Windows 7 at WKU
Frequently Asked Questions
last updated: February 13, 2012
Spring 2012 update: Most computers in open labs (Student Technology Centers) on the main campus have been migrated to Windows 7. Most classroom instructor computers are now on Windows 7. Many departmental labs have been migrated. Most departmental labs still using Windows XP are running one or more pieces of software that are incompatible with Windows 7.
For departmental faculty and staff computers, Windows 7 is being offered to users on a request basis. Any WKU employee can request a Windows 7 upgrade for their University-owned computer by contacting the IT Helpdesk at 270-745-7000 or place an online request by visiting http://www.wku.edu/helpdesk and clicking "Online Help Request." A request can be made for an individual computer or a department. Requests will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
With about 5,000 computers on campus, migrating WKU to Windows 7 is a large project requiring complex preparation. Research and development has been underway since fall 2010, and extensive testing was conducted in spring 2011, with widespread campus rollout beginning in summer and fall 2011. End-of-life for XP computers will be in 2014. This page is intended to answer many questions WKU faculty, staff, and students will have about Windows 7 at WKU. Because this is a dynamic project, this page will be updated to reflect developing circumstances.
What is the WKU IT Division's planning schedule for implementing Windows 7?
Beginning in spring semester 2011, we conducted limited Windows 7 user testing with a small number of pilot groups, including at least one departmental lab. By summer 2011 we were ready for a widespread rollout. New faculty pool computers for fall 2011 have Windows 7; all open labs are running Windows 7, as well as selected (as many as possible) departmental labs and classrooms; all new computers purchased have Windows 7 installed; and we have a procedure where compatible existing computers can be switched over from XP to Windows 7 by making a Helpdesk request.
Windows 7 computers will have Microsoft Office 2010 installed. Office 2010 is now also available for Windows XP users from the WKU Software Center.
Will my existing computer be ready for migration to Windows 7?
Microsoft's stated minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7 are: 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit x86 processor; 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit); 16 GB available hard disk space; and DirectX 9 graphics device. Based on our research at this point, to have acceptable performance under Windows 7, the IT Division recommends that it not be installed on any computer that does not have a dual-core processor and at least 2 GB RAM. Most Dell desktop and laptop computers that were purchased on campus in summer 2007 or later will be ready for Windows 7. If your department has computers older than that, you should plan for replacement of those computers within the next couple of years. Microsoft has announced "end of life" for Windows XP in 2014, meaning they will no longer provide security patches, so it will be important for us to eliminate all computers running XP before that time.
Will my software and peripherals work with Windows 7?
We have tested over 200 software applications that are being used in departmental labs. You can check whether a software title is scheduled for testing (and find the results of our testing, if complete) at http://atechlabs.wku.edu/win7software.
Why will I want to convert to Windows 7?
Many people find the Windows 7 user interface to be more attractive, more efficient, and easier to navigate. Depending on the software you run, you may find Windows 7 to be faster or to crash less frequently. Windows 7 boots faster, manages memory better, and provides support for computers with multiple processors. Windows 7 also provides enhanced security and as a new operating system, will receive updates and patches from Microsoft on an ongoing basis. Because most new computers are now sold with Windows 7, you may be looking forward to having Windows 7 on campus computers so the operating system will match your home computer.
What are some of the key technical considerations in a campus-wide migration to Windows 7?
Converting to a new operating system across an entire college network is a complex planning project. There is a need for widespread testing of software packages we depend upon and hardware that may need to be upgraded. Labs and classrooms must continue to support specialized instructional software. Our mission-critical systems such as Banner and Blackboard must be ready to support the new browser software (Internet Explorer 8).
We have been working with Windows 7 in the IT Division and we are beginning to have a detailed understanding about technical issues to be resolved before we begin to support it. For example, our campus-wide lab login system is based on an operating system technology that no longer exists as part of Windows 7. Because we have highly customized our login system, we must re-create a lot of our work in a new development environment in order to get the same reliable functionality.
Based on information from Dell, it is common for 50% or more of software applications running on higher education campus networks to fail Windows 7 compatibility testing. It is considered to be "best practice" that an organization the size of WKU will take 18 months or more to convert to Windows 7.
Who in the IT Division is responsible for implementing Windows 7?
How can I send a question or suggestion to the Windows 7 technical implementation committee, or request a specific software title to be tested?
