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We had GREAT response to last week's email. All July appointments are already booked. Thank you!
If you missed your department's upgrade window, please submit an upgrade request for August. If your department is scheduled for now through October, we will contact you for a time during that window.
Check the project timeline here
Available to
Faculty and Staff assigned an ECU-managed Windows computer
Overview
Windows 11 provides both improved security and performance. Microsoft is retiring the Windows 10 operating system; therefore, ECU is upgrading all university-owned Windows 10 systems to Windows 11 from now through October.
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What you should know
► We are upgrading or replacing* computers by department. Dates and instructions are sent to your ECU email.
► IMPORTANT! The upgrade cutoff date is Friday, October 31, 2025.
► We ask that, unless you have a business justification such as research, conferences or other work-related responsibilities, that you upgrade during your department's scheduled time frame.
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► Upgrade or replacement* takes approximately 2 hours and requires a complete hard drive wipe. You must create a backup and software inventory before your appointment. Due to time constraints, the deployment team is unable to create your backup.
► Admin rights are no longer standard on new ECU-managed computers. Downloaded software follows TAC guidelines and is downloaded from the Company Portal.
► Computer labs, classrooms and conference rooms transition to Windows 11 over summer.
*Computers unable to run Windows 11, are replaced.
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Windows 11 features:
- Windows Hello for Business. Passwordless log in using facial recognition or PIN includes automatic log in to your SSO applications when using the Edge browser (Firefox and Chrome to be added over summer)
- Automatic file back up of your Documents, Desktop and Pictures folders to OneDrive cloud storage.
- Convenient Edge/MS365/Win11 integration.
- Cloud printing to department printers.
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- Company Portal. The ECU app store manages your downloaded apps and hardware updates (not cloud apps). See this how-to article that includes a list of software already included.
- New Start menu with streamlined access to apps and files.
- Simplified Settings app makes personalization a breeze. Note that some options are controlled by ECU policy and cannot be changed.
- Improved Windows Clipboard and Notepad.
- 40% performance improvement to Windows Update.
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What you should do**
- Back up your data to OneDrive or Piratedrive. Don't forget your favorites/bookmarks! See this step-by-step article to get started. Due to time constraints, the deployment team is unable to create your backup. We cannot upgrade or replace your Windows 10 system unless you have created your file backup to OneDrive or Piratedrive.
- Inventory your software (see this how-to article) and ensure all your applications have been TAC-approved and added to the Company Portal, All applications, regardless of funding source (including self-purchased), are downloaded from the Company Portal after upgrade to Windows 11.
- If your downloaded software was approved prior to the 2023-2024 academic year or requires TAC approval, visit the Technology Purchase Process Knowledge Base article concerning the approval process. We cannot guarantee approval but intend to remain flexible to accommodate requests that meet university security standards and technology policies. See this IT Knowledge Base article on the Company Portal that includes a list of current CP applications. This process does not include cloud apps.
**Remember! If your computer is already updated to Windows 11, you have nothing to think about!
Attention Faculty
If you require your Windows 10 ECU-managed computer for research or other job duties over summer, please coordinate with your department administrator to schedule an appointment with ITCS in the fall.
We realize many of you are not teaching this summer and may not be on campus, but we still wish to encourage as many faculty as possible to schedule their upgrade before fall semester to avoid a possible bottleneck and/or delayed upgrade before classes begin.
Additionally, please plan to return to campus well before classes start to verify that your upgraded computer is ready for use.
Thank you for your cooperation on this essential project.
Resources