Staff Desktop XP
Staff Desktop Windows XP
The Staff Desktop Service has been developed for use by staff, registered researchers and post-graduate students. It aims to provide the University with a reliable and maintainable service that delivers to staff PC desktops and laptops. There is also a specialised XP Mobile Service (see www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/xp/mobile/) for laptops and tablet computers. These provide consistent and cost-effective access to the central University networked teaching and learning, corporate systems and other resources for University business. This includes:
- Remote Working Client (pre-installed on Laptops; available as an Optional Application for Desktop computers) see www.lboro.ac.uk/it/off-campus/client.html.
- Browsing the Internet via Internet Explorer.
- Browsing the Intranet.
- Browsing the Learn Server.
- Access to Corporate Information Service Oracle Client.
- Access to Corporate Information Service web services.
- .Net framework 1.1 and 2.0.
- Perception C.A.A. (Computer Aided Assessment) Client. This program can only be installed by staff designated to use it.
- Anti-Virus Software www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/anti-virus.html, automatically updated.
- Check for updates to the service www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/xp/patch-on-demand.html.
- Publishing to the Intranet.
- Publishing to the Learn Server.
- Web-based E-mail.
- E-mail via Outlook.
- Secure Telnet (PuTTY).
- File Transfer Protocol (WS_FTP).
- Media Player 10.
- Staff Desktop Backup www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/backup/.
- The Windows XP service includes Microsoft Office 2003 see www.lboro.ac.uk/it/doc/office2003.html.
- Optional applications www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/xp/optional.html.
Windows XP is now our preferred operating system platform, and this version of the service should be used for all new computers.
This service is for computers connected to the University network for work purposes; it is not for personal computers for private use. Portable Computers and Laptops must be regularly connected to the Internet to ensure that the system is kept up to date. If for any reason you are unable to connect to the network for longer than four weeks, please contact your local IT support person or IT Services on your return so the Anti Virus updates can be manually installed before you connect to the network.
To ensure that automated patches are applied (and to reduce power consumption), staff should also ensure that computers are switched off every weekend, if not every night. We understand that sometimes long computer simulations are run, so not all users will be able to switch off every weekend.
Note that there are Optional Applications available from the Control Panel. Instructions for installing optional applications www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/xp/optional.html. You must not attempt to install Anti-Virus software, Microsoft Office, or any of the software already included in the service on your Staff Desktop computer. If you wish to install an Optional Application you must do so from the service as described.
Adding users to the Staff Desktop XP service is free of charge, where there are local IT staff trained by IT Services available to do the work. This does not include the cost of any hardware or cabling that may be required, e.g. network connection points, hubs, modems, Ethernet card, or printers. IT Services would be pleased to advise on these items.
However support is not free unless you provide a local IT representative to be trained by IT Services and who does the installation and support. If, however, you do not have a department IT support person, charges will be applied for support www.lboro.ac.uk/it/desktop/support-charges.html.