COEN Windows Labs – Computer FAQs

Can I install applications or save files to these computers?
No.  All computer lab systems are configured with software that protects them from viruses and unintended software installs (they’re ‘frozen’ with Deep Freeze software, which prevents changes to the computers).

Save your files to a thumb drive, W: drive, Dropbox or other location, because files temporarily stored on a lab computer’s hard drive ARE NOT PERMANENT. When the machine is restarted, all machine changes are lost.

Lab machines are configured to restart nightly after lab hours (6am to 10PM daily) as part of routine system maintenance (typically around 1:30am in the morning).

How do I request software for a new semester?
Each semester faculty and staff may request software changes by contacting the COEN IT Services Department by responding to the email sent out to all faculty and staff from the Dean’s office about software change requests (prior to the deadline).

Requests can be submitted at any time by sending an email to COENITSVCS-group@boisestate.edu, well in advance of the next semester, also.

Why can’t changes be made to lab computers during the middle of a semester?
COEN classrooms and labs are heavily scheduled during fall and spring semesters. Some areas are so busy there’s no available time in the room prior to 8am or after 6pm on weekdays. This means that scheduling software updates is extremely difficult, as changes cannot be made while the computers are in use.

To make changes, the systems also need to be ‘thawed’ which takes around fifteen minutes for an entire lab (including restarts). The software installation may also require several minutes. Afterward the systems must be re-frozen, which requires another restart.