Windows 10 Upgrade Coming in January

Microsoft has recently released Windows 10 version 20H2 offering a set of features for select performance improvements, enterprise features, and quality enhancements. This upgrade will benefit the university by making your computer more secure, and ensure you have all of the latest features that Windows 10 has to offer.

IST makes every effort to constantly improve the computing experience at the University of Alberta and therefore will be offering this upgrade to all of our clients on the central domain using Windows 10.

This upgrade will be available for optional install from January 4, 2021 until February 3, 2021. During this period, you will see a notification on your desktop that new software is available in your computer’s “Software Center”. You have the option of applying the upgrade at your convenience, alternately you can wait for IST to perform the installation. Information on how to install the upgrade can be found in KB0012992.

The installation by IST will begin the evening of February 4 and will be rolled out to additional users weekly through March 4. We encourage you to backup all of your data as a precaution prior to installing the upgrade.

Tip: We recommend installing the upgrade at the end of the day as it may take two hours or more to complete and you will be unable to use your computer during this time.

FAQ

Q. Will this update/upgrade delete our current computer data?
A. This is only an upgrade to your current operating system and therefore will not affect or delete your saved data or installed software.

Q. I took my computer from work home. How do I install this update/upgrade?
A. The computer you took home from work must be joined to the Central Domain and connected to the @uanet VPN context. Please see KB0013010 - How to Connect to the @uanet VPN Context for more information.

Q. How do I install this update/upgrade from a remote desktop?
A. Follow the instructions below performing the actions on the remote desktop. You will not be able to use the remote computer while it is being upgraded.

Q. Doesn't IST already back up my computer?
A. IST backs up your departmental shared drives and your home drive (usually called P drive). Data saved elsewhere, such as on your Desktop or browser bookmarks may not be backed up.

Q. How do I know if my computer is part of the Central Domain?
A. Please see KB0012891 to learn how to find out.

Q. How long will this upgrade take to install?
A. The install could take at least two hours and your computer will restart several times. You will not be able to use your computer while it is being upgraded. We recommend doing the upgrade at the end of the day.

Q. Does my University owned computer at home or in my office on campus have to be turned on for this to work?
A. Yes. Any computer that you wish to receive and install updates must be turned on for this to work. This upgrade will only take place on University owned computers joined to the Central Domain.

Q. What about other updates which we have not installed as we have not been in our offices since March?
A. Computers are still updating. If you are missing updates please contact the Staff Service Centre.

Q. Should the computers be updated before this update takes place?
A. It is not necessary to update your computer before performing this upgrade. However it is good practice to make sure your computer is regularly updated. Please see this link for more information.