DFE 4G routers, laptops and tablets

[SchoolsBroadband]

Hello everyone,

 

I just received the below email from the DFE so I thought I'd share it with the community as I know many of your got tablets, 4G etc from the DFE

 

Dear colleague,

Laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers were provided by the Department for Education (DfE) to support remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

As a supplier that provides schools, colleges, local authorities or trusts with IT support, you may have been involved with helping set these devices up.

 

We are contacting those who placed orders explaining actions required to continue using these devices. They may be in touch with you regarding supporting them with these processes.

 

Resetting laptops and tablets

After 30 September 2021, Microsoft Intune and Cisco Umbrella licenses will expire on ‘Restricted’ Windows devices provided by DfE.

Users will be able to freely access any online content and devices will not be maintained with future updates and software upgrades. It’s the responsibility of schools, colleges, local authorities and trusts to safeguard the young people in their care.

This guide to resetting laptops and tablets includes information on how to reset passwords for different types of device. This will allow them to be restored to factory settings so new security software can be applied.

 

There are no actions required for ‘Standard’ Windows devices that were provided without security settings.

 

Resetting routers

 

Huawei routers need to be reset by 16 July 2021 so they can continue to be used.

 

TP-Link or D-Link routers, can be reset at any time. DfE will stop providing data to these routers on 31 July 2021. If they are reset before this date, they will stop receiving data from DfE immediately.

 

If you have any questions or encounter issues during the reset process, please contact us.

 

Regards,

Get help with technology team

 

https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/devices/guide-to-resetting-windows-laptops-and-tablets?utm_source=suppliers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch_campaign-200521&utm_content=device-reset-home

 

https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/devices/reset-your-wireless-router?utm_source=suppliers&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch_campaign-200521&utm_content=router-reset-huawei#if-you-have-a-huawei-router

 

 

Thanks

 

Dave

[ITGURU]

I don't understand why this is a time sensitive issue? all you are doing is factory resetting the device?!

[Boredguy]

Well it's more of a warning since you need to replace the SIM card in it as well as resetting the password

[jcubbin]

Hi All, has anyone managed to reset their huawei 4g routers yet? The default password at the ip address of 192.168.8.1 is supposed to be "admin" but I can't get a single router to accept this password. I have tried resetting the router several times but don't seem to have any luck.Did anyone get a list of individual passwords assigned to their batch of routers or are your s all set to the default of "admin"Thanks

[Andycat]

Hi All, has anyone managed to reset their huawei 4g routers yet? The default password at the ip address of 192.168.8.1 is supposed to be "admin" but I can't get a single router to accept this password. I have tried resetting the router several times but don't seem to have any luck.Did anyone get a list of individual passwords assigned to their batch of routers or are your s all set to the default of "admin"Thanks

 

It's a different password, available in your DfE portal. Ours were all the same but it was very long and characterful!!

[jcubbin]

It's a different password, available in your DfE portal. Ours were all the same but it was very long and characterful!!

Thank you for the reply. I managed to get to the bottom of it and for some reason they haven't listed the Router admin Password alongside the Serial number of each device where you would expect to see it in the portal. In our case the password is only revealed when you click on the link to https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk/sign-in. Why it couldn't have just been provided in one central place alongside the list of BIOS and Administrator password for the laptops is beyond me. The page had the serial and the iMEI and the data allowance figures but not the admin password for the router. Anyway all good now.Thanks

[Gristr]

Hi,

DFE has now closed this way of getting the password and we have just stumbled across a box of these and was wondering if the password is school specific or if all the passwords will work.

 

Has anyone got an idea how we would get the passwords for these?

Thanks,

Riley

[Iansl2020]

Hi Riley, we have a few at our school too. I have emailed the DFE. Did you manage to get into them or are they for the bin?

 

Thanks,

 

Ian

[robk]

I think the Huwawi 4G routers had custom firmware on them that locked them to a given APN. Once the APN disappeared you can't update them to the normal firmware.