ITS to replace desktop computers

Over the course of the next several months, HFC Information Technology Services (ITS) will be replacing the desktop computers (PCs) of most faculty and staff members.

The determining factor for whether an existing PC will be replaced is its age. Computers less than 2 years old will not be replaced (more specifically, that is less than two years based on its purchase order).

The new computers will come with a single 24-inch monitor. As ITS replaces the older computers, their monitors can be used as second monitors for those who want one. To have your computer replaced, you must make sure that you have copied all important data you may have stored on your local machine’s C: drive to another location.

Data storage options

ITS techs will not have the time to find, classify, and move your locally stored data off the computer. That is the responsibility of the end user. It is a bad practice to store important data on your computer’s C: drive, as a drive failure would mean the loss of all your locally stored data. Anything that is of importance should be stored on a network drive.

HFC employees have the following options when storing their data:

• The G: drive is where departmental data should be stored.
• Each HFC employee is allocated their own five terabytes of OneDrive space (if you need assistance on how to copy your data to a new location, you can contact the Help Desk).
• Each employee also has an H: drive (home directory) in addition to the Microsoft OneDrive allocated to each employee.

Steps for getting a second monitor

If you would like a second monitor, it is your responsibility to clear the desk space required for the second monitor. ITS techs are instructed that under no circumstances are they to touch or move the items located on a person’s desk or work area. You need just over three feet of open area to accommodate the two monitors. If you only want a single monitor, you need about two feet of clear space for the new monitor. To be clear, if you have a 17-inch monitor connected to your current PC, you would have a 24-inch and a 17-inch monitor connected to your new PC if you requested two monitors. If we have larger monitors available, we will install them according to availability.

Complete the necessary form

This is a massive undertaking. The goal is to have the ITS techs come in, remove the old computer, and put the new computer in with the monitor(s) you have made space for. ITS techs will work by building, oldest to newest, whenever possible. ITS will replace groups of PCs in a building rather than replacing single machines. ITS cannot wait for user availability, which is why we require you fill out the form and submit it prior to the new PC being delivered.

As soon as you have completed the form confirming you have met the requirements for the new PC, you will be put on a list to have a new PC delivered. Your old computer will be brought back to the ITS department, the drive will be formatted and erased, and the PC will be disposed of. That is why you must have the data copied from your old machine prior to replacement.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at 313-845-6345 or helpdesk@hfcc.edu.