New Computer Setup
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:35 pm
I realize there have been several threads about this but I have a few more questions and thought it best to start a new one. Many of these questions are directed towards bfromm but others may have input.
I just received my first new computer of the year, a Dell Optiplex 7010. There are a number of small things in the instructions that don't apply any more and I assume they will be updated, but I have some specific questions and comments on things that may not be changed.
The instructions state that the computer will be preconfigured with tools to remotely manage and secure the computer. But the instructions then state to manually install TEM and Sophos (which is what I would interpret by "secure", although it could mean something else). In another thread here though I found that the computers really only come configured to point to the Church's update server, but that the update will install TEM. There is no mention of Sophos.
I had many errors last year with TEM trying to get pushed out via Windows Update to machines I had already installed it manually on. These may have been corrected but I think letting Windows Update install it is best. How long does it take before automatic updates run? I don't like to let a machine sit on the network for very long without all Windows security updates. And I want to get on with other tasks.
So after letting it sit for a little while I decided to manually check for updates. It immediately found the TEM update as well as a number of Windows updates. It installed those fine but afterwards there was a message in the background that required my response. I switched to it and there was a blank command window and another dialog to click OK on.
It continued to find updates and prompt for reboot 5 more times. Would it not be prudent to initiate this process and make sure it is complete before delivering the computer?
I assumed Sophos still needed to be installed manually. I did that and the install finished much faster than last year. There was no restart prompt, but the icon was displayed and it appeared to be fine. I forgot to check Task Manager to see if it was truly complete though. But after a short while I decided to restart anyway, after which it returned an "Updating failed" error. I checked the update configuration and it is pointing to the local drive, not a Church server. After a while I also got a Firewall service failure error, and it appeared Sophos received a program or configuration update. The error didn't go away so I restarted, afer which there were no more errors. But the Windows security center reports Sophos is out of date, and it's still pointing to the local drive, so I'm concerned.
I also get a message that Intel Active Management Technology is not compatible with this version of Windows.
The instructions specifically state to install Java, but there are other threads here that say it isn't necessary and don't recommend it. That could be clarified in the instructions.
I see that both Open Office and Libre Office are list; is Libre still the recommended software?
Is there any reason not to install the latest version of Acrobat?
I noticed that Flash Player installs Google Chrome and the Google Toolbar for IE unless you uncheck it. I install Chrome anyway but I don't like extra toolbars.
CutePDF - we might want to mention that the boxes to install the Ask toolbar and HotspotShield be unchecked.
I think that's it for now, thanks.
I just received my first new computer of the year, a Dell Optiplex 7010. There are a number of small things in the instructions that don't apply any more and I assume they will be updated, but I have some specific questions and comments on things that may not be changed.
The instructions state that the computer will be preconfigured with tools to remotely manage and secure the computer. But the instructions then state to manually install TEM and Sophos (which is what I would interpret by "secure", although it could mean something else). In another thread here though I found that the computers really only come configured to point to the Church's update server, but that the update will install TEM. There is no mention of Sophos.
I had many errors last year with TEM trying to get pushed out via Windows Update to machines I had already installed it manually on. These may have been corrected but I think letting Windows Update install it is best. How long does it take before automatic updates run? I don't like to let a machine sit on the network for very long without all Windows security updates. And I want to get on with other tasks.
So after letting it sit for a little while I decided to manually check for updates. It immediately found the TEM update as well as a number of Windows updates. It installed those fine but afterwards there was a message in the background that required my response. I switched to it and there was a blank command window and another dialog to click OK on.
It continued to find updates and prompt for reboot 5 more times. Would it not be prudent to initiate this process and make sure it is complete before delivering the computer?
I assumed Sophos still needed to be installed manually. I did that and the install finished much faster than last year. There was no restart prompt, but the icon was displayed and it appeared to be fine. I forgot to check Task Manager to see if it was truly complete though. But after a short while I decided to restart anyway, after which it returned an "Updating failed" error. I checked the update configuration and it is pointing to the local drive, not a Church server. After a while I also got a Firewall service failure error, and it appeared Sophos received a program or configuration update. The error didn't go away so I restarted, afer which there were no more errors. But the Windows security center reports Sophos is out of date, and it's still pointing to the local drive, so I'm concerned.
I also get a message that Intel Active Management Technology is not compatible with this version of Windows.
The instructions specifically state to install Java, but there are other threads here that say it isn't necessary and don't recommend it. That could be clarified in the instructions.
I see that both Open Office and Libre Office are list; is Libre still the recommended software?
Is there any reason not to install the latest version of Acrobat?
I noticed that Flash Player installs Google Chrome and the Google Toolbar for IE unless you uncheck it. I install Chrome anyway but I don't like extra toolbars.
CutePDF - we might want to mention that the boxes to install the Ask toolbar and HotspotShield be unchecked.
I think that's it for now, thanks.