Administrative Desktop Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Computers, Staff, & Desktop Configuration
- What happens if our department hires a new staff person who will be using a PC?
- How does our department handle staff transfers or departures?
- What should the department do with a workstation belonging to a former staff employee?
- If our department is purchasing a new PC or laptop, what operating system is to be ordered for it?
- What operating system platforms does ADS support?
- Is it OK to order the Windows XP with new PC purchases?
- If ADS doesn’t support a certain operating system, who does?
- What software is installed by ADS on a new or upgraded PC?
- What other software does ADS provide?
- Will ADS install department-purchased software?
- What if a PC needs non-standard software installed?
- What about warranties for new PCs or printers?
- Why is a warranty needed if ADS can fix a new PC or printer?
- Who fixes a printer or PC no longer under warranty?
PDF files below may be viewed/printed via Adobe Acrobat Reader. 
Q1: What happens if our department hires a new staff person who will be using a PC?
A: DARE should submit a Desktop Service Request to ADS providing new staff information. In your request, provide staff person’s name, room assignment, department assignment, and list any shared directories, documents or databases to be made accessible to the newly-assigned system logon userid.
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Q2: How does our department handle staff transfers or departures?
A: Consult the ADS Support Reference, New Employee/Transfer Employee. This Web page provides a list of tasks required of Business and Financial Affairs when an employee separates from the university. If this is a staff transfer to another department or another division within the university, look under the heading “Transfer Employee.”
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Q3: What should the department do with a workstation belonging to a former staff employee?
A: Submit a Desktop Service Request instructing ADS to disable the employee’s login account and to revoke access to shared directories, files and databases.
Note: the department is responsible for advising Telecommunications and Network Services when an employee separates from the university by submitting a Network Work Order to terminate the employee’s e-mail account. If the employee had access to the university Meeting Maker system, the DARE must notify University Computer Operations to close the employee’s Meeting Maker service.
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Q4: If our department is purchasing a new PC or laptop, what operating system is to be ordered for it?
A: Windows XP SP2.
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Q5: What operating system platforms does ADS support?
A: ADS supports Windows XP, 2000, 98 and NT.
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Q6: Is it OK to order the Windows XP with new PC purchases?
A: Yes, ADS currently supports Windows XP for new PCs and laptops. Existing machines however, will not be upgraded to XP at this time.
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Q7: If ADS doesn’t support a certain operating system, who does?
A: For operating systems not supported by ADS, the department must contract a technical support service, which provides vendor support on any computer running non-supported operating systems.
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Q8: What software is installed by ADS on a new or upgraded PC?
A: ADS will install software at the current version level, specified in the licensing agreement owned and held by Business and Financial Affairs. The following standard applications are licensed:
- Acrobat Reader
- Altiris
- Eudora
- Internet Explorer
- MarkView Web Client
- McAfee Anti-virus
- Meeting Maker
- Microsoft Office 2003
- Oracle J-Initiator
- Spybot
- Win XP, 2000, & NT
- WinZip
- WS/FTP
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Q9: What other software does ADS provide?
A: ADS will also install non-standard applications purchased by the department. Submit a BFA Desktop Configuration Request along with your Service Request. Indicate the application version and license-keys on the form. ADS will install and maintain the following non-standard applications:
- Attachmate
- BRIO
- Cashnet
- CRYSTAL Reports
- Oracle Application Desktop Integrator (ADI)
- Oracle for Windows NT
- Oracle SQL*Net Tools
- Secure CRT
- Secure FX
- Toad
- VISIO PRO
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Q10: Will ADS install department-purchased software?
A: ADS will install and maintain the following computer applications, under the condition that the department purchases the software and holds the license for it. To facilitate installation, your ADS technician will need the installation instructions, installation keys and license numbers included with the software purchase.
- Acrobat Pro
- Dreamweaver
- FileMaker
- Illustrator
- MS Project
- Pagemaker
- Photoshop
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Q11: What if a PC needs non-standard software installed?
A: DAREs must submit a Desktop Service Request for installation of all non-standard software, including a justification or requirement for the installation. Your ADS technician will need installation instructions, keys, license numbers and the original installation media before the work can proceed.
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Q12: What about warranties for new PCs or printers?
A: Each purchase of a new PC or printer should stipulate warranty expectation on the department’s purchase order. Typically you should include a three year warranty on parts with your order. On site vendor support is not required. Check with Contract and Procurement Management for the current guidelines.
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Q13: Why is a warranty needed if ADS can fix a new PC or printer?
A: A new acquisition should be under a vendor’s warranty so the vendor will provide a replacement of a defective system, printer, and/or parts within the first year or two. It would be cost prohibitive for ADS to stock the necessary hardware components for the various types of printers, PCs, and laptops in the division’s inventory. ADS does keep common hardware items on-hand: power supply units, memory chips, network cards, sound cards, & video cards. Your technician will replace damaged parts with items from our ADS hardware inventory, on condition that the department agrees to purchase a replacement part to restock our inventory. Ask the technician to provide a price quote for the items used to repair your PC.
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Q14: Who fixes a printer or PC no longer under warranty?
A: ADS will evaluate and attempt to fix a printer or PC not under warranty. When the warranty will no longer provide hardware replacement, the department must process a purchase order for any replacement parts required to complete the repair. ADS will install the replacement components once the materials are received.
Should the cost of replacing parts in older equipment be prohibitive, the department is advised to purchase a newer model.
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This page last updated
August 2, 2007
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