1. Working with Windows 7 at CERN
Michał Budzowski
IT/OIS
1 June, 2010

2. Motivation Windows 7 released in October 2009
Available at CERN since December 2009
Default Operating System for new Windows computers at CERN
Improvements in the areas of:
usability
security
stability 2

3. Agenda Part 1: Windows 7 at CERN Part 2: New concepts of Windows 7
Part 3: Common questions 3

4. Part 1
Part 1
Windows 7 at CERN 4

5. Windows 7 and Windows infrastructure at CERN
„My Documents” are redirected to DFS as before
Printing works in the same way as before
Applications are managed with CMF as before 5

6. Windows 7 is supported at CERN:
Windows 7 at CERN
Windows 7 is supported at CERN:
On all new PCs bought from CERN stores
On most of the older PCs satisfying hardware requirements
Windows 7 is available for installation:
On all PCs satisfying minimum hardware requirements
To check if Windows 7 is supported on your machine go to:
Windows 7 32-bit is the default OS for new Windows installations 6

7. Hardware requirements
Windows 7 32-bit
Microsoft
CERN Recommendations )
Memory
1 GB
2 GB
Disk Size
16 GB
60 GB
CPU
1 GHz
2 GHz
Windows 7 64-bit
Microsoft
CERN Recommendations )
Memory
1 GB
4 GB
Disk Size
16 GB
60 GB
CPU
1 GHz
2 GHz
The page checks these parameters and gives you the answer. 7

8. Part 2
Part 2
New Concepts 8

9. Improved user interface
Improved taskbar
Demo 9

10. Libraries ‘View’ of different locations for user files
Four libraries by default: „Documents”, „Music”, „Pictures” and „Videos”
Additional locations may be easily added
Libraries is a new concept in Windows 7 and the idea is to unify different locations of user documents
You are familiar that when you click on Documents in XP you are redirected to your Documents folder stored on dfs (liket this) and the same thing for the vista.
By default we have 4 libraries and at CERN we include in it the dfs folders „My Documents” „My Music” , My Pictures” and „My Videos”, however it is very easy to add additional locations to libraries. 10

11. User Account Control Mechanism to increase security
By default applications run with standard user privileges
Admin privileges requested 11

12. „Previous versions”
„Previous versions” available for files stored on DFS
On Windows 7 „previous versions” enabled for C: drive
All your important files should be stored on DFS
Previous versions (know as well as „shadow copies”) are copies that Windows automaticaly saves as part of a restore point (if system restore is turned on) – on avarege every day.
DEMO: delete file from tmp folder
Have recently modified word file in tmp folder – blank it, save it and bring back the previous version
Shadow copies are automatically saved as part of a restore point in System Properties. If System Protection is turned on, Windows automatically creates shadow copies of files that have been modified since the last restore point was made, which is typically once a day. If your hard disk is partitioned or if you have more than one hard disk on your computer, you need to turn on System Protection on the other partitions or hard disks. 12

13. System protection
System protection enabled by default on CERN Windows 7 machines
System restore restores system files and settings 13

14. Search and Indexing
Search now works based on an index, which is updated in the background
Faster for indexed locations
Indexed by default:
Outlook contents
Menu Start
Offline files 14

15. Hints for communicating with Helpdesk
Save error message with Ctrl+C
Snipping Tool 15

16. Summary of new features
New User Interface
Taskbar, Live preview, Pinning, Jump lists, Snapping windows, Search window, Flip, Flip-3d, Desktop peek, Shake
Libraries
User Account Control
Search and Indexing
Hints for communicating with Helpdesk 16

17. Benefits of Windows 7 Modern user interface
Higher user productivity
Adapted to today’s trends
Higher stability of the operating system
Improved security
Efficient implementation of offline files
Better support for media files
Fast search for indexed locations 17

18. Part 3
Part 3
Common questions 18

19. Windows 7 readiness check
Q: How to check if Windows 7 will run on a given PC A: Go to „Computer Account Status” page:
Maybe show examples of the old PCs where it is not supported by going to the page. 19

20. How to install Windows 7 at CERN
Preferably ask helpdesk to do it
Alternatively follow standard installation procedure (Diane):
Check if your PC is ready for Windows 7
Make sure your PC is registered as „Windows” in the network database:
Reboot your PC
Press „F12” to start network installation
Choose „Windows 7 Enterprise” from the choice of operating systems.
If Windows 7 is not listed in the list of operation systems, it means it is not available for your hardware. 20

21. How to log on? Press „Control-Alt-Del”
If the user you see is not your domain user, click „Switch user”
Enter your CERN account name and password.
You can also use your CERN address to log in
Use the Account Status Page to check which credential you may use to log in: 21

22. How to configure a printer
DEMO
Go to „Devices and printers”
Select „Add a network printer”
Choose: an and
Enter your building number in the „name” field: 22

23. How to check if an application is available on Windows 7?
Most applications are available on Windows 7
For detailed list of applications available on W7, check: 23

24. How to install a program
DEMO
First try „Add/remove CMF packages”: Find your program on the list, select the checkbox and click „Save”.
If your program is not listed, then it is not managed by CMF. In this case, you need to install it manually according to software vendor instructions 24

25. How to install a program -compatibility
Some older applications may be installed in compatibility mode with older versions of Windows 25

26. How to uninstall a program
DEMO
First try „Add/remove CMF packages”: Find your program on the list, unselect the checkbox and click „Save”.
If your program is not listed, then it is not managed by CMF. In this case, you need to uninstall it from „Programs”/„Programs and Features” in Control Panel: 26

27. How to find files in your home folder?
DEMO
Use „Search” box from Menu Start
Use „Search box in „Documents” folder 27

28. How to improve performance
Basic suggestions:
Make sure you have 2 GB of memory
Disable transparency:
Right-click desktop, click „Personalize”
Click on “Window Colour”
Untick the „Enable transparency” checkbox
Disable Aero:
Choose „Windows 7 Basic” theme and click „OK.” 28

29. References
Complete documentation for Windows 7 at CERN:
Help and Support 29

30. Further training opportunities
A half-day course on Windows 7
21 June, 2010: Get the most of Office 2007! 
23 June, 2010: Profitez bien de Office 2007! 
Further details registration at: 30

31. Questions? 31