BigTech's blog | BigTech Donations Program

Affordable refurbished computers through BigBridge- Stock clearance! (NGOs in India can request before 30th March!)

posted by Anonymous - Thu, 14/03/2013 - 11:06

We are happy to announce stock clearance from the BiG Bridge computer donation programme!

With an aim to help NGOs with easy access to technology and reduce their IT budgets, BigBridge makes refurbished computers available to NGOs at affordable costs. BigBridge donations of over 6000+ computers have helped hundreds of NGOs across India

NGOs who want use computers in your offices and for your programs this is an excellent opportunity to avail affordable computers with licensed softwares.

We urge you to not miss this opportunity. To avail the donations –write to bigbridge@nasscomfoundation.org or call us at 11-64782655-62 (ext 25)

BigBridge’s end-of-life computers are donated by IT-BPO companies. These computers are refurbished with hardware and licensed softwares (operating systems and office), and made available for pickup in major metros in India. For more information visit www.nasscomfoundation.org

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Donations of Office 2013 Are Now Available!

posted by Anonymous - Fri, 25/01/2013 - 12:19

The latest version of Microsoft Office is here! Eligible NGOs, charities, and libraries can now request Office Standard and Professional editions through the Microsoft Software Donation Program at BiGTech Donation Program

Microsoft Office offers a number of new features and benefits over Office 2010, including direct integration with SkyDrive, new graphics options, the ability to open and edit PDFs in Word, and to sync across several devices. This means you can start working on a document on your desktop and then continue where you left off on another computer, laptop, or tablet because Office saves your work in the cloud as you go.

If you have received a donation of Microsoft Office through BiGTech Donations Program that included Software Assurance (and it is still current), you can upgrade to the latest version of Office at no additional cost.

What’s New in Office?

One of the most interesting new features of Office is its integration with the cloud. Microsoft’s Office Web Apps let your staff and volunteers create, edit, and share documents online. For example, you can add comments to a Word document, and colleagues can respond to them directly within the document or via email or Skype. Plus: You can start working on a document on your desktop, then continue right where you left off on a different computer or tablet.

One addition to Word that you’ll notice right away is its treatment of PDFs. For the first time, you can open a PDF in Word, and its paragraphs, lists, tables, and other content will act just like Word content.

Word includes new templates and design tools, plus it automatically remembers your location in the document as you work. This means you can close a document and come back to it later, continuing your work at the same spot, even on a different computer. And Word now includes the ability to reply to comments within a comment

The latest version of Excel helps you explore your organization’s data in a more intuitive and visual way. Excel recommends charts and graphs for you based on the data you’re trying to display, and it allows you to display selected workbooks collaboratively via Lync. Plus: Excel learns and recognizes your patterns and auto-completes your remaining data without macros.

As you build your slideshows, PowerPoint suggests variations on your color scheme and template while you are working and includes new tools to help develop and align text, graphics, and imagery. This updated presentation tool also includes an improved Presenter View and a PowerPoint web app that allows coauthoring of presentations by several people inside and outside of your organization.

Your OneNote notebooks are now built to move with you, thanks to the new cloud integration. The notes you take on your desktop or laptop will be accessible from any other computer, as well as your tablet and smartphone. You can use OneNote Mobile apps on Windows Phone, iOS, and Android phones. And if you are using a browser, just open the OneNote Web App.

OneNote now also allows integration of pictures, video, and Excel spreadsheets into your notes. Plus: include links, webpages, maps, and sketches into your note taking as well.

Outlook features new and improved ways to handle your email accounts, coordinate staff and volunteer schedules, manage your social networks, and keep yourself organized through to-do lists. The new version of Outlook also includes “Peeks” — which let you take a quick glance at your schedule — as well as a calendar sharing function so others can see when you’re available.

Another neat new addition to Outlook is the weather bar, which lets you view the forecast right within Outlook, helping you plan your day and any upcoming travel.

Office is Optimized for Windows 8

Eligible organizations can also request donated upgrades of Windows 8 Professional and Windows 8 Enterprise. With a new mobile-friendly design that features sleek tiles in the place of conventional icons, Windows 8 is a complete rethinking of the Windows environment. It keeps some aspects of what we are all used to from Windows 7. But it drops the “Start” button in favor of a new app-integrated look and makes it easier to sync with cloud-based services.

Learn more about Windows 8.

tags: Microsoft

What we did for the 'Joy of Giving' week? giving back.. IT style!

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 08/10/2012 - 16:03

Father Adolf - encouraging volunteering as a must-do activity and not as an extra thing.

One thing we maintain at NASSCOM Foundation is that ‘giving back’ is most effective when it is the core competency of the volunteer that she provides to the beneficiary. So when we sat to design an event for the ‘Joy of Giving’ week, we concluded with the idea of ‘Find an IT Partner’ Event for NGOs wherein NGOs across Mumbai could team up with with IT volunteers. Our host and partner for this event held on 3rd Oct. 2012 was Don Bosco Institute of Technology (DBIT), Mumbai. This enabled the opportunity for IT students of DBIT to hone their professional skills in a live environment and to imbibe in them a culture of volunteering for social good. Prior to the event, about 20 NGOs had registered with us along with details of their IT needs which varied from being as simple as troubleshooting the website to as complex as creating an management information system for organizations spread across India.

After a brief introduction and welcome note, each NGO presented their project(s). FPAI, Sujaya Foundation, Salaam Baalak and Maharashtra Dyslexia Association were among the total 12 NGOs that were present.

The students zealously listened and then formed groups based on their interests to service the different projects. The student groups are to be mentored by the Comp Sci./IT faculty of DBIT with project timelines ranging from three to six months.

By the end of the event, seven NGOs benefited from the event and in total eight projects found teams. DBIT student organizing team did a fantastic job of the logistics, etc. so that we could truly focus on the NGOs. A hearty thanks to them (Sydney, Elma, etc.)

As this was a pilot event for us, we hadn’t called in many IT corporates but had conveyed the idea to a few. Mr. Deven Shah from Iris Business was present for the entire time and will be contributing to two of the NGOs. Other corporates such as Cognizant, Mphasis, Mastek, etc. too have shown interest. So don’t be surprised if you see us organizing another one sooner than the next Joy of Giving week.

Next step for us is to work with the NGOs, DBIT faculty and students to scope the projects and plan towards deployment. Watch this space to know more about each project experience and results. Picture abhi baki hain!

More Pics

Some immediate feedback we got -

"Anyone with experience in the voluntary sector know that one of our biggest limitations is that our administrative systems don't always keep pace with our field activities. ..NASSCOM Foundation's 'Find an IT Partner for your NGO' Event yesterday hit the sweetspot exactly. .. Thank you for bringing us a JGW event that will continue to spread benefit and goodwill for way beyond this week, " says Kate Currawalla from Maharashtra Dyslexia Association.

Fresh from the ConnectIT workshop held from 26-28 Sep, Ms. Zarine Gupta Trustee, Salaam Baalak Trust said "Let me take this opportunity to thank Prashant Pandit who showed great leadership qualities in coordinating and networking with all partners and the NASSCOM Team for taking valuable time of their busy schedule and imparting the IT skills training for NGO's. It was a great learning opportunity for us and hope to put all that we have learnt into practice at Salaam Baalak Trust, Mumbai. This is a great achievement for all of us and I am sure a great CSR activity for NASSCOM ".

A hearty thanks to all who participated in the event either by bringing their projects or by volunteering to work on those projects.

We hope this small event shall scale up to the point where each IT professionals shall work hand in hand with the developmental sector of the country.

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How to receive Adobe Donations?

posted by Anonymous - Tue, 25/09/2012 - 11:03

Creative Suite 6 Design and Web Prem Mac ESD WW - Image

We are proud to announce that Adobe is now with BiGTech Donations Program!

Meet all of your organization’s creative needs with the latest Adobe products. Adobe’s Creative Suites — Design & Web Premium and Production Premium — and individual products are now available in version 6. Design powerful print collateral and bring greater visibility to your organization with Photoshop and InDesign; create video accounts of your successes as well as high-quality images for print, web, video, or mobile devices with Photoshop and Premiere Elements.

Please use the following links to know more about Adobe Donations

What is the Adobe Donation program?

Adobe Donation Program Guidelines

Adobe Products Available with BiGTech

Why Do We Charge Admin Fee?

tags: Adobe, Desktop Publishing Software

Now Available on BiGTech: Adobe Acrobat XI Pro

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 05/11/2012 - 12:48

We've just added Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, the newest version of Adobe's PDF-creation software, to our donation catalog. Eligible organizations can request it for Windows or Mac as a downloadable donation.

Most people are familiar with PDF documents, and if you don't use Acrobat, you've probably at least used the free Adobe Reader to view a PDF that someone else created. Acrobat's most notable feature is that it allows you to create PDF documents from a variety of source files, but there are a lot of other uses too.

• Create PDFs from other applications: With the Acrobat XI Pro, you can create PDF files from any application that can print, or natively from Microsoft Office. This facilitates information-sharing on any platforms that might be used by your stakeholders, as PDFs are one of the most widely used file formats.
• Convert to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint: Conversely, you may get PDFs from partners and allies where there's information that can be used, like for a grant report for example. Acrobat XI Pro lets you bring that content over easily by converting a PDF to a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, or PowerPoint presentation.
• Combine files in a PDF: You can merge multiple types of files -- like documents, spreadsheets, emails, and images -- into one PDF to more easily send related files. For professional projects, like an electronic annual report, you can combine several types of files (video included) as a PDF Portfolio. These might include pictures from an event, spreadsheets and charts for your financials, and multimedia for some client testimonials.
• Edit text or images directly in a PDF: The editing tools in Acrobat XI have been improved so that you can add or remove whole paragraphs or replace images directly in Acrobat without remaking the entire PDF. Edward Mendelson of PCMag.com says in his review of the software: "If you click a plus-sign icon next to the Format item on the editing menu, you get access to detailed typographic controls over kerning and spacing, just as in Adobe's high-end graphics and layout software. You get similar power over images. Right-click on an image and the menu offers options to flip or rotate the image, plus an option to replace the image entirely."
• Secure documents: If you don't want someone to be able to copy and paste from a PDF, you can specify this when creating a document in Acrobat XI Pro (or make copy and editing content password-restricted). For a higher level of security, you may choose to encrypt the file with its built-in security features. You can also sign documents with digital signatures to acknowledge readership and approvals.
• Scan to PDF and OCR: If you have mounds of paperwork that needs to be archived, the Acrobat XI Pro would allow you to scan to PDF and at the same time use optical character recognition (OCR) so that the text in those files is searchable. For many of us whose organizations started before today's technologies, this can be a helpful bridge to digitally store work you've done in the past and be able to easily search through it in the future.
• Create PDF and web forms: You can create clean and professional forms for events, employment records, and client intake; draft surveys for your program work; or easily digitize things like performance evaluations. While web forms and surveys are also popular, there may be programmatic or privacy reasons why hard-file forms are more suitable. Adobe Acrobat can convert Word or Excel documents into fillable forms, and the Form Tracker functionality allows you to conveniently collect data and export for further analysis. If desired, web-based forms can also be created within Acrobat through Adobe's subscription-based FormsCentral service, allowing you to link to the forms online like a standard online survey.

tags: Adobe

Donations of Windows 8 Are Now Available!

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 29/10/2012 - 11:50

Windows 8 is here! Eligible NGOs can now request donated upgrades of Windows 8 Professional and Enterprise editions through the Microsoft Software Donation Program at BiGTech Donations Program.

With a new mobile-friendly design that features sleek tiles in the place of conventional icons, Windows 8 Windows 8 features an updated representation of the traditional Windows environment. It keeps some aspects of what we’re all used to from Windows XP and Windows 7. But it drops the “Start” button in favor of a new, app-integrated look and easier syncing with cloud-based services. There are also numerous improvements “under the hood,” such as a smaller memory footprint, faster performance than Windows 7, and reduced disk-space requirements.

If you have received a donation of a Windows operating system through BiGTech Donations Program that included Software Assurance (and it is still current), you can upgrade to Windows 8 for no additional cost.

What’s New in Windows 8?

Faster: Across the board, Windows 8 is faster than Windows 7 and Windows XP in boot time, file compression, and even opening tabs in web browsers. Older computers — assuming they meet the system requirements — could also see a boost by installing Windows 8.

SkyDrive sync: Microsoft’s cloud storage program is built in to just about every application in Windows 8. If you log in to Windows 8 using a Microsoft account, your apps and preferences are synced to the cloud. When you log in to Windows 8 on another computer, your settings and preferences will be available to you — so you get the same consistent Windows 8 experience, no matter where you are.

Energy efficient: Windows 8 saves battery life by dropping to a low-power state when you're not doing anything power-intensive.

More secure: Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender malware and virus protection. It also provides better defense against malicious downloads through the SmartScreen filter, which is built into the operating system.

Plus: Windows 8 is good for multilingual organizations, as users can easily switch between display languages, and additional display languages are available.

Is Windows 8 Right for You?

Windows 8 is unlike any operating system Microsoft has ever released. Many of the basic tenets of Windows — like the Start menu, desktop experience, and the eponymous windows — seem to be gone. Don’t worry! Below Windows 8’s new interface, you’ll find a desktop experience similar to Windows 7. And the new Windows 8 interface feels like the mobile tablet and phone interfaces most of us are now used to.

Plus, Windows 8 offers some new features that may help your staff's productivity as well as the performance and longevity of your organization's computers. To help you decide whether Windows 8 is a good fit for your organization, we’ve come up with four questions for you to consider.

Easily See What You Can Request

To help you manage your Microsoft donations, we've created the Microsoft Donation Center. Organizations can easily track what donations they have received so far, what remains of their software allotment, when their cycle resets, and the value of their Microsoft software donations to date.

Get Full Versions of Windows 8

In addition to upgrades, Microsoft has also made donations of full versions of its Windows 8 operating systems available through the Microsoft Get Genuine program.

Your organization might have PCs with illegal, free, or basic operating systems — either from accepting donated machines or buying the computers for bargain-basement prices. Microsoft's Get Genuine program offers your organization a one-time chance to get your existing computers running fully legitimate and upgradable Windows operating systems. This enables your organization to easily upgrade through BiGTech Donations Program when the next operating system version is released. Read more about the Microsoft Get Genuine Program.

tags: Microsoft

IT Skills for Urban NGOs in #Mumbai!

posted by Anonymous - Tue, 23/10/2012 - 12:57

The first ConnectIT workshop was held in Mumbai in 2009. So after 46 workshops in 9 states, we thought it was a perfect destination for a second workshop! Don Bosco Institute of Technology, an engineering college, agreed to lend their computer lab and thus on 26th September we started our three day journey into IT skills training for 32 participants from 20 NGOs.

NASSCOM Foundation in partnership with Microsoft organizes these workshops for NGO & Government employees across the country to enable them to leverage technology for better impact. NGO staff gets to improve their skills in documentation, project budgeting, marketing tools, social media and online tools for collaboration by using MS Office and Internet.

Although ConnectIT comes in with an agenda, we keep it quite open to make sure we cater to the audience. So when Nagabhusan from Annamitra asked about email marketing and project management tools, we included such discussions.

Zarine Gupta, Trustee of Salaam Balaak Trust, was amazed at the advanced features of Microsoft Office that can help NGOs save lot of design costs. Many ideas were shared to help understand not only how IT can be used, but also where IT can be used. Her feedback on the workshop.

Now about the big surprise. Who did we find in our audience? Chandni Parekh! For those of you who don’t know that name, you need to revise your

online outreach plan! Because Chandni is the person behind the Twitter handle, @FundACause, that has got itself almost 4000 followers. But it’s not just about numbers she said and went on to show the true potential of social media. We got to know some inspiring stories of how she was able to connect with like-minded people and create impact. We couldn’t thank her enough for agreeing impromptu to be the guest-lecturer for our social media.

While Excel and Word were the most popular topics, the participants were also excited to know about Moviemaker, Skydrive and Publisher.

The Power of Internet was a new session introduced into the agenda to help participants independently handle their own queries using the internet. As always, the BiGTech session got many ‘wow!’s when they heard about how NGOs can receive software donations to compliment the training provided.

To know more about ConnectIT and to participate, write to us on connectit@nasscomfoundation.org.

Supported By

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Should You Upgrade to Windows 8? Questions to Consider

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 22/10/2012 - 11:58

Windows 8 has a brand-new look and feel, so make sure it is right for your organization.

By Ginny Mies

Windows 8 is unlike any operating system Microsoft has ever released — and that's a good thing. The bigger, bolder user interface is built for touchscreen tablets and PCs, as well as traditional desktop and laptop computers. The new Start screen resembles what you'd find on a smartphone or tablet with clean font, bright colors, and dynamic images. But Windows 8 also retains many of the features from Windows 7, so your staff should have no trouble getting used to the new interface. Looks aside, Windows 8 also offers some new features that may help your staff's productivity as well as the performance and longevity of your organization's computers.

To help you decide whether Windows 8 is a good fit for your organization, we’ve come up with four questions for you to consider.

Will Your Organization Benefit from Windows 8’s New Features?

The new Start screen replaces the Start menu found in the lower-left corner of previous versions of Windows. You can "pin" apps, contacts, and favorite websites to the Start screen to quickly access them. Microsoft will also have a variety of special Start screen apps (both free and paid) through the Windows Store, which you can get to by clicking its dedicated tile on the Start screen.

If you'd like the more traditional desktop view, you can click the "Desktop" tile. To switch back to the Start screen from the desktop, click in the lower left-hand corner where you'd expect to find the Start button in preceding versions of Windows. You can also toggle between the two views by pressing the Windows key, found on the lower left-hand side of your keyboard. It is easy to work strictly in the desktop if you can't get used to the new Start screen.

One of the big design changes in Windows 8 is the addition of "charms" in both the desktop and Start screen views. Hover your mouse to the right edge of your screen, and you’ll see icons representing Search and Sharing functionality. Using the Search charm, you can easily search within a folder or application, or use it to prompt a Bing search in Internet Explorer.

Here are a few more advantages of Windows 8 to consider:

Better performance: Windows 8 uses less RAM and CPU resources than Windows 7 and therefore runs faster. For more on Windows 8's performance, see this benchmark comparison between Windows 7 and Windows 8 from PCWorld.
Works well on older machines: Windows 8 will not only work on your older IT equipment, but it runs faster than Windows 7.
Energy efficient: Windows 8 saves battery life by dropping to a low-power state when you're not doing anything power-intensive.
Security: Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender, which protects against malware and spyware. For more on Windows Defender and other security enhancements, read Windows 8 Security: What's New, What's Different.
Protection against hardware failure: Windows 8's Storage Spaces employs a software-based RAID system to protect data and ensure that it remains available in the event of a computer crash.
SkyDrive integration: Microsoft’s cloud storage program is built into just about every application in Windows 8.
Multilingual: You can more easily switch between display languages, and additional display languages are available in Windows 8, which is of value to multilingual organizations.

Does Your Hardware Support Windows 8?

Next, you should confirm that your computers can support Windows 8. If your hardware supports Windows 7, you should have no issues upgrading to Windows 8. Though Windows 8 is also designed for touch-friendly devices, you can comfortably operate it with just a mouse and keyboard.

Windows 8 is available in a 32-bit and a 64-bit version. These versions have different requirements.

Requirement	32-bit	64-bit
Processor	1 GHz or faster	1 GHz or faster
RAM	1 GB	2 GB
Hard disk space	16 GB	20 GB
Graphics card	Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver	Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

Will Your Programs Run on Windows 8?

Before upgrading, you should also determine whether your programs are compatible with Windows 8. If you’re upgrading from Windows 7, you should be able to keep most of your existing software.

First, evaluate what software you have. If your organization’s computers aren’t standardized (in other words, if not every computer in your office runs the same programs), you may need to survey your users or use a free auditing program like Spiceworks IT Desktop to determine which programs are running on your computers.

Next, check if your software is compatible with Windows 8. You can run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant before you install the operating system. Alternately, you can also check Microsoft’s Windows 8 Compatibility Center, which lists the compatibility status of Microsoft and third-party products and software. Don’t see your software listed? You can also check your software vendors' websites to make sure your programs run on Windows 8.

If you have programs that run only on Windows XP, you won't be able to run them on Windows 8. Unlike Windows 7, Windows 8 doesn’t have a special XP or Vista mode for running those programs. You also have the option to install Windows 8 on a virtual machine, like VirtualBox or the VMWare Player on an actual Windows XP machine. For more on virtualization, read TechSoup's Virtualization 101 article.

Which Edition Should You Get?

Microsoft has simplified the Windows 8 editions line-up, giving customers four different versions to choose from: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows 8 RT. Windows 8 Enterprise has the same features as Windows 8 Pro plus six additional features for businesses. Note that if you are currently running any Home edition of Windows 7, you will not be able to use the Windows 8 Pro or Enterprise upgrade software available from BiGTech Donations Program. However you may be eligible to request the Windows 8 Get Genuine full OS software. Read our article How to Upgrade to Windows 8 for more information.

The following chart shows feature differences between Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro.

Feature name	Windows 8 Pro	Windows 8 Enterprise
Start screen, Live Tiles, Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos , SkyDrive, Music, Video)	x	x
Windows To Go		x
BitLocker and BitLocker To Go	x	x
VPN client	x	x
DirectAccess		x
Remote Desktop	x	x
Client Hyper-V built-in virtualization (64-bit versions only)		x

Conclusion

Windows 8's revamped look will likely require a learning curve for your organization's employees. A brown bag workshop on Windows 8's new features and functionality might be useful for your staff before upgrading.

Note: As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer support Windows XP, so if your organization's systems are still running Windows XP you should start planning an upgrade to either Windows 8 or Windows 7 as soon as possible. Windows 7 and Vista support will continue until 2017, if you decide that now is not the right time to upgrade.

tags: Microsoft

How to Upgrade to Windows 8

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 22/10/2012 - 10:26

Tips for acquiring and upgrading to Microsoft’s latest operating system

By Ginny Mies

If your organization decides that it's ready to switch to Windows 8 and has verified that it meets the technical requirements to do so, it is time to make an upgrade plan. This article will walk you through steps to take before and during an install.

This article is geared toward the accidental techie who is comfortable installing software and who has only a handful of computers (fewer than 10) to upgrade. Those looking for tips on virtualized environments, unattended installs, or network-wide mass deployment can find support on Microsoft TechNet Windows 8 Technical Library Roadmap.

Before You Begin
When Microsoft released Windows 7, we outlined a checklist of easy computing steps to ensure a painless upgrade from Vista or XP. Even though Windows 8 might look like a completely new operating system, these steps are still relevant for moving from Windows 7. Before you start upgrading your organization's systems to Windows 8, make sure to go through the checklist.

Getting Windows 8

Obtaining through BiGTech: Organizations eligible under the Microsoft Donation Program can request upgrade versions of Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise. Note that you cannot upgrade from any Home edition of Windows 7. See a summary of Volume Licensing Product Use Rights for specific licensing details. The full, base version of Windows 8 Pro is also available at BiGTech Donations Program via Microsoft's Get Genuine program. The full version is only available to eligible organizations that cannot use the Upgrade version and is limited to 50 licenses of any combination of Get Genuine products. More information about all Windows 8 products can be found on BiGTech’s Windows 8 Page.

New Donation Request: If you've never requested software via BiGTech's Microsoft Donation Program, read this overview of the program and find out if your organization is eligible.

Upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise using Software Assurance: If you have requested a Microsoft PC operating system donation with Software Assurance within the past two years, you are eligible for a free upgrade to the latest operating system through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center, where you can download the installation files. You can upgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise from any Windows license that is covered with Software Assurance. For more information, visit TechSoup's Volume Licensing Service Center - Software Assurance Benefits page.

Download ISO files: BiGTech encourages organizations to go green and download installation software rather than have discs sent to you. Learn how to download software from Microsoft's Volume Licensing Service Center and how to install Microsoft Windows from downloaded ISO files.

Installing Windows 8

Once you decide to make the switch to Windows 8, you have a few options for deploying it. If you are upgrading from Windows 7, you can do an in-place upgrade. Your system settings, as well as your installed applications and user settings, are preserved. This requires minimal reconfiguration, and you won’t need to re-install your programs after you've upgraded.

You can also opt to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 through a custom install, which is also known as a "clean" install. This means your programs, files, and settings are not preserved. You will need to back up your files and programs before upgrading and then re-install them afterwards.

If you're upgrading from Windows Vista or XP, the line between in-place upgrade and custom install becomes a bit blurred. Depending on which operating system you're upgrading from, you will have a choice of what you can keep when you move over to the various versions of Windows 8. The following chart outlines what you can keep when upgrading from one version to another.

Current operating system

New operating system

What you can keep

Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate

Windows 8 Pro

·         In-place upgrade: programs

·         Windows settings

·         User accounts and files

Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise

Windows 8 Enterprise

·         In-place upgrade: programs

·         Windows settings

·         User accounts and files

Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 or 2¹

Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro

Personal files and Windows settings

Windows XP with Service Pack 3

Windows 8 or Windows Pro

Personal files only

¹If you are running Windows Vista RTM (release to manufacturing), you can keep your personal files only if you upgrade to Windows 8. We highly recommend downloading a free patch from Windows Update before upgrading so you can keep your Windows settings as well.

32-Bit or 64-Bit?

If you're questioning whether you should get a 32-bit or 64-bit version, Microsoft makes it fairly easy on you. You can upgrade to a 32-bit version of Windows 8 only if you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows. And it is the same for 64-bit versions; you can’t go from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 8 or vice versa.

Once you've decided on an installation method, the actual process of installing Windows 8 is simple. The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will warn you about hardware and software compatibility issues on your system. If you have a program that's not compatible, the Upgrade Assistant will remove it and restart the installation. Make sure to have your product key handy, as you'll need it to complete the installation.

Next, you have a choice of color themes for Windows 8 as well the opportunity to name your PC. Don't like the color you picked? You'll have more customization options after you finish installing Windows 8. You will also be asked to pick between Express settings or Custom settings. For most users, Express settings are adequate, but be sure to read through the list of settings you'll opt into. Finally, you will be asked to enter your Microsoft account information. If you don't have an account already, you can sign up for one from the prompt screen.

And you're done! You are now running the brand-new Windows 8.

tags: Microsoft

Joy of Giving Week - 'Find an IT Partner' Event Registration

posted by Anonymous - Mon, 17/09/2012 - 11:14

If you are an NGO with a technology idea but no reliable IT partner to implement, then this event is for you! NASSCOM Foundation in partnership with Don Bosco Institute of Technology and other NASSCOM member companies is conducting a one day 'Find an IT partner' event for NGOs in and around Mumbai.

The idea can be towards anything that enables better impact of your work - from websites, data security, MIS, etc. to mobile apps. You may include IT projects that you have already started and now needs further extension of functionality or ideas for an IT project that needs to be started from scratch. We will help you in scoping the project with realistic deadlines.
We welcome you to join us and be a part of social change.

Time	Agenda
2:00 pm– 2:30 pm	Welcome note & Introductions By: Prashant Pandit, AVP, NASSCOM Foundation
2:30 pm – 04:00 pm	NGOs shall present their IT project(5-min PPT) to the IT-Resource-Leads.
04:00 pm– 04:15 pm	IT-Resource-Leads will decide among themselves which projects to adopt
04:15pm - 5:00 pm	One-on-One discussions between NGOs and the IT-Resource-Leads

Host & Venue: Don Bosco Center for Learning, Conference Room, Wing
A, Old Building, 2nd Floor, Premier Automobile Road, Opp. Kohinoor City,Off LBS
Mark, Kurla (W), Mumbai. View
on Online Map

Loading...

tags:

Current operating system	New operating system	What you can keep
Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate	Windows 8 Pro	· In-place upgrade: programs · Windows settings · User accounts and files
Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise	Windows 8 Enterprise	· In-place upgrade: programs · Windows settings · User accounts and files
Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 or 2¹	Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro	Personal files and Windows settings
Windows XP with Service Pack 3	Windows 8 or Windows Pro	Personal files only
¹If you are running Windows Vista RTM (release to manufacturing), you can keep your personal files only if you upgrade to Windows 8. We highly recommend downloading a free patch from Windows Update before upgrading so you can keep your Windows settings as well.