So, you're interested in upgrading to a new operating system? Or re-installing your current operating system?  Either way, IT will need to have access to your PC for about an two hours. Ideally, find a day when you could turn in your PC at 4 PM and IT could return it to you, fully upgraded, the following day.


When you get your computer back, it will feel like getting a brand new computer from the store. It won’t have any of your old documents, programs, or settings. There are some steps you should take to make this transition as easy for you as possible. Before handing over your computer, you’ll want to complete the following steps:


  1. Identify any documents that you have on your hard drive that you’ll want to save; you should transfer these to Google Drive, Network Files, or a USB thumb drive. While we try to preserve documents and settings when upgrading a user's computer, it's important to back up anything that's really important. Any data left on your computer’s hard drive could be lost when you return it to IT.
  2. Take a note of any special programs that you would like to keep installed on your computer. Do you use Audacity? Evernote? Vernier Graphing Software? We can help install these on your computer, after the upgrade.
  3. Save your web browser settings and bookmarks. The steps are slightly different depending on your preferred browser. If you're a Chrome user, we've created a guide for how to log into Chrome. For Firefox you’ll want to create an account with that browser; for Internet Explorer (side note: please don't use Internet Explorer anymore), you’ll export all of your bookmarks and settings to a file; you’ll save that file to your flash drive or to a location on Network Files. Click on the link below for your preferred web browser:

a. Mozilla Firefox

b. Google Chrome

c. Microsoft Internet Explorer (Skip down to 'export bookmarks')


SSend an email to helpdesk@tetonscience.org to let us know when you’ll be able to drop off your laptop.


One last note: there may be unforeseen complications after the upgrade that take some time to iron out. For that reason, we highly recommend not scheduling an operating system upgrade the day before you give a high-stakes presentation or before a critical project is due.


-RBB