Microsoft is requiring a mandatory upgrade to be installed on some DePaul-owned, Windows-based computers currently running a version of Windows 10 that is soon to be unsupported. Please backup your data from the computer and schedule the upgrade during non-working hours before the deadline.
These computers include many DePaul-owned devices that may be used by students, faculty, or staff members in various DePaul offices, departments, or schools. Below, you will find the most frequently asked questions centered around Windows 10 OS upgrades. IS strongly recommends you read each question and answer. This is a living document that will be updated as needed.
Why is this happening?
DePaul Information Services is requiring a mandatory upgrade to be installed on devices currently running a version of Windows 10 that is no longer being supported by Microsoft. Devices running an unsupported version of Windows 10 are no longer receiving regular updates offered by Microsoft and are therefore vulnerable to cyber security threats. This mandatory upgrade will ensure these unsupported devices are brought into compliance so that they are no longer vulnerable and in turn are receiving the latest security updates, bug fixes, and stability improvements.
How do I know if the computer I use needs the Windows upgrade?
You will see this message when logging in:
What should I do?
- Backup all data before upgrading the computer: Since many of these machines are older, Information Services cannot be sure whether data will be recoverable after the upgrade.
- Click the “Schedule” button to upgrade for non-work hours as soon as possible (before the deadline):
Don’t Wait to Upgrade Windows
Windows is requiring this operating system upgrade. Users can either schedule it (highly recommended) or wait until the deadline and the computer will automatically upgrade at the deadline. If you ignore this message, don’t schedule, and wait for the automatic upgrade, the computer may take up to a few hours to update and will likely occur during work hours.
How do I know if my device will be getting this upgrade?
Devices that will be receiving the upgrade are running one of the following Windows 10 versions:
- 1809
- 1903
- 1909
- 20H1
- 20H2
- 21H1
To find out if your device is going to be receiving the upgrade, you can follow these steps:
- Click on the Windows Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen.
- Click on the "Settings" gear icon to open the Settings app.
- In the Settings app, click on the "System" option.
- In the System menu, scroll down and click on "About" on the left-hand side.
- In the About menu, look for the "Windows specifications" section. Here, you'll see the version and build number of your Windows 10 installation (image below).
How long will this upgrade take?
This upgrade can take up to 2 hours to complete so please allow enough time for installation. Since this upgrade can take quite some time, the IS department strongly recommends performing the upgrade after hours.
What happens to my data?
No data will be removed from your workstation during this process. While the loss for data is extremely slim when performing this upgrade, whenever there is an OS upgrade, IS recommends users backup all their data.
What happens when the upgrade is available to my workstation?
When we make this upgrade available to your specific workstation you will see this notification (image below).
The notification will provide you with 2 options: “Upgrade Now” and “Schedule”.
What should I be aware of if I plan on choosing the option ‘Upgrade now’?
NOTE: Once ‘Upgrade Now’ is chosen this action cannot be undone and the upgrade will begin immediately
If you are planning on choosing ‘Upgrade now’, IS strongly recommends you take the following actions before doing so:
- Backup all your data.
- If you are using a laptop, make sure the charger is plugged in and the device is charging.
- Make sure your device is connected to the Internet.
What should I be aware of if I plan on choosing the ‘Schedule’ option?
If you are planning on choosing ‘Schedule’, IS strongly recommends you take the following actions before doing so:
- Backup all your data.
Scheduling the upgrade can be accomplished with the following steps:
- Select the Schedule button to bring up the scheduling wizard (image below).
- Select the date and time that you would like to schedule your upgrade and hit OK. The upgrade has now been scheduled for the date and time you have set. If your device is not on and connected to the internet at the time you scheduled, you will be prompted to reschedule.
What happens once the upgrade starts?
- Once the upgrade has begun, a persistent progress bar (image below) will be shown displaying the current progress of the upgrade. Do not turn off your computer while the upgrade is in progress.
- Once the upgrade has completed its initial install, a reboot notification (image below) will be displayed notifying you have 30 minutes to save all current open items before your device restarts. If all your open items have been saved, you may hit restart now. Failure to save all open items may result in data loss for those items.
- Once your device reboots, the remainder of the installation will continue. This can take up to 2 hours.
- After the upgrade has completed, you will be brought back to the login screen where you will be able to login.