Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[LeMarchand]

So students are now emailing in saying they can't install Office!!!

 

We haven't had that (yet). Biggest problem is them not reading the bit about using .\localuser to log in. Have sent out a picture showing where the backslash key is on the keyboard!

 

Lack of complaints about Office here is most likely due to them never trying to use it rather than them actually using their emails to login online, though!

[mullet_man]

Does anyone know the procedure to send back a faulty laptop (Toshiba ones), it's one of the looked after children one, council said to check the packaging of the laptop! Helpful as there's nothing there. Edited July 3, 2020 by mullet_man

[FragglePete]

So students are now emailing in saying they can't install Office!!!

 

I've made a point of installing Office on them as I had a feeling that would be required.

 

But, on working through the list of laptops from the LEA, 5 of our students are Year 11!!!! What's the point? We're unlikely to see then ever again (and lets face it unlikely to do work any way), and also heard one has moved out of the area!

 

Pete

[enjay]

So students are now emailing in saying they can't install Office!!!

 

Ours have shortcuts to the web version of Office which is fine, but attempts to install other applications, e.g. Adobe CC, failed.

[Boredguy]

Ours have shortcuts to the web version of Office which is fine, but attempts to install other applications, e.g. Adobe CC, failed.

 

If it's windows 10S you can only install apps from the store

[enjay]

If it's windows 10S you can only install apps from the store

 

Indeed, although there seemed to be some confusion on here as to whether they actually were 10S or not, because they've also got Chrome on them. Fortunately, none of the students we've allocated these laptops too are doing Media Studies or Art, so I think we can manage without Adobe CC on them. We can wipe them to "proper" Windows when (if?) we get them back at the end of Year 11, but for now I just want to get the laptops out to them.

[LeMarchand]

I've made a point of installing Office on them as I had a feeling that would be required.

 

 

I deliberately didn't as they've all got access to the online versions (and it sounded like a right PITA to get the permissions to allow installation). Also easier to revoke permissions for Office should the device be "lost".

Ours have shortcuts to the web version of Office which is fine, but attempts to install other applications, e.g. Adobe CC, failed.

 

 

Why is it called Creative CLOUD if it involves installation?

 

If it's windows 10S you can only install apps from the store

 

 

We had W10ProEDU.

[enjay]

Why is it called Creative CLOUD if it involves installation?

 

I've asked myself that before now too, especially since it doesn't even save the output to the cloud! I'd love a decent web-based photo editor, and I could then get myself a Chromebook instead. Photoshop is the only thing keeping me tied to Windows nowadays.

[LeMarchand]

I've asked myself that before now too, especially since it doesn't even save the output to the cloud!

 

 

Really? That's shocking! Guess adding "Cloud" to a name is the new "prefix with an E".

 

 

 

I'd love a decent web-based photo editor, and I could then get myself a Chromebook instead. Photoshop is the only thing keeping me tied to Windows nowadays.

 

Not sure what https://pixlr.com/ is like. I also believe it's possible to install GIMP on a Chromebook.

[Tones]

Just adding what we've done for the knowledge of others in case you need it.

 

DfE ones we used the admin logon to install Office and noticed it stopped the auto-login for .\localuser so I set the following to get it working again.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
AutoAdminLogon 1
DefaultUserName .\localuser
DefaultPassword (have this set blank)

 

I also included a quick guide on which version of Office actually works since I didn't bother removing the start menu locked shortcuts, a picture and guide on where the "" key is for the if you need to logon as ".\localuser" and some other bits about backup ensure you save online etc.

 

The LA devices I've spoken to them and suggested that if we ever need to get a warranty repair we'll need the BIOS and Admin password so I believe they'll help get those - they didn't know the process and it might be the same with your LA's so give them help and I'm sure you'll get the passwords too.

[kidpressingbuttons]

Has anyone managed to get the admin passwords for the 4G modems?

 

We want to set them all up with a univeral SSID but it appears they are all locked down.

[StevieM]

Well, that was a long slog through a muddy minefield!

 

I've had an email from the head, today, informing me that he had received a laptop from the LA and wondered if there was a way to get it to me (WFH as asthmatic). Actually, it was given to our feeder infant school who thought it would be better if we 'set it up with our APPs /links etc.'

 

Where better to start looking for guidance than Edugeek, eh? So, after trudging through all 31 pages, plus guidance from the Government and 'Computacenter', if I've understood correctly:

 

• the laptop is on loan to the pupil from the LA (rather than being owned by the pupil or the school);
  
• it is already configured with settings approved by the DfE;
  
• if it is a Windows laptop or tablet, no further setup is required by the school;
  
• if it is a Chromebook, it needs to be joined to a Google domain (which we don't have, but the LA may);
  
• a wireless 4G router may also have been provided, in which case, records of IMEI and SIM numbers should be kept;
  
• the pupil/parent/carer should sign a loan agreement before taking possession;
  
• the LA should provide support for end users - i.e. school, pupils and families.
  

Does that pretty much sum it up? Any corrections or clarifications gratefully received.

 

After emailing my findings to the head, asking him to call me in the morning if he needed, I sent a short follow-up suggesting that he should just give it back to the infant school. Would you agree?

[Boredguy]

Replys in line @StevieM

 

 

• the laptop is on loan to the pupil from the LA (rather than being owned by the pupil or the school);
  - Correct unless the LA has stated otherwise that it's the property of the school, which some have while others haven't.
   
   
  
• it is already configured with settings approved by the DfE;
  - It will be preinstalled and configured with Windows with a .\localuser account, Office 365 Webapps that just need signing into and the web filter happily in place through to March 2021
   
   
  
• if it is a Windows laptop or tablet, no further setup is required by the school;
  - Correct, but if you have a 4G Dongle as well, might as well pair it up to save the user doing it wrong
   
   
  
• if it is a Chromebook, it needs to be joined to a Google domain (which we don't have, but the LA may);
  
• a wireless 4G router may also have been provided, in which case, records of IMEI and SIM numbers should be kept;
  - Again you might want to pair with the laptop to save the user doing it, but keep a note of the IMEI & SIM, and it's likely the LA that will be dealing with data usage over the allocated amount unless it's been transferred to the school in which case it could be interesting.
   
   
  
• the pupil/parent/carer should sign a loan agreement before taking possession;
  - Highly recommended. Again some LA's might provide details, some might not so if you have your own one handy thats a bonus.
   
   
  
• the LA should provide support for end users - i.e. school, pupils and families.
  - Again depends on LA, but unless they transfer ownership to the school you can do very little for the laptop as you do not have the localadmin password.
   
   
  

[StevieM]

Thanks for confirmation, @Boredguy.

[Garacesh]

We haven't had that (yet). Biggest problem is them not reading the bit about using .\localuser to log in. Have sent out a picture showing where the backslash key is on the keyboard!

That's pretty much the only requests I've had to field so far.. Easy solution, but still.. C'mon, DfE. NetPLWiz. It's not hard.

 

I'd do it for them, but nooooo, we're not allowed the administrative credentials.

Makes you wonder what we're supposed to do when we get them back? DfE guidance says we have to keep them spare just in case there's another mass closure, which means A) They're going to be sat there, on a shelf somewhere, doing nowt, when they could be put to better use, and B) we're going to have to go through each laptop and manually clear off any data just in case.

 

Also there's going to be a lot of angry parents because manglement didn't read the information properly so the first batch of parents were told the laptops were 'essentially theirs', and they could keep them until the kid was off-roll! (I'll take some of the blame, I didn't check either, but I wasn't involved in requesting these, they just showed up, so I figured whoever had ordered them knew what was up..)

Thankfully I put in a "returned at the agreed end date, when no longer needed, or at request from $school" in the contract they sign!

Edited July 8, 2020 by Garacesh

[psydii]

Thanks @StevieM and @Boredguy, and all those who contributions they have summarised. You have just saved me an hour or two's work.

[enjay]

What are people's thoughts/experiences with the filtering on the laptops? We've been testing it and found it does a reasonable job of dodgy search terms and blocks DuckDuckGo, but all socials except Twitter are still accessible.

[Garacesh]

What are people's thoughts/experiences with the filtering on the laptops? We've been testing it and found it does a reasonable job of dodgy search terms and blocks DuckDuckGo, but all socials except Twitter are still accessible.

 

I'm not usually the kind to shrug off safeguarding, but honestly my thoughts are "Somebody else's problem"

 

The DfE have set these laptops up and not given us any say over them. Even if the filtering were grossly inadequate and only allowed pornography, there's nothing I can do about it. (Okay, I couldn't in good conscience hand them out in that state, but y'know, hyperbole..)

For the most part, they're going to be used on someone else's network. That means if there's any issues, it's up to the managers of that network (i.e. the parents) to sort them out. I'd be happy to advise if any of them phoned the school asking to be pointed in the right direction, but beyond that, there's nothing else that can be done.

[LeMarchand]

I'm not usually the kind to shrug off safeguarding, but honestly my thoughts are "Somebody else's problem"

 

The DfE have set these laptops up and not given us any say over them. Even if the filtering were grossly inadequate and only allowed pornography, there's nothing I can do about it. (Okay, I couldn't in good conscience hand them out in that state, but y'know, hyperbole..)

For the most part, they're going to be used on someone else's network. That means if there's any issues, it's up to the managers of that network (i.e. the parents) to sort them out. I'd be happy to advise if any of them phoned the school asking to be pointed in the right direction, but beyond that, there's nothing else that can be done.

 

 

Pretty much my thoughts. If I chose to alter them past the issued/recommended state I'd be held more accountable, whereas at the moment it's not my problem. As received, they're OK as net devices and quite possibly better than what many of their peers have to work on (at least at my schools!) so I don't see the point in taking on the added hassle.

[StevieM]

Thanks @StevieM and @Boredguy, and all those who contributions they have summarised. You have just saved me an hour or two's work.

 

Glad to have helped someone... for a change!

[Garacesh]

Pretty much my thoughts. If I chose to alter them past the issued/recommended state I'd be held more accountable, whereas at the moment it's not my problem

Also a fair point, hadn't considered that.

[ITGuyNW]

I'm not usually the kind to shrug off safeguarding, but honestly my thoughts are "Somebody else's problem"

 

The DfE have set these laptops up and not given us any say over them. Even if the filtering were grossly inadequate and only allowed pornography, there's nothing I can do about it. (Okay, I couldn't in good conscience hand them out in that state, but y'know, hyperbole..)

For the most part, they're going to be used on someone else's network. That means if there's any issues, it's up to the managers of that network (i.e. the parents) to sort them out. I'd be happy to advise if any of them phoned the school asking to be pointed in the right direction, but beyond that, there's nothing else that can be done.

 

Exactly my thoughts. Our SLT have been point of contact throughout this, organising paperwork, giving them out. I've had no say over them. So to me they are Government laptops that I have no involvement with.

[Protec]

Apparently they are promising 200,000 laptops. It was on the news this morning showing some old laptops being refurbished. One company was putting SSDs in their old laptops and installing Linux Mint by the looks of it.

 

[LansITGuy]

Has anyone had any part of a delivery go missing?

 

We were supposed to get 16 (plus one Chromebook I think). A box of 8 showed up, leaving another 8 MIA. Contacted DfE and Computacenter and got a quick reply that they were looking in to it through supply chain and delivery. Now gone silent and they're not answering my chases for an update. I've had the full lists of serials and admin passwords, but not the kit.

 

SLT not jumping in to help, but getting jumpy because they've not all arrived.

[kennysarmy]

Apparently they are promising 200,000 laptops. It was on the news this morning showing some old laptops being refurbished. One company was putting SSDs in their old laptops and installing Linux Mint by the looks of it.

 

 

Or they think it's in MINT condition