Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska -- The 673d Communications Squadron is nearing the end of phase one to their Operation Rolling Win10sity to reach the Department of Defense’s mandate of Windows 10 computer compliance. Their deadline for delivering computers is Feb. 9.
“Our first goal is coming up, and by that time we want all of our computers out in the field so the whole asset management piece will be done,” said Air Force 2nd Lt. John Clark, 673d Communication Squadron Software Center officer-in-charge. “Once we’ve cleared the inventory number, the rest of the process is clearer and less cluttered.”
Every unit is given seven days after receiving their last computer to be ready for the 673d CS to install Windows 10. This piece requires the most communication and planning. It is paramount users and information technicians are aware of their deadline, because come March 19, all non-Windows 10 computers will be removed from the network, without a waiver.
“There will always be stragglers – single computers here and there throughout units – but we are going through, cleaning up right now, building by building, account by account, unit by unit,” said Air Force Capt. Christopher Arnold, 673d Communication Squadron Operations Flight commander. “But, as we get closer to the deadline, the more innovative we become.
“One of our most recent innovators was Senior Airman Zachariah Bell,” Arnold said. “[He] created a script to clean out dangling computers on accounts we might have not caught up to at this point so we [can] double-check the box on our checklist and say for certain ‘this unit is done.’”
The script sifts through finished accounts and removes inactive and active Windows 7 computers. This improves the accuracy of their numbers and removes any rogue computers that should not be on the network.
“It is unfortunate we have to do this, but it forces the user and the IT to work with us to push Windows 10,” Clark said. “We’ve discovered that if units communicate with us, this transition is painless and quick -- if everyone is responsive and on the same page, it has gone pretty well.
“If any user is still on Windows 7, ask your IT [representative] why you haven’t made the switch yet,” Clark continued. “Communication at all levels, in all directions, will help.”
The 673d CS has finished imaging almost every computer, and once they hand out the last computer, all that’s left is the install. So far, they have completed about 60 percent of the mission to install Windows 10 across the installation.