Software
Windows operating system installation media
University machines: If you wish to run Windows and the machine you want to install it on is a UNSW-owned machine then we highly recommend that you have it installed under the CAUDIT license, which is UNSW's Microsoft site licence. UNSW-owned machines are distinguishable by a silver, white, or yellow barcode label somewhere on the computer. Please quote this asset number when you are contacting us for an installation. If you are unsure that your computer is a UNSW-owned machine, please provide us with the serial number so that we can check. Once this is verified, we will lend you the installation media and will activate the product for you after you complete the installation.You can contact System Support regarding installation of Windows on UNSW-owned machines under CAUDIT at ss@cse.unsw.edu.au (or x54199). When you are ready to borrow the installation media, you can visit the CSE Help Desk. If they are closed, you can visit System Support in room 111, building K17.
Personal machines: If you wish to install Windows on a personal machine, please obtain the product key and media using ELMS.
Software available for Windows operating systems
For information about software available for Windows, please visit the Available Software FAQ page.Updates and Maintenance
The CSE Mirror has a special setup to allow Automatic Updates to be downloaded from it, saving you IP quota.For details, visit http://windowsupdate.cse.unsw.edu.au/.
Note that this service does not catch the updates when you visit the "Windows Update" site (e.g. via the link in Internet Explorer). It only affects the Automatic Updates feature - so you should turn that on and set it to download and install updates regularly.
Staff and students of CSE can install a copy of Symantec Anti-virus from UNSW IT Services.
A good free virus scanner is ClamWin.
Useful websites to read before installing Windows
Microsoft Windows is notoriously subject to security problems such as hacking, viruses/worms/trojans and malware. There are so many computers out there firing out viruses and trawling for new computers to add to their botnets that the Internet Storm Centre estimates the mean time before your new computer is compromised is only 20 minutes. If you are installing base Windows XP it takes more than 20 minutes to download patches such as Service Pack 2 which means you are likely to be compromised before you've even finished setting up your computer. It has happened to several CSE people so learn how to secure your pc before you start installing. Once you've installed a fully patched Windows, the first things you should do are:- install and configure a firewall, even if only XP's inbuilt one
- install and configure anti-virus software, preferably one that has automatic updates and also recognises some of the more common malware
- create a user account for yourself which you use to login instead of Administrator.
SANS guide to Windows XP: Surviving the First Day
SecurityFocus: A Home User's Security Checklist for Windows
Microsoft Technet on why you shouldn't login as Administrator (root)
Microsoft Technet on running Windows XP without logging in as Administrator
More tips from a Windows expert on how to run Windows without logging in as Administrator
A tool from Microsoft to help you diagnose why a program seems to want Administrator access although many computer security professionals prefer Sysinternals' filemon and regmon. Sysinternals' programs are very highly regarded in the computer security field.
You can always amuse yourself with Microsoft's Live Safety Center but it's very far from a state where you can rely upon it.
NSA guides to securely configuring Windows XP and 2003: also has guides for linux and Mac OS X.
US-CERT has a number of short, easy to understand articles on setting up firewalls, recognising phishing attempts and other aspects of computer security. These are very introductory and do not include actual configuration details.
Becoming familiar with Microsoft Technet is probably the single best thing you can do (after configuring your firewall and anti-virus software, of course). Technet is full of articles on all imaginable aspects of running Windows and also contains all the Microsoft Security Bulletins.