
More accessibility features for persons with
disabilities
Taskbar Grouping
Multiple windows from the same application
are consolidated into a single task bar button
Built-In Utilities
CD Burning
Easily burn CD-R and CD-RW’s
from within Explorer
Compressed File Support
Create and extract compressed
file folders (e.g. .zip files)
What is different in the User Interface..
XP?
Save As screen
Windows XP Windows Explorer
What is different? Start Menu
XP Control Panel - Better Knowledge Of Your Hardware
The Control Panel is organized differently than earlier versions. Related
adjustments are grouped into nine categories.
If you prefer the previous version view, you can
choose "Classic View“ of the Control Panel in XP
Windows XP:
Easy-to-use
User Interface
for
My Computer
XP comes with a fully integrated
Windows Media Player-version 8
Remote Assistance for Help
XP enables you to let other people take control over your computer
remotely. You can choose remote help from someone you trust, and
you give them them the same level of control over your computer as if
they were present in your office. To use this feature they also need to
run Windows XP
When you invite someone to
help you they are notified by
email or an instant message
(Windows Messenger). It is
actually very fast and easy to
set up a connection. First you
choose whom to ask for help.
When contacting the assistant
with Windows Messenger the
connection is set up as soon
as he/she clicks on a link
reading "Accept" in the
message. If email is used a
small file is attached, and
opening it let him/her set up
the connection. You must
provide the password in the
email.
IntelliMirror
Change and configuration management
tool in Windows XP
centrally-managed software installation,
repair, updating, and removal;
user data management;
user settings management; and
Remote Installation Services (RIS), which
allows administrators to remotely install the
OS on client systems.
What needs to be done to upgrade
from Win95/98 to Windows XP?
Review the current infrastructure to determine
all areas that will be impacted by this change
Create a Desktop Configuration(an image) for
the office and the classrooms
Create new software distribution for selected
OS
Create a Mobile Configuration
What needs to be done to upgrade
from Win95/98 to Windows XP?
Review security issues and concerns
Test / Modify Configurations
Inform Hofstra Community
Provide training
Deploy New Operating System
Troubleshoot conflicts
Review the current infrastructure
Software and Hardware inventory
Determine hardware upgrades required
Determine the software applications
compatibility
Identify Interoperability issues with
NetWare, and other systems on campus
Check version of BIOS on all systems
Identify all custom software applications
Users that install software locally on their
machines will have to verify compatibility
Check for System Requirements and
Compatibility
Minimum requirements Recommended requirements
Intel Pentium (or compatible) 233 MHz or Intel Pentium II (or compatible) 300 MHz or
higher processor higher processor.
128MB of RAM 256 MB (4 GB maximum) of RAM
2-GB hard disk with 650 MB of free disk 2 GB of free hard disk space
space (additional disk space required if
installing over a network)
VGA-compatible or higher display adapter SVGA display adapter and Plug and Play
monitor
Keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device Keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (required for CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive 12x or faster
CD installations)
Network adapter (required for network Network adapter
installation)
Check for System Requirements
and Compatibility
Check the all computers have the latest BIOS
that is compatible with XP
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
(ACPI) functionality is required
January through June 2002, all Hofstra PC
systems will be upgraded to 256 MB of
memory
Application Compatibility
New technologies in Win XP require that all
applications be tested:
SCT/Banner and Novell Netware
Currently ONLY a Windows 2000 client available
Win XP client available in April 2002
Custom applications
Operational and administrative tools
Back-up software
Applications that cannot be upgraded to
Win XP Professional
new versions must be purchased
Applications that depend on file-system
filters such as antivirus software, disk
tools and disk quota software
Custom plug and play solutions
Custom power-management solutions
and tools
Network clients and services
Examples of New Software
required
What software products will not run with Win XP?
McAfee Anti-Virus
Many DOS applications
Norton Utilities
Others to be determined
Upgrade Campus equipment
All HP must be replaced – 315
systems = $378,000
1620 systems will need memory
upgrades = $36,500
Design a Desktop Configuration
1) Create core image for a specific machine
2) Create specific image for each user type:
Faculty/staff/admin
Lab users
Student users
Custom users
Laptop users
3) Test each image in a variety of locations
4) Test network distribution of software against
the image
Design a Mobile Computer
configuration
Determine user settings:
1) for faculty who bring laptops to
classrooms
2) Remote connect to office system
3) Develop a pilot and test
Test OS Images in a
variety of settings
In the classroom
In faculty, staff and administrative
offices
With specialized software applications
Determine the appropriate
security strategy
Many new network based services must be
studied and tested for security implications
Full TCP/IP stack like UNIX, and susceptible
to hacking and denial of service attacks
Inform the Hofstra Community
Develop project plan
Establish User settings
Create Group Policy settings
Establish Deployment Process and
Procedures
Develop and Implement Pilot
Staged migration schedule as resources
and staff become available
Training
‘Classic’ interface option will promote
smoother conversion
Basic operations require minimal
training
New features require training
Assumptions
An OS upgrade is required so that
future software applications will work
OS upgrade requires the user to back
up their hard drive
EXTENSIVE individual testing of non-
Hofstra supported software applications
is required by users
Pilot studies require user participation
Proposed Time Line
Subject to Project Plan Development
October 25, 2001: XP released
November 2001- November 2002:
Develop Project Plan and Pilot schedule
Investigate OS implications on existing software
applications
Determine end user settings and group policies
Test proof of concept
April 2002: Banner and Novell XP client
released
Test network and Banner applications
Deploy new OS for Fall 2003
For more information:
Paul Thurrott’s Supersite for Windows XP
http://www.winsupersite.com/
• Windows 200 Magazine
http://www.win2000mag.com/
• Infoweek:Ten Ways To Make Windows XP Run Better
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011204S00
09
WinPlanet
Microsoft Windows software news, tutorials,
opinions, reviews, and tips.
http://www.winplanet.com/winplanet/
For more information:
Tom’ Hardware Guide: Windows XP
http://www4.tomshardware.com/consumer/01q3/010803/index.htm
l
Difference between Win XP Home Edition and Professional
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_home_pro.asp
ZDNET Reviews and information on Windows XP
http://www.zdnet.com/windows/
http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2809517,00
.html
Microsoft XP Technical review
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/planning/techov
erview/default.asp