Employee Recommended PC Configuration

Below is what hardware and software comprises the Kettering Desktop system. These are the minimum standards and the model for rebuilding any PC that is corrupted by viruses or spyware. New PC purchases should be made through Microwise as they come pre-configured. All users are to be configured as power users with the exception of Information Technology staff and faculty. If a department wants to designate one person to act as the local expert on any special software installed, that person needs to be known to I.T. so that they can be added to the local PC administrator profiles.

Minimum Recommended Employee's Desktop PC Hardware Configuration


Intel based D945 Motherboard with 3.0GHz Dual Core CPU and 2MB cache
512MB 533MHz Memory
80GB SATA hard drive
DVD+/- Dual Layer burner
Integrated Motherboard Video
Integrated Motherboard Network Interface
Integrated Motherboard Sound
Front Panel USB & Audio

Options:

17" Flat Panel Display W/Three Year Warranty
PCI Express X16 Video card. NVIDIA or ATI W/128MB Memory

Minimum Recommended Employee's Laptop PC Hardware Configuration

Intel Pentium M Processor at 1.73GHz and 2MB cache
512MB 400MHz Memory
40GB SATA Hard Drive at 5400rpm
CD/RW Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Display size to suit user's Preference
Integrated Network Interface
Integrated Wireless 802.11b/g Networking
Integrated 56K Modem
256MB USB Flash Drive
Three Year On-Site Warranty including Accidental Damage

Options:

True Port Replicator (not USB). Specify for only certain models.

Updated 1/18/06

Recommended PC Software

Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Office 2003
Banner
Adobe Reader
Computer Associates ETrust AntiVirus
Spyware Registry Block
Secure SSH
Real One Player
Spybot
Cute PDF

Updated 3/05

Under no circumstances download and install additional free search bars, tool bars, or web screen savers. They contain spyware and will harm your system. This includes Hotbar, Websearch, MySearch, Yahoo Search, and WebShots!

System must have an antivirus application. This application must be kept updated at least daily as new viruses are being introduced into the Internet at an alarming rate. At no time should the active virus scanner be turned off.

Windows XP systems should have service pack 2 installed as well as all updates after service pack 2. The firewall and popup blocker in service pack 2 should be turned on and set to at least medium, preferably high.

A good spyware blocker program is essential as in today's computing environment spyware can be at least as damaging as a virus, sometimes worse. Spybot is probably the best free application and has settings to allow automatic updates, autorun at startup, and a setting to alert you when spyware tries to change a system file in from your browser. This application should be run at least twice a week, more if you surf the web everyday.

Outlook should be configured to accept plain text emails only as html messages could contain harmful code, and the spam filter tool should be set to high. While spam can't be stopped completely, this will maximize protection to spam email.