Windows 7 software and data refresh

[Nick Phillips]

I have been (tentatively) offered the following work:

"This is a massive Windows refresh/upgrade during a sales conference. These technicians will be upgrading/refreshing 470 PCs in 3 days. 1/3 of the PC's (156) will be software and data refresh. 2/3 of the PC's (314) will be installing encryption and cloud software."

I have done some PC work and am comfortable with most Windows OS, up to Windows 7. I'm wondering what problems I could encounter, as I'm familiar with Windows 7, but definitely not at the advanced level. I'm also wondering what steps are involved that I might not be aware of. Any insight would be appreciated!

 

[DelJo63]

Hmm; With that volume of work, I would counter propose:

1) install one clean install​

2) install all required security software​

3) install and configure all the applications necessary​

​

and then CLONE that system and replicate.​

The object being to allow evaluation and testing of the 'MASTER' image to the clients standards which will ensure satisfaction the the replicated results.

 

[St1ckM4n]

You're gonna want to have some sort of good imaging process in place, like the above post mentions. Also note if these PCs are all the same model or not, because you'll have to employ work-arounds for these.

 

[tipstir]

Sounds like the old days they wanted everything done in 3 days or less. Contracts come and go. Just do your best. I am sure they'll have some sort of tools for you. Run a script to pull down the image and connect in groups of 16 PCS to APEX imaging system. Depends on how they're doing this. As for problems I am sure they're done imaging/refresh in a test lab already on 10 to 50 systems to make sure it will run smoothly. If they did that? They should have a model office image and then have the company employees come down to test to make sure all is working okay. UAT (user acceptance tester) make sure everything is in working order after the all work is completed.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Hey, thanks guys! Thing is, the work is through a "placement service" so I don't think they know anything about how this will get done, just that it needs to get done. I suppose if I decide I want to do the work I should ask the agency what the company has for software, if they are going to issue a temporary laptop, etc. I'm thinking that it will just be software, and for any help/resources I might need I will have to google on my phone. Thanks

 

[St1ckM4n]

You should definitely know exactly what you're getting yourself into before you do it. 3 days isn't much. I'd be tacking on an extra half day just to scope out wtf they have.

 

[tipstir]

Times are tough today for these type of jobs come and go. Tech Contract Agency make more and you make less. Suppose to be 75% for you and 25% for them out the 100% bill rate to the client. If this project is a 3-way deal I would past it up because you would get paid less. The way this should be is the Client (PCs in question) hires outsourcing company, if the outsourcing company doesn't have enough bodies to do this project they in turn use Tech Contract Agency to get people who have the required skills to do this task in the short term contract this would be considered. So again if there are 3 parties involve then your contract hourly would be much less and even lesser if they say hey we'll give you such and such for the 3 days total. That's worst than hourly rate.

Whatever you, can't put this project on your resume just way to short of term.

 

[gbhall]

Yes, not much fun or pay for you, to me it does not look like a cloning possibility, just plowing on installation after installation. This sort of thing in well-organised IT dept can be done via specialised software running on the servers, and installs just happen automatically on reboot of clients. That this clearly is not the case says to me - the original client has weak grasp of professional IT processes.

Hence you won't learn much, will probably be required to work 18 hour days, won't even have time to build up contacts with others doing the job. Would not recommend you do it.