Devices Tips

10.28.26 Windows and Dell Command Updates

Regularly installing updates will help keep your computer in its best working condition. Although update notifications may occasionally pop up, a helpful tip is to set a monthly reminder on your calendar to check for updates.

Once updates are installed, you may be prompted to restart your computer to complete the process. After restarting, there may be a delay the first time you log in while the updates finish installing. Please allow some additional time for your first login after installing updates.

Another helpful tip is to check for updates before you leave for the day, allowing enough time for them to install and your computer to restart if needed. If updates cannot be completed before you leave, you can finish the process when you return.

Here are the steps for Windows updates:

1. Right click on the blue four square icon in the bottom left corner of your screen to launch the Start menu.

2. Choose Settings

3. On the screen that pops up, Windows Update will be the last option on the list on the left side. Click on Windows Update.

4. A new screen will appear with a blue button that says “Check for Updates”. There may also be a list of updates available. Click on the blue button to launch updates.

5. If there are no updates, there will be a message on the screen that says “You’re up to date” with the time of the last update check. 

Here are the steps for the Dell Command updates:

1. Right click on the blue four square icon in the bottom left corner of your screen to launch the Start menu.

2. Choose Search

3. In the search bar by the magnifying glass, type in Dell Command Updates

4. When that option pops up, click on it. 

5. A new screen will appear with a blue box that says “Check”. Click on that box to check for updates.

6. If there are updates, they will launch. Otherwise, you will receive a message that says you are up to date.

Keep in mind that updates can often take some time to install, so check for updates during a time when you don’t need your computer. Checking frequently for updates will help keep the wait time for installation down. 

• Renfro

Chromebook on the fritz? Need help with that Smart TV or Smart Board? You've come to the right place!

10.7.26 - Student Chromebooks as Workarounds - As a result of the state wide cell phone ban, understandably students have been using their chromebooks in creative ways. Some of these chromebook uses are causing issues of concern.

Camera Photos & Storage Risk 

• Issue: Chromebook photos save locally. Chromebooks have limited storage. Devices will slow down or freeze. Repairs or crashes wipe all local files.

• Action: Remind students to save all project files directly to Google Drive.

Zoom / Google Meet Chatting

• Issue: Students are hosting unapproved video calls during class.

• Action: Block Zoom/Meet using GoGuardian while IT sets up permanent restrictions.

Google Docs/Slides Chatting

• Issue: Shared docs are being used as live chat rooms, not new but increasing from the phone ban.

• Action: View active tabs via GoGuardian during independent class work time.

05.13.26: Summer Chromebook Care - Finney

All returning WRHS students (current grades 9-11) are expected to take their chromebooks home and store them over the summer. Here are the tips and tricks we tell students to keep those devices in top shape for when they return to school in August:

1. Make sure your device is YOUR DEVICE, before you leave WRHS on May 21st. Visit library.usd437.net, select “Washburn Rural High School” from the list of schools, sign in with Google, then visit the “My Info” tab to see all items checked out to you. Specifically your chromebook AND charger.

2. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DEVICE IN YOUR CAR. Stolen items and summer heat cause several chromebook issues upon returning to school. Instead leave it somewhere safe inside where it won’t get confused with a sibling’s device or an old 8th grade device.

3. Remember: your chromebook is NOT for personal use. If you’re taking the June or July ACT, or have AP/IB study work to complete, that is fine. Otherwise, it should not be used for gaming, chatting, or streaming music. USD 437 tech can and will monitor your device use, so make good choices!

4. Fully charge before August 12th. There is a good possibility that you will need your device AND your charger the first day of school. So please have it fully charged. Bonus points if you check for updates!

Reminder, under NO circumstances should a device be left at WRHS. If a student cannot take a device home, please let a library staff member know immediately. We will check in the device, and issue the student a new one when they return in August. 

1.14.26 - Update of Smart TV Software

Smart TVs may be set up to automatically receive updates and one is expected within the next several days. However, some Smart TVs may not have the automatic updates turned on. If so, then the update must be done manually. This site has information about managing updates.

Update Enhancements:

• Added AI-powered functionality to the whiteboard. This feature can be enabled via Settings > Admin Mode > Security > Whiteboard AI Search. 

• Introduced OCR handwriting recognition for the whiteboard, with support for multiple languages. 

• Added Easy Reach Mode, allowing users to enable or disable the four-finger pull-down gesture that temporarily lowers the screen across all sources.

 Update Fixes:

• Fixed an issue where changing the time zone for additional clocks in the Classroom Tool did not take effect after deleting a clock.

• Resolved an issue that caused certain Google apps to fail when signing in with a Google Workspace account.

• Fixed a problem that prevented OTA updates via NDM when the screen was locked or on the login page.
   

12.15.25: Chromebooks don't like the cold - Finney

Staff: please, Please, PLEASE, help your WRHS Library & Tech staff by passing on this important message to ALL of your students. Every hour - the first minute of class after taking attendance. It’s one sentence, you can do it. It goes like this:

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CHROMEBOOKS IN YOUR CAR!!!!!!!

But seriously, it has reached that beautiful time of year where the weather drops below freezing at night. If a student or staff chromebook is left in a car overnight, and is in an environment that exposes it to below freezing temperatures, that chromebook will not function properly in the morning. 

Some of the effects of exposing our chromebooks to cold for extended periods of time include: the black screen of death, charging issues, connectivity issues, and general glitches. To combat this, we have been collecting the device, doing a factory reboot (to correct the black screen of death), and leaving the chromebook plugged in and “resting” for 1-2 class periods. This gives it time to acclimate back to internal temperatures so it can function properly.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. Some other things to remember as we reach the halfway point of the year:

• Clear your browsing history, cache, and cookies at LEAST once a week.

• Update your computer - this can be found in the settings under “About Chrome OS.”

• Shut down your computer nightly. Closing the lid does not count as a full shutdown. 

• Plug in your device before bed, or before leaving school, every night.

Thank you! Together we’ll get through this winter of chromebook woes. 

11.3.25: New Phone Who Dis? - Finney

It’s that time of year when we all start putting too much energy into gift giving. If one of those gifts includes a new phone for yourself, don’t forget that you’ll need to reset your two-factor authentication for on that device. In order to get that started, you’ll need to get in contact with Patrick Clear or Stacy Scott at the SEC tech department. You can do this via email or Help desk ticket.

To help, Here are directions Tech has created for how to set up 2FA:

http://wiki.usd437.net/index.php/How-To_Setup_Two-Factor_Authentication

Please note, different phones and different authentication apps all behave differently, so don’t be afraid to ask your friend Google for help while you wait for tech to reset the log-in for you.

2.17.25: Let's clean those chromebooks! - Finney

It has been 188 days since August 13th, 2024 and the new freshmen joined us at WRHS. That means, there is a potential that it has been 188 days since you have done some chromebook care. There are some simple tips & tricks you should be using WEEKLY to keep your chromebook running smoothly. Let’s start with the ones you may not know…

1 - Clearing your downloads

Anytime you open an assignment from your online classroom and it “downloads the file,” that file ends up in your physical downloads on the chromebook. This is not your Google Drive, but instead where files go to die on your device. Student & Staff Chromebooks do not have the internal memory to support an excess of these files. While staff may only have 5-20 PDFs to sift through, our students are prone to taking screenshots, downloading music, and saving funny backgrounds on their computers. This will make the device extremely slow and glitchy. To make sure you don’t lose any essential files, please follow these steps at least once a week: 

Read the Full Post Here!

11.13.24: Staff laptops - do you know how to update both systems? - Finney

We all know it’s important to clear the browsing history, fully shut down, and update our staff laptops regularly, but with our new Dell devices at the high school this year, sometimes those updates are not easily found. Additionally, our new devices have two different types of updates: Windows & Dell Command Updates. So, if your device is not functioning properly, it won’t display on your Newline TV, or maybe you can’t access the printers, here is how to find those updates!

Read full post by clicking here!

02.19.24: My Stylus Costs What!? - Finney

We’ve been 1:1 with our chromebooks for a few years now, but are you familiar with the fees associated with common lost or damaged parts? I’ve asked our tech crew at SEC to share some of them with us. Please note, that these are always subject to change.

Gen 2 Chromebook (Black Stylus)

• Stylus $15.25

• Screen $119.99

• System board (broken headphone jack, broken charging port) $124.99

• Full System $360

• AC Adapter $18.95

Gen 3 Chromebook (Red Stylus)

• Stylus $42.00

• Screen $125.00

• System board $169.99

• Full System $360

• AC Adapter $18.95

1.22.24: New and easier way to clear browser data in Chrome - Heather Stessman

Full post with work aids here.

9/22/2023:  Do those Windows updates as your first line of IT defense - Heather Stessman

Stop what you’re doing and take a peek at the bottom right-hand corner of your HP laptop.  Do you see something like this?  

The orange or red dot indicates that there is an update to be run. To keep your machine running to its capacity, don’t ignore these dots. Some updates will be run nightly if you completely shut your computer down each night (which is recommended best practice), but if you see the dot, run those updates at your earliest convenience.

To do this, click on the dot and you’ll see a message that looks something like this:

read the full post here

9/1/2023: Chromebook Trends So Far - Finney

Can you believe it’s already September? A new year means new technology glitches. Here are some things we have seen and worked with so far with our student & staff chromebooks.

Freshmen

All Freshmen should be using their NEW devices. The 8th grade devices they kept at the end of last year are no longer under the USD 437 network and will function like a personal device. That means they cannot access USD 437 Wifi, cannot access locked quizzes and tests, and cannot print. Please encourage students to bring their high school device every day to alleviate this problem. 

Printing

Remember, to print students and staff must select the printer named 437 Printers on papercut. There is a new printer on some devices, 437 Epson on Papercut. This is NOT a printer we can access. If the correct printer is not available, the device most likely needs updated. 

.... To Read the Full Post, CLICK HERE!