Beginning April 2025, the University will manage NEW Windows-based computers, such as newly issued Dell computers, using Windows Azure Cloud Join to provide a more efficient and secure process for managing these university-issued devices. This change does not affect computers already in use. This change does not include new computers issued to the College of Engineering.
Below are some changes that you will notice on department shared computers (often used by student employees, grad TAs and PhD students):
- Device Setup: The primary department contact should plan to work with desktop support for up to 30 minutes on the initial setup. See this FAQ for the setup process.
- Login: All users must login with their full NinerNet email address (ninernet@charlotte.edu).
- Admin rights: the primary department contact has admin rights and is able to download and install software. Other users (like students) will not be able to do this.
- Start Menu: It will now be located on the bottom center of desktop by default (see this FAQ to change this setting).
- Network Drives: H and S drives are available, but the J drive is not automatically mapped. The J drive was part of the S drive so all data will be found in the S drive.
- Software Installs: the primary department contact can download and install software from the new Company Portal, which replaces the Software Center.
- Network Printing: More printers may be available; some printer functionality may have changed. If a user does not see a printer, put a request in with OneIT.
- Wallpaper: You are no longer able to change the Wallpaper on devices managed using the Windows Azure system.
- Windows Hello: Windows Hello is not available on shared department computers.
- Computer Information: Look for the All-in-C found in the bottom right taskbar to find the computer name and serial number (see this FAQ for more information).
Impact on generic accounts: As part of the ongoing transition of endpoints to Azure, the use of generic accounts will be significantly reduced in accordance with updated security protocols. Learn more about why the University is going away from the use of generic accounts.