Report: Georgetown University bans use of Windows 7 beta

Georgetown University is banning the use of the Windows 7 beta, informing students and faculty it will not support the trial version of Microsoft's latest operating system, according to a report in InformationWeek

The university's information technology group notes it generally does not support any beta version of software, unless otherwise noted.

And in the case of the Windows 7 beta, the Georgetown IT group reiterates Microsoft's warning that the beta could disable security software, as well as cause other hardware, such as printers and video cards, to function incorrectly, according to the report.

The university IT group, however, notes it will support Windows 7, once the final version is released and has been tested. Microsoft expects the final version of Windows 7 to be released at the end of the year or early next year.

Windows 7 beta is expected to be offered through February 10.

[caseyahenry]

This is pretty standard policy for businesses and educational institutions with IT departments. It's tough enough maintaining systems with non-beta software; I can't blame them for not wanting to deal with a beta.

[rapier1]

Its not a ban. They're just not going to let their IT staff support a *beta*. Which makes perfect sense. I suppose actually being accurate wouldn't have drawn people like me in to read this posting though.

[eBob1]

How can the university ban students and faculty from installing Windows 7 beta on their own personal computers? I can understand them banning PCs running Windows 7 beta from connecting to their network, but I don't see the logic in banning students and faculty from trying it on their own.

[rolegp]

eBob re-read the article, all it said is that it would not support Windows 7 beta, it did not say anything about personal computers? This is why they are talking about the schools IT department instead of the geek squad at the local computer store.

[knissaj]

Yeah, it is misleading to say they are banning the software.

On a separate note, I would be surprised if most of their computer science department hasn't at least installed it on a machine they use. I can understand the IT department not wanting to support beta software but if they banned it, that would seem pretty Luddite.

[The_happy_switcher]

I guess they have enough viruses to deal with already.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Are you saying you have been planting viruses on their network? Why do you know of their network conditions so intimately? Sounds a bit suspicious to me...

[Howlermonkey]

How is this news? I'm sorry, but it sounds as if you're trying to be sensationalist with this whole thing. Of course they won't support the beta. Who in their right mind would? I imagine the only reason that reports of this saw the light of day is because students or faculty were installing it, prompting the IT dept to tell everybody to knock it off. I know Microsoft = Satan and people love to gloat over every negative bit of MS related news they can find, but use your head.

[Throgged]

Thanks Dawn for the non-story of the day.
I,too, was intrigued by the title of this article, only to find that it is nothing more that standard practice procedures followed by 99.9999999999999999999% of all IT professionals.

Carry on.

[Akiba]

I'm confused. The story and the first sentence says they are banning the use of the software but then it just goes on to say that IT isn't supporting it.?? The first part is story, the second part is not. What's going on here. Was that just bait.

[vamman]

Article is misleading. This is standard policy for most. Theres no 'ban'.

[gggg sssss]

ban != not supporting.

Author desprately searching for clues no doubt.

[Brian]

Most universities are using the Mac, a better alternative.

[CrashPad63]

What University's??? Name ten where the MS PC is not the base infrastructure for the network and the Apple PC is for some multi-media and creativity endeavors.