The easiest way to determine whether you have Windows 7 is to look at the shape of the Start button. 

If your start button is a circle, you have Windows 7 on your computer. 

Windows 7 Start Button

For more information, see Microsoft’s article on locating details about your operating system. 

Rowan-owned computers that are running Windows 7 will need to be upgraded to Windows 10 or replaced or the computer will lose access to Rowan Network resources.

If you are using a Rowan-owned Windows 7 computer that you believe is eligible for an upgrade to Windows 10, please contact us by calling 856-256-4400 or logging in to support.rowan.edu and clicking Get Help as soon as possible to schedule an upgrade. We have been directly emailing users who we know are using Windows 7 computers, but it's not always possible for us to identify who is the primary owner or user of a computer.  

Once we have verified your computer is eligible for Windows 10 and finalized a date to perform the upgrade, we will pick up your computer and return it as soon as it is finished. This process typically takes 2 to 5 hours.

However, as the deadline for the end of support for Windows 7 approaches, we will not be able to guarantee the same turnaround time due to the volume of machines we will be working through. It is in your best interest to reach out to us immediately so that we can upgrade as many computers as possible before the Jan. 14, 2020 deadline.

Home Directory 

If you have files in your Downloads folder or C drive that you want to keep, you'll need to back those files up by moving them to your Documents folder or to your Desktop. 

Files that you have stored in your Documents folder and on your Desktop are automatically backed up to your home directory, or H drive. No further action is required to back up files in those locations.

Google Drive

If you have a large number of files — and those files do not contain HIPAA data — you may also use Google Drive to back up your files. For help uploading files to Google Drive, review these instructions.

Browser Bookmarks

You will need to manually back up your bookmarks in your preferred browser. 

Additional Data Protection

To provide additional protection of your data, IRT will back up and replace your hard drive with a newer, faster Solid State drive. Your old drive will be stored for three months. 

Keep in mind that data recovery from an old drive is a time-intensive, inexact process and should only be requested in emergency situations.

If you still have questions/concerns about backing up your files, please contact the Technology Support Center at 856-256-4400, or log in to support.rowan.edu and click Get Help.

The standard software configuration for Rowan-owned machines includes the following programs:

• Microsoft .NET 3.5
• Microsoft .NET 4.7.1
• Visual C++ Redistributables
• VPN client
• Computrace
• VideoLan (VLC)
• Google Chrome
• Silverlight
• Adobe AIR
• Flash Player ActiveX
• Flash Player Plugin
• Flash Player PPAPI
• Adobe Reader DC
• Windows Essentials 2012
• Office ProPlus 2016
• Rowan Icons
• Image Version Enumerator
• Rowan Migration Tools
• Google File Stream
• Rowan Fonts
• SCCM
• McAfee ENS for Employees Bundle 10.6

In addition, many more programs can be found and accessed in the Virtual Desktop in Citrix.

If you have specific, specialty software that you need for your job, please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify any potential issues ahead of time.

Windows 7 computers that are not eligible for the Windows 10 upgrade and are not scheduled for replacement through the University's employee computer trade-in cycle will need to be replaced by Jan. 14, 2020.

IRT has been and will continue to directly contact employees and their supervisors via email about the status of their computers. However, if you have Windows 7, we encourage you to reach out to us as soon as possible.

Please keep in mind that not all computers are eligible to be upgraded. Those computers will need to be removed from service.

We are aware that there are still some important University systems and applications that depend on Windows 7 and cannot run on a newer operating system due to technical reasons. To request an exception, please contact the Technology Support Center at 856-256-4400, and we will guide you through the process of filling out the exception request. 

Our Information Security Office (ISO) will evaluate exception requests and contact you with further information. As described in the Workstation Use and Security Policy, if approved, exceptions are only valid for one year and the workstation will need to be upgraded after the expiration of the exception.

Information Resources & Technology started blocking Windows 7 computers from connecting to Rowan Network resources, including wired and wireless internet access, on Jan. 14, 2020. 

To maintain access to wired and wireless internet on campus, as well as other resources, you must upgrade to Windows 10.  Please follow the steps below to upgrade your computer to Windows 10.

1. Back up your files. Students and employees have access to unlimited storage on Google Drive. For help uploading files to Google Drive, review these instructions.
2. Download Windows 10 for free. Windows 10 is available on Microsoft’s website for free. Follow the prompts to download Windows 10 and upgrade your computer. 

We are not able to assist with upgrading personal computers to Windows 10. If you are unable to upgrade your computer to Windows 10, please contact the Technology Support Center at 856-256-4400 to discuss your options.