These are just some of the most common ones we update. Remember to check and update ALL APPS/PROGRAMS unless specified for good reason, even if not listed

See Also

Software in CCB's 5 classrooms

Checklist

BIOS

IMPORTANT: If encrypted turn off encryption before updating. If left on it will require entering the full encryption key
Windows key + r → "msinfo2" will give the current BIOS version
Check against dell.com drivers
Will need to long restart and install

OS Updates

Forcing an OS version upgrade

Check on the T: drive for the image updating file
Move the correct version upgrade to the desktop
Follow included instructions

Forcing an OS update

Settings → Update
Check for updates
"Check online..." option should appear, if not restart

Common Applications

Adobe

Adobe Creative Cloud
- Adobe CC Licensing
PDF Reader
- Open, then select Help → Check for Updates → Choose "Manually update (not recommended)"
Flash
- ONLY if installed
- Check version: Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
- You will see both Flash Player Plug-in and Flash Player ActiveX installed, and their versions. Check the version against the latest and update if necessary.

FileZilla

ONLY if installed
Run the program and it will automatically check for a newer version
Allow update if available

Firefox ESR

Initial program start up behaviors:
- Request to import from Edge
- Request to set as default browser
- "Welcome to Firefox" home page
Firefox ESR will check and automatically update upon program start up
To check: Menu → Options → Advanced → Update → Show Update History
Active plugins/extensions will automatically update

Google Chrome

Initial program start up behaviors:
- "Welcome to Chrome" home page
- Must open twice to get a blank page upon start up
Menu → Help → About Google Chrome → Checks to see if running most recent version of Chrome

Update

Adobe Flash
- Both IE (ActiveX) and FireFox

Java:

Caution: Please don't update this yourself if it's centrally managed by ChemIT!

Remove if not needed, especially if obsolete (dangerous if left).
- For example, in Fall'13, version 6 would be asking for trouble!
If required, either install managed Java, or stand-alone Java. Known needs in Research:
- SciFinder Scholar; the "fat" version needs it.
- Some instrument machines.

These software applications are installed and updated through ChemIT's Active Directory (AD) group policy.

WebEx
Java (see below)
Windows 8: Flash ActiveX (IE) only. (Still must do Flash for FF by hand.)

By default these applications are not installed on ChemIT's Windows image. They are only installed (via group policy) on request.

Key: These are maintained by ChemIT's group policy. Therefore, do not try to update them by hand!

One can force updating the system's group policies via CMD:

GPUpdate.exe /force

Remove

Obsolete Java
- Note: Remove //any// Java unless there is a need for Java for a business application. In which case we push the current version to the computer (see "Java", above)

Specific

Log out of user account and into Admin account

If iTunes, QuickTime, or other Apple software installed, run Apple Software Update. Pull in just Updates, not New Software.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2305

(Alternative: Use File Updater from FileHippo.com to check for freeware updates)

http://filehippo.com/updatechecker

Oracle Java

(Remove, if possible. See above.)

ChemIT updates Java, if installed and managed by ChemIT (how detect?). Thus, not need to manually update this software.

If Windows machine not managed by ChemIT (how detect?):

Go to Java.com. Press Free Java download. Click on "See all Java downloads." (Not the "Agree and Start Free Download" button!)
Select Windows Offline (32-bit). You may also need Windows Offline (64-bit).

Adobe Flash

To check software versions installed:

Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features (click on Uninstall a program to get this last folder)
Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features

You will see both Flash Player Plug-in and Flash Player ActiveX installed, and their versions. Check the version against the latest and update if necessary.

NOTE: If Flash is not installed, do NOT install it.

Adobe Flash Player, Flash Plug-in, and Flash ActiveX

Tip: Current Versions of Flash will auto-update; check File Hippo before manually updating. (Oliver found this NOT to be true for version upgrades, 1/8/15.)

Tip: Do these updates within FF. Otherwise, if using IE, ActiveX's version will require you to quit IE's browser.

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Select, "Do you have a different operating system or browser?". Select Win 7. Then select:

FlashPlayer for Other Browsers

KEY: De-select software being pushed! (Chrome, McAfee, etc.). If do my mistake, cancel, then agree to continue just with application. Extra apps will cancel, but Flash Player resumes downloading/ installing.

Then repeat, but choose:

FlashPlayer for Internet Explorer (this is for the ActiveX version; ActiveX is MS's tech; IE only)