Pending Issues

[SysAdminInTraining]

So I started helping a friend at her business with IT work and the setup is... cringe worthy. 7 Computers, some running Windows 10 because the employees agreed to it, while the rest are running Windows 7 Professional. They are a mixture of Dell desktops. (The two I'm working on are Optiplex 3010) The Server she has is running Windows 7 Professional and gets used quite often by employees even though she has told everyone not to. The networking is all stuffed into a box with no air flow so when you open the top you get smacked in the face with a wall of hot air.

 

Basically it's a crap storm waiting to happen. I've already started working on getting her a proper server in a rack with no way to actually connect to and use as a normal desktop, as well as re routing all the networking gear to also be with the new server. As for the computers, I'm trying to get them all back to Windows 7 Pro. Windows 10 and I are not friends and since some of the PCs are not running Windows 10 now, I don't want to have to pay for it. Since it's Dell, there is no factory restore that I can find without their stupid disks. Some of the computers are still under warranty, but they want $19.99 for each disk they have to send (as well as a long waiting period for shipping). I can not locate the disks anywhere and I can't find a way to legally download the ISO and just enter in the product code that is on the sticker. (I can't do this from Microsoft given the code is a special code provided with Dell or whatever) What I did, and this is my reason for posting this, is, I had a computer that had recently been restored by Dell with all their bloatware installed, I made a backup of that machine with the Dell Backup and Recovery and went to another Dell (Still an Optiplex 3010) that had a dead harddrive that I replaced with a 1TB WD Black, and restore it from a backup. Problem is, both machines are running the same Windows Key, and I am not allowed to change it since it's locked in with Dell. Both machines don't seem to have an issue and both have run full updates and haven't come back with an error about the key being used twice. Am I safe to continue? Or will their be issues if an update gets released and they realize that a code is being used on multiple machines?

 

I don't know if I'm totally overlooking something obvious with getting this done properly. I'm used to messing with operating systems, but want that dead on confirmation as downtime in her business is a big no-no. So over planning everything and going in with all information possible to avoid any issues.

 

Thanks for the help, LTT Community.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Are you running AD, cause id switch to that if your not.

 

Also lock stuff down. Screen locks, ctrl alt del to unlock, disable usb sticks if not needed, disable exectuting programs in user dir, the works.

 

Id get a server running server 2012r2 and use it as a dc. Id just buy the disks.

 

 

[SysAdminInTraining]

1 hour ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Are you running AD, cause id switch to that if your not.

 

Also lock stuff down. Screen locks, ctrl alt del to unlock, disable usb sticks if not needed, disable exectuting programs in user dir, the works.

 

Id get a server running server 2012r2 and use it as a dc. Id just buy the disks.

 

 

The server itself will be setup properly and be out of the way of any foot traffic. (Unlike now where it sits on a carpeted floor. I kind of added all that for no real reason, the pending issue pertains to the Windows 7 Pro Keys freaking out when they/if they realize that they are running on two machines.

[samiscool51]

ok mate

in all of my years as an IT Admin

even i can't fix that

the only thing you can do is just start from scratch

it will be too hard to try and fix the problems and you will mostly be burnt out and screw up on something that you will regret later

[SysAdminInTraining]

15 minutes ago, samiscool51 said:

ok mate

in all of my years as an IT Admin

even i can't fix that

the only thing you can do is just start from scratch

it will be too hard to try and fix the problems and you will mostly be burnt out and screw up on something that you will regret later

Yeah, when I looked at everything I was like... You guys are just begging for a huge system failure. I have the printers all jerry rigged up because the different OS changes broke Home Groups and stopped most of them from working. My ultimate goal is to get them all running on highly locked down accounts. Kind of like a school lab. However for now, I have to stick with what I have. Once I get more detail together of how this entire setup is limping along I will update you guys.

[samiscool51]

Just now, SysAdminInTraining said:

Yeah, when I looked at everything I was like... You guys are just begging for a huge system failure. I have the printers all jerry rigged up because the different OS changes broke Home Groups and stopped most of them from working. My ultimate goal is to get them all running on highly locked down accounts. Kind of like a school lab. However for now, I have to stick with what I have. Once I get more detail together of how this entire setup is limping along I will update you guys.

i hope you don't become insane because of this

and no an't paying the insane assiulm for your stay

[SysAdminInTraining]

Just now, samiscool51 said:

i hope you don't become insane because of this

and no an't paying the insane assiulm for your stay

Thank you for understanding my pain. It's been a nightmare but fun at the same time.

[samiscool51]

20 minutes ago, SysAdminInTraining said:

Thank you for understanding my pain. It's been a nightmare but fun at the same time.

i know right?