How are people managing version upgrades to laptops etc?

[LeMarchand]

Had a quick search and couldn't see a likely thread...

 

How are people dealing with version upgrades to such devices as teacher laptops which may or may not have sufficient charge or connectivity to pull down and apply an upgrade overnight. I can see it might be a problem even with laptop trolleys (as the chances of them all being plugged in overnight are variable).

 

So... how are people managing version upgrades?

[thimon]

We've got a rule to be only one version of Windows10 behind the current version, staff leave their laptops with us at the end of the Summer term with the understanding that we will wipe them.

[LeMarchand]

We've got a rule to be only one version of Windows10 behind the current version, staff leave their laptops with us at the end of the Summer term with the understanding that we will wipe them.

 

Thanks, that (or similar) was pretty much the only way I could see it working. Unfortunately I still have people on Windows 7 because they can't ever spare their laptops and can't imagine anyone would accept a "clean slate" (despite the supplied cloud storage for their files). As for not being able to get on Facebook keep their kids quiet do their planning over the holidays...

 

I'll have a word with my heads, but can't imagine that any of them will have the cojones to back me up.

[rosslaing]

We either reimage them which would really be the best option, but with them being encrypted can be a pain getting them set up again, or upgrade from iso using command line batch files.

 

Upgrading through WSUS not really an option for the issues outlined above, too long to do and means they are without their laptops for a day or so.(Updates are throttled during the day, install at night). the other issue we ran into, was that we couldn't get the feature updates to install automatically at the scheduled install time, ever! it would download and do the online bit, but wouldn't ever do the restart to finish it off. This required manual intervention.

 

At least with an ISO upgrade, from local resource or network, its done in a couple of hours, and it handles bitlocker for you.

Edited May 9, 2018 by rosslaing

[Oaktech]

Block upgrades to them via WSUS when they're in their normal groups. Bring them in in batches and move them to a WSUS group that has a specific allow for the upgrade. Leave them plugged in and on for a couple of days, keep an eye on them and make sure it applies, give them back to users!

[thimon]

Unfortunately I still have people on Windows 7 because they can't ever spare their laptops and can't imagine anyone would accept a "clean slate" (despite the supplied cloud storage for their files). As for not being able to get on Facebook keep their kids quiet do their planning over the holidays..

 

They have to understand that the laptops they are using are first and foremost WORK devices, Win7 will soon be end of life, not to mention all the security updates they'll be missing. I'm assuming all of their files are backed up onto your file server / OneDrive, Google Drive, etc. I have found getting staff to sign into Google Chrome to sync all of their favourites and saved website login details is a god save, making it much easier to get all of that information back after a system rebuild.

[LeMarchand]

They have to understand that the laptops they are using are first and foremost WORK devices, Win7 will soon be end of life, not to mention all the security updates they'll be missing. I'm assuming all of their files are backed up onto your file server / OneDrive, Google Drive, etc. I have found getting staff to sign into Google Chrome to sync all of their favourites and saved website login details is a god save, making it much easier to get all of that information back after a system rebuild.

 

Unfortunately, unless SMT grab the bull by the horns they just claim that they are preparing lessons over the holiday/whenever asked. Backups: "My Documents" is synced via offline files (in theory!) but not Pictures/Videos/Music etc. They have access to cloud storage, but very few of them use it (again, needs to be forced by SMT).

[ShellfishClive]

We just have an agreement that we need that laptop back at certain times that we have agreed with GDPR coming up it kind of helps that you can say if I don't have it back that then the laptop runs the risk of being too far behind on security updates which could cause data leaks and the such.

 

Trying to get staff to give up "their" laptops for 10 minutes is hard enough though so a whole day or two is insane!

[robjduk]

Rolled out LTSB 2016 and dont worry about it for another 8 years. Auto deploy security updates and sit back and enjoy the chill.

[Oaktech]

Still doesnt explain how you get them off the staff in the first place! The HT here is very keen on staff having and using a school laptop - and quite a few do - and so getting the laptop back for upgrades is problematic.

 

We are still waiting to go up to Windows 10. In the past we have paid a support company to do such a big task, but now we are going into a MAT, I believe their people might be doing it. Without my help though, I am term time only

 

One site, I'm simply not giving them the choice, they all have desktops to teach with - they bring it back and get a few days off from working at home.

 

The other site, because they teach with the laptops I'm doing them a couple at a time with spare desktops - not great ones, but OK - put in their room. Mail is delivered to phones, and they can use the RDS from a personal device if they desperately need to at home.

 

It's part of my performance management that we go completely w10 by the summer and I'm playing hardball.

[NetworkServices]

My tactics may be considered underhand but if they won't relinquish their laptops for necessary upgrades I simply disable the computer account in AD. It doesn't take them long to come oozing in.