New Access+ Image

The new image on the Access+ PCs in the library have limitations students may find challenging.  The previous image and the one on the PCs in Odegaard Commons will allow students to install pretty much anything, then when they log out, there was (is) a program that wiped all those installs out and returned the PC to its original image.  The Libraries does not use the software (called Deep Freeze) that allows that kind of administrative freedom for logged-in users.

This is probably going to come up mostly with gaming online, so students may not say anything when it doesn't work; but if they do, refer them to Odegaard.  But there will be all kinds of plug-ins they will want to install which they will not be able to.

Students will still be able to download to the PCs but they won't be able to install programs or software upgrades, plug-ins, etc.

There are some other, browser-related issues which will continue for a time:

• Internet Explorer will always ask if you want to upgrade to IE8.  You can click on 'Later' and continue.
• However, there is a problem with IE so that it won't allow login to Hotmail and some other personal account-type sites (such as online banking, etc.).  Users experiencing this problem should simply switch browsers.  Firefox does not prevent access to these kinds of sites.
• IE will open to the Catalyst Labs home page.
• Firefox will require that you click through several windows before it will open, and it will open on the Firefox home page.

ITS may be able to come up with a fix for the IE-blocking-Hotmail problem, perhaps as early as next week; but that's not a certainty.

The Firefox problem will not be addressed until the next image build, possibly next quarter.

Let me know if you have any questions about any of this?

- Adam