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Windows 7 Launches October 22, 2009

Last updated: October 23, 2009
Windows 7, Microsoft's latest operating system, was released to the UH campus on Thursday, October 22.

The following topics are covered on this page:

Below, Information Technology's Gary Chelette discusses the benefits of Windows 7, and how to upgrade to it from Windows XP and Vista.

Overview

There are two versions of Windows 7: 32 bit and 64 bit. UH-IT recommends the installation of the 32-bit version for most campus computers. There are known software applications and device drivers incompatibility issues with the 64-bit version.

Windows 7 offers a number of new, enhanced features over its predecessors, XP and Vista, including:

  • Faster operation: Applets and dialog boxes appear without a delay
  • Leaner and meaner: Takes better advantage of your existing hardware
  • Better security and stability than Vista and XP
  • Better compatibility with old and new applications
  • Improved taskbar previews, creative ways to personalize your desktop
  • Jump Lists: Speedy access to your favorite photos, songs, websites and documents
  • Snap: A quick way to resize and compare windows on your desktop
  • Windows search: Searching your PC is as simple as searching the web
  • Performance Improvements: Your PC will go to sleep and resume operation quicker, will use less memory, and will spot USB devices faster
  • Power Management: New power-saving features are designed to help laptops run longer
  • Easier Wireless Networking: Gets you online in fewer clicks
  • Windows Media Center: Watch, record, and pause live TV (with additional hardware)
  • Windows Touch: Pair Windows 7 with a touch-sensitive PC and you won't always need a keyboard or mouse

How to Acquire Windows 7

Faculty and Staff:
Through a campus site license, downloads of Windows 7 are free and available from the software.uh.edu website. Windows 7 Pro is the version available to UH Faculty & Staff.

For $10, you can have a CD from the IT Support Center (116 PGH) burned while you wait.

Departmental purchases can be made with P'Cards, SC vouchers, or university-issued checks.

No license codes will be needed to register your copy of Windows 7. The campus Key Management Server (KMS) automatically takes care of the registration process for you when your computer is connected to the CougarNet domain. Check with your local college/division IT support, or the IT Support Center for more information.

Students:
Students can obtain a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade DVD for $19 at the Cougar Byte, located in the lower level of the University Center. For more information, please contact the Cougar Byte at 713-748-7201, or visit their website at http://www.cougarbyte.com/ .

Installation Instructions

Windows XP users:

Unfortunately, Microsoft has not made the migration to Windows 7 an easy process. The new OS cannot installed on top of XP, leaving your data and programs in place.

Windows XP users have two options for installation of Windows 7:

  1. Do a clean install
  2. Do a custom install
Information about installation of Windows 7 from Windows XP can be found in this article .

Windows Vista users:

You can only upgrade directly to Windows 7 if the versions of Vista and Windows 7 are the same. For example, if you have Vista Ultimate you can upgrade directly to Windows 7 Ultimate. If you have another version of Vista such as Home, you will have to do a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate.

More information about installation of Windows 7 from Windows Vista can be found at Microsoft .

Support for Windows 7

For departmental installations, UH-Information Technology recommends that you use your college/division IT support staff to assist with installation of Windows 7. NOTE: Some colleges and divisions do not support the new OS at this time.

If your local support staff can't help you, IT is supporting Windows 7 the day of its release to the campus. This is being done in a variety of ways:

  • AskShasta Q & A's will be live by the end of the day Wednesday, October 21.
  • Live support chat is available Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. Access the chatroom on the Ask Shasta website, then select the "Email a Question" tab.
  • Support staff in the IT Support Center, room 116 PGH, and Technology Commons staff in the basement of the M.D. Anderson Library are trained on Windows 7.

For More Information

Contact your college/division local IT support staff. You can also contact the IT Support Center Help Desk at 713-743-1411, or email support@uh.edu. You can also visit the IT Support Center in room 116 PGH.