What do you do with a device when its assigned employee leaves? or the program it was purchased for only runs for two weeks every year? The first reaction is probably to put it in a safe place--a cabinet or closet--until it is needed again. Did you know...
- Depending on how much charge is left in the battery when shelved, storing it for long periods can actually destroy the battery.
- Today’s lithium batteries should not be allowed to deplete like cadmium batteries of yore.
- A device that is off or sleeping for long periods will not receive automatic updates, leaving it subject to unfixed bugs and security vulnerabilities.
- When the device is restarted, it needs a full 24 hours to update and may require multiple restarts. It is not a pleasant process.
Before putting a device into storage
Make sure the battery is between 80-90% charged.
The device should be completely OFF, not just sleeping.
While the device is in storage
- Perform regular updates on devices stored longer than one month. To get updates, the device must be on, awake, and online for 8-12 hours. Someone will need to monitor the device to make sure it does not go to sleep. The other option is to manually run Windows Update and wait for it to complete them all.
- NOTE: Devices in storage longer than six months without updates should be reimaged before use.
- NOTE: For inventory purposes, it would be helpful to ITS if you sent a note to the ITS Help Desk with the device’s asset tag letting them know the device is in storage.
- If you know the stored device will be reassigned to another employee down the road, there is no need to perform regular updates as long as the device will be reimaged prior to reassignment. See below.
Before reassigning the device to a different employee
Complete the Computer Reassignment form in this Tech Support portal and linked to the right. In addition to updating the inventory database, ITS will reimage the device to make sure it has the most current software and security updates and one user profile—the technician’s. Meaning, the device won’t be cluttered with traces of the last owner’s activities; it will be fresh and clean, resulting in fewer technical issues for the new owner. Worried about the last owner’s data? Reimaging takes place in a secure location by skilled techs using best practices.
What about office desktops left unused over summer?
Leave the desktops on. Do not turn off the power strip they are plugged in to! The computers will spend most of their time sleeping but will wake up to do updates when they need to.
Prefer not to manage stored devices?
Contact the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@uwplatt.edu to discuss options.
Need help?
If you have questions, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 608.342.1400 or helpdesk@uwplatt.edu. You may also visit the Help Desk on the first floor of the Karrmann Library.