Oracle Java has been part of the Windows Service for a very long time. It has been used with Internet Browsers via the Java Plugin. Many corporate services at Loughborough have been built using Oracle technology that requires Java.

However, over time, the use of Java has diminished in the wider world. All browsers, except Internet Explorer, have stopped supporting the Java Plugin. Many users want to use a modern browser such as Chrome or Edge, but some of Loughborough’s Corporate apps would only work with IE.

In addition, in January 2019 Oracle demanded that licenses must be purchased for using the Java client with non-Oracle systems. This has further reduced the popularity of Java amongst users.

The University’s Corporate Apps, especially LUSI, have now been modified to work with Oracle Forms Standalone Launcher and called the LUSI Menu System (LMS). A successful trial began early in 2020. However, full rollout was delayed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. At the start of lockdown the trial was expanded, because the LUSI Menu System performed better over the VPN than the web based version. There are current around 260 installations of LMS on the Windows 10 Staff Service.

Starting next Monday (26th October) a series of changes will take place to complete the transition from running Java in Internet Explorer to Oracle Forms Standalone Launcher. On this date, the Java based forms will be removed from the web based corporate apps. Following on from this, the Java Client will be removed from all Windows Service staff client except those with the LUSI menu system installed. The version installed (11.0.8) will not include the Java plugs.

The Schedule for the update/removal of Java is as follows:-

28th October – IT Service and Careers
2nd November – Professional Services
4th November – Schools A-M
10th November – Schools N-Z

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information

On Friday 3rd July, from 8:00am to 10:00pm, the Windows 10 Staff Re-Image Task Sequence will be updated. Support for five new models of Dell Laptop will be added.

In order to support updated network drivers on these models, Task Sequence Media will have to be updated after this change.

The Task Sequences will be at risk during this period. It is therefore recommended that you do not attempt to image any Windows 10 staff computers at this time.

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information

Dear Colleagues,

On Friday 10th January, from 8:00am to 10:00am, the Windows 10 Staff Re-Image and Provisioning Task Sequences will be updated.

The version of Windows deployed in the Task Sequence will be Windows 10 1909 which is the latest version available.

The Task Sequence will be at risk during this period. It is therefore recommended that you do not attempt to image any Windows 10 staff computers at this time.

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information

Dear Colleagues,

On Friday 13th December, from 8:00am to 10:00pm, the Windows 10 Staff Re-Image Task Sequence will be updated.

New versions of Sassafras Client, McAfee ePO Agent and Symantec Endpoint Protection will be added.

Intel Optane disk storage drivers will be updated to avoid an issue that may potentially cause the loss of end user data or render a system inoperable. In order to support the updated storage drivers the Task Sequence Media will have to be updated as part of this change.

The Task Sequence will be at risk during this period. It is therefore recommended that you do not attempt to image any Windows 10 staff computers at this time.

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information

The Symantec Anti-Virus Client 14.2.5323.2000 will be deployed
to staff machines across campus as per the rollout schedule below:

IT Services: – Monday 16th December 2019
BU, FM, LB: – Monday 6th January 2020
All Support: – Thursday 9th January 2020
Rest of Campus: – Wednesday 15th January 2020

This new SEP Client provides support for Windows 10 1909.

For more information on this SEP Client please refer to the following link: https://support.symantec.com/us/en/article.DOC11615.html

The installation is silent and does not force a reboot.

The Latest McAfee Drive Encryption Client Components will be deployed to Windows 10 Staff Laptops across campus as per the rollout schedule below:

IT Dept – 4th November BU, CA, CQ – 6th November
BU, CA, CQ – 6th November
FM, FN, KT – 11th November
LU, MG, MV, PL – 13th November
PO, RA, RF, RG – 18th November
Rest of Professional Services – 25th November
AE-School Staff – 2nd December
AM-School Staff – 2nd December
BE-School Staff – 2nd December
CV-School Staff – 4th December
DS-School Staff – 9th December
External Staff – 9th December
LL-School Staff – 9th December
Rest of Campus – 11th December

The following MDE components will be updated to:

McAfee Agent – 5.6.2
McAfee Drive Encryption for Windows – 7.2.9.5
McAfee Drive Encryption Go – 7.2.9.5
McAfee Drive Encryption Host – 7.2.9.5
McAfee File and Removable Media Protection – 5.1.0.209

These new MDE Client components provide support for Windows 10 1903, address a number of security issues and various software bugs. For more information please refer to the following links.

McAfee Drive Encryption 7.2.9 Release Notes
McAfee Agent 5.6.2 Release Notes
McAfee File and Removable Media Protection 5.1.x Release Notes

The installation of these client components is silent, however two reboots are required to complete the installation process. Users will be prompted to restart their systems, but the reboot will not be enforced.

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information

We have discovered an issue with the Windows Build for a number of Dell Laptops. The build does not detect when a headphone jack is placed in the headphone jack. It turns out a utility called Waves MaxxAudio Pro needs to be installed from the Microsoft Store.

The laptops are involved are:

Latitude 3400
Latitude 5300 2-in-1
Latitude 5400
Latitude 5500
Latitude 7200 2-in-1
Latitude 7300
Latitude 7400
XPS 13 9380

From Friday 4th October when any of these systems is reimaged it will have a executable copied to the desktop which, when run goes to the appropriate place in the Microsoft Store. Following a successful reimage please run the executable as administrator and install Waves MaxxAudio Pro. You can then remove the executable file.

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION AND HELP?
Please contact our Service Desk at it.services@lboro.ac.uk for more information