In my years here at SMU, I’ve kind of become the defacto obituary writer for all kinds of systems and services that have been retired. Thankfully, seeing off one service usually means welcoming something new! In this case, Windows 10 Enterprise and Education versions will be officially retired by Microsoft on October 14, 2025, wrapping up a ten-year service life. We recommend upgrading your SMU device to Windows 11 at your earliest convenience, and here’s how. Continue reading Windows 10 End of Life Set for October. Get Ready!
Category: Windows
Make Me Admin Provides Additional Layer of Software Security
As long as the Internet has been around, there has always been the risk of either installing software that you probably shouldn’t or cybercriminals forcing software to be installed without your knowledge. The easiest way to prevent these types of installations is to restrict access to administrative privileges on the device. For the past couple of years, OIT has been testing the Make Me Admin application, which disables administrative access to your computer but also allows you to quickly and temporarily have admin access to download essential software or take other administrative actions as needed. After the success of our pilot, we will be deploying Make Me Admin to SMU-owned Windows PCs starting October 30. Continue reading Make Me Admin Provides Additional Layer of Software Security
Microsoft Ends Support for Windows 8.1
Like XP and 7 before it, Microsoft is pulling the plug on support for Windows 8.1 after nearly ten years of service.
Usually regarded as an awkward in-between version of the venerable operating system, 8.1 included more tablet-friendly features and paved the way for Continue reading Microsoft Ends Support for Windows 8.1
Windows 11 is Here! Here’s the scoop.
Microsoft has finally lifted the veil from their upcoming operating system, Windows 11, on October 5. While there are some significant and pretty snazzy changes with this new OS, we at OIT recommend that you do not upgrade your SMU-owned devices just yet! We are still in the process of ensuring reliability and compatibility with our most critical systems, and we will let you know when it is ready for your computer. That being said, we can provide a glimpse into what’s new in the next iteration of Windows. Continue reading Windows 11 is Here! Here’s the scoop.
Windows 10 Build 20H2 Update: What to Expect
In order to keep SMU PCs secure and reliable, OIT is planning to update campus computers to the newest build of Windows 10, build 20H2, starting November 12. This major update includes the usual bug fixes and small quality-of-life changes, but also includes increased compatibility for Dolby Atmos headphones, more efficient search indexing, and much more. Here’s what to expect when your computer is ready to install the upgrade.
Continue reading Windows 10 Build 20H2 Update: What to Expect
