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Secure Computer Setup Guide - Windows

Follow this guide to set up new Windows computers. If you need assistance at any time, please reach out to your departmental IT liaison, or if you're a DDS customer, use the DDS service request portal.

Before you begin

  • This process requires a connection to the internet to apply the University of Colorado settings. Do not begin setting up your computer if you are unable to connect to a network with a working internet connection.
  • We recommend reserving several hours to complete this process. You may finish before that time, but depending on your internet connection and the number of applications you want to install, it may take more time than you expect.
  • Once you begin, leave your computer on and plugged in. Do not move locations or close your laptop before included software and settings are installed as you may disrupt the setup process.

Visit OIT's Youtube channel for a video tutorial of this process.

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Step

Turn on your computer. You should be prompted to select a language and region which should default to English and the United States. You'll also be prompted to confirm your keyboard setup. 

Step

If your laptop is not connected to the internet, a screen will load where you can connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable or a wireless network. It is very important that you connect to the internet before proceeding, otherwise the laptop will not self-configure and you will be missing basic applications such as Microsoft Office.

  • Off campus: If you are connecting to a wireless router at home, you may need to enter your wireless password.
  • On campus: If you are setting up the computer while on the CU Boulder campus, connect using a wired connection or to UCB Wireless and login with your IdentiKey username and password. 

Step

Once your computer successfully connects to the internet, enter your email in the identikey@colorado.edu format (do not use FirstName.LastName@colorado.edu).

Please note: Do not select set up Windows with a local account if that option is available. Doing so will prevent your computer from being configured properly.

Step

Enter your IdentiKey password when prompted. The computer will begin performing initial setup, and automatically restart.

Step

Your computer will need approximately 30 - 60 minutes to complete initial setup and will display the screen pictured below during that time. Keep your computer plugged into a power outlet, leave it connected to the internet, and do not power off the laptop or otherwise interrupt this step.

Step

Press any button, then log into Windows with your IdentiKey username and password.

You may be prompted to connect to VPN using Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. While this should happen without prompting, if needed, connect to UCB VPN using your IdentiKey username and password so your device can properly connect to campus computing resources. 

Step

If you receive this error, ensure you are connected to the internet, and try to log in again. You may need to wait five minutes and restart your computer as an additional troubleshooting step.

Step

When you successfully log in, you will be presented with your Windows desktop. Included software and settings will continue to be installed automatically in the background. 

 *PLEASE NOTE: The list of included software will continue to install on its own and will take some time to finish.

List of included software:

  • Alertus
  • Cisco AnyConnect VPN
  • Jamf Connect
  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Defender
  • Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
  • Microsoft OneDrive
  • Microsoft Teams (work or school)
  • Zoom
  • Encryption of your computer so that unauthorized users cannot read your data.

Step

Looking for other software?

All University-owned computers enrolled in Secure Computing have access to an on-demand software catalog in the Software Center application.

Step

Search for and open Microsoft Outlook and login with your IdentiKey Username and password. Once logged in, your mail and folders will begin to load. Minimize the application and let it continue the setup process. 

Step

OneDrive Troubleshooting

To check OneDrive for your data, Open Windows Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar, and then click on OneDrive - UCB-O365. If you do not see OneDrive - UCB-O365, you may need to leave your computer for about 15 to 60 minutes to allow it to finish installing applications and then try again.

Step

If you had not backed up your data prior to receiving your new laptop, your data will not appear in OneDrive. Follow the steps below to fix:

Once you have uploaded your data into OneDrive, your files will appear on your new laptop in the OneDrive folder.

  • Dedicated Desktop Support customers: Please contact DDS immediately using the DDS Request Portal so your DDS technician can help transfer your data.
  • Non-DDS customers: Back up your locally-stored data from your other computer. You will not need to do this for files that are saved in Google Drive, OneDrive, or a departmental file server or the UCB Files fileservers (\\ucbfiles.colorado.edu, \\files.colorado.edu, or \\cvcn.colorado.edu). For all other files stored on your computer, please use the appropriate instructions to upload your files to Microsoft OneDrive: back up files from a PC to OneDrive or back up files from a Mac to OneDrive
    Please note: When you sign into OneDrive, enter your email address in the identikey@colorado.edu format, not FirstName.LastName@colorado.edu.

Step

Finish setup

As the computer setup process completes, make a note of other software and settings that you may need to customize on your new device. This could include: 

  • Downloading additional software: Check Software Center before downloading software from vendor sites. 
  • Microsoft Teams (work or school) settings: You will likely need to adjust Teams settings to your preference. Check out OIT's tutorials for Changing notifications, Configuring voicemail or visit the Teams Service page for more resources.
  • Microsoft Outlook/Exchange configuration: Configure preferred settings in Outlook. Visit the Microsoft 365 - Microsoft Exchange page for best practices and other resources.
  • Connect devices: Connect keyboard, mouse, webcam, etc. Depending on your device, you may need to re-adjust preferred settings.
  • Transfer browser settings or bookmarks: If needed, transfer or edit bookmarks on your preferred browser. Refer to vendor documentation: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox
  • Other settings: Other device settings may need to be reset.