Rolling Out Windows 95: An Overview

After the extensive research, planning, testing, and analysis performed in the previous phases, the deployment teams arrive at the final phase — rolling out the Windows 95 installation to the entire company. Although each prior phase was critical to the overall success of the deployment process, only this phase can fulfill the purpose of the entire planning process, by delivering the substantial new benefits of Windows 95 to your broadest base of users. At this phase, weeks of preparation pay off in a smooth migration of all your users to an operating system that is more powerful, more robust, and easier to use.

The following checklist outlines the tasks required for the final rollout of Windows 95.

Rolling Out Windows 95

Task

Team

Start week

Duration

1: Set up the distribution servers by using the Server-based Setup and configuring the system policy files.

Installation

Week 15

1 day

2: Customize the server installation by adding or removing the appropriate files, including the MSBATCH.INF file.

Installation

Week 15

2 days

3: Notify the users of the upcoming installation.

Planning

Week 15

1 day

4: Train the users on Windows 95.

Training

Week 16

As required

5: If needed, upgrade the hardware on the client computers and remove any software not complying with company policy.

Installation

Week 16

As required

6: If needed, back up critical data and configuration files on the client computers.

Installation

Week 16

As required

7: If needed, defragment the client hard disks.

Installation

Week 16

As required

8: Optionally, you can temporarily reset the user password and ID for each computer, to allow your technicians easy access to the client computer and make sure that the login scripts and environment operate correctly.

Planning

Week 17

As required

9: Ensure that the client computers are fully operational and the real-mode network, if present, is running.

Installation

Week 17

As required

10: Prepare the client computers for the push installation process: edit the login scripts; run the management software; or send the setup script, by electronic mail, to the user.

Installation

Week 18

As required

11: Initiate the installation by having the user log on, double-click the setup script file, and so on.

Installation

Week 18

As required


For details of each task in the deployment checklists, see Chapter 2, "Deployment Strategy and Details." For step-by-step instructions on how to set up, maintain, and use Windows 95 in a corporate environment, see the appropriate chapters of the Resource Kit.