Windows Vista
Introduction
IT Services are currently developing a fully supported Staff Desktop service (for traditional desktop and mobile computers) and a Student Lab Service based on the Windows Vista Operating System.
Until this project has completed, we recognise that some members of the University will need to connect a computer running Windows Vista to the campus network. IT Services has expended significant resource at the inception of the new project to ensure we fully understand what happens when these computers are brought onto campus.
We simply ask that departmental members contact their local IT Support Staff or FITC (Faculty IT Co-ordinator) to ascertain if they will be able to gain access to their local IT resources. Secondly, please ensure you install the latest version of the McAfee Anti Virus software, version 8.5. The latest McAfee Anti Virus Software is available to all staff and students at work or at home from our website at www.lboro.ac.uk/it/security/antivirus.html#oncampusnotdesktop.
Following those two steps should provide you with trouble-free access to the campus network. However we have seen some small issues at Loughborough and at other UK HE (Higher Education) and FE (Further Education) sites. If you are having difficulties we recommend trying the following steps before reporting the problem to the IT Services Help Desk:
Windows Vista provides a built-in Anti Spyware software called Windows Defender. This may cause your computer to run slightly slower when it is left running along with the Anti Spyware module in the McAfee AntiVirus software. If you would like to Disable Windows Defender, further details are available at www.lboro.ac.uk/it/vista/defender.html.
Windows Vista contains support for a new style of networking called IPv6, this has been developed to cater for the growing demands placed on network addresses worldwide. As this is enabled by default, if you experience problems reaching your usual resources on the network, it is recommended that it is disabled. Further details of Disabling IPv6 are available at: www.lboro.ac.uk/it/vista/ipv6.html.
The IT Services Staff Desktop contains the preferred networking configuration for connecting your computer to the campus network. Whilst we provide the vast majority of this information automatically when you connect, there are some elements that may need configuring manually if you are having difficulties with your network connection. Further details of the Network Configuration are available at: www.lboro.ac.uk/it/vista/network.html.
Windows Vista improves on the personal firewall included with previous Operating Systems like Windows XP. The new version can block traffic in both directions. To ensure that your computer is protected from malicious attacks and you can continue to access the resources you require, it may be prudent to configure your firewall as recommended at: www.lboro.ac.uk/it/vista/firewall.html.
In the background on the vast majority of computers, a number of programs are running to ensure your computer is functioning correctly. Windows Vista has over 120 of these programs, called services. To improve performance and security, we have produced a recommended set of which services should be running on a computer for normal operation. Further details are available at https://internal.lboro.ac.uk/diss/cc/uniwide/Services/Vista/vista%20servicesv2.xls.
Please remember to regularly check for updates to Windows. From the Windows button at the bottom left of the screen select All Programs, then select Windows Update.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
If you are still having difficulties, please contact the IT Services Help Desk. Whilst we are still developing our own skills with Windows Vista, we will endeavour to help you as much as we can. Please note that that this is a development system, and therefore we currently cannot guarantee that what works now will work tomorrow as we develop the system.