Teen Oversees Windows 7 Deployment for Eagle Scout Project
Some aspiring Eagle Scouts clean up parks, run safety campaigns, or refurbish hiking trails to complete the big leadership service project required to achieve the Boy Scouts of America's highest rank.
David Browning, of Troop 600 in Bellevue, Wash., is installing Windows 7 instead.
To be sure, this is no simple project. The tech-savvy 16-year-old, who happens to be the son of a Microsoft employee, is overseeing the deployment of Microsoft's new operating system across 67 computers at Eastside Christian School in Bellevue -- managing a team of fellow Boy Scouts and overseeing a complex software duplication process to help the school make a much-needed technological upgrade.
"Originally the school wanted to go to Vista over the summer," explained Browning, a former Eastside Christian student who works as a technology volunteer at the school. "I managed to convince them to go (Windows) 7, just so the teachers wouldn't have to learn two operating systems in one year."
Browning's project puts him ahead of the pack of businesses and individual computer users who will be making the upgrade to Windows 7 after its Oct. 22 release. The good news for them, and for Microsoft, is that he has yet to encounter any major problems running the school's older peripherals and applications on Windows 7.
"So far we haven't had any compatibility issues. The only issues that have come up are with really old programs ... but the school isn't running those anymore." Browning said. "A lot of the printers are pretty old, and we haven't had any problems yet."
That's a change from the rollout of Windows Vista, in January 2007, which flummoxed companies and PC users with widespread compatibility problems. Microsoft is hoping for a much smoother release with Windows 7.
Browning does have the advantage of working with mostly new computers. The school has replaced its older Windows XP computers with newer Dell machines running 2.8 GHz dual-core Intel processors and integrated graphics. In terms of hardware, Browning said, "this is a huge upgrade."
To install the operating system, Browing is using a process called ghosting that involves creating a master copy of the operating system, along with related applications and settings, then deploying it across the school's network to the computers. The computers originally came with Windows Vista Home Basic, and one lesson Browning learned was to remove the multiple hard-drive partitions that were on the machines, to simplify the process of management and deployment.
For now, Browning is deploying the Windows 7 Release Candidate, the test version of the operating system that came just before it was finalized. He plans to conduct a second deployment over the winter break to upgrade the computers to the final Windows 7 version. Versions of Windows and Microsoft Office are being donated to the school by Microsoft employees who have children there, with assistance from the matching program offered through the company's giving campaign.
Even if the deployment wasn't helping Browning become an Eagle Scout, it would be a great learning opportunity, he said.
"I've learned so much about Windows Server, and how companies deploy computers," he said. "All these different group policy settings and stuff. That was the probably the big reason I took this on. Another reason is I used to go here, and I wanted to help out the school."
Along the way, Browning has gotten help from fellow Boy Scouts, tech-savvy friends, other technology volunteers and adults, including his dad, Jon Browning, who is a Microsoft director involved in the company's vendor strategy.
But if anyone thinks Jon Browning's occupation gives his son an unfair advantage in working toward his Eagle Scout rank, it's important to know that David Browning doesn't need to lean too heavily on his dad's technological abilities.
"I'm a bit ahead of him," David said with a grin, teasing his dad a little.
Jon Browning, sitting nearby, didn't disagree, and he said he was happy when David brought up the idea of using the Windows 7 deployment for his big Eagle Scout project. "I thought it was a great idea," he said. "It seemed perfect the minute he said it."
Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop.
Cappy on August 11, 2009 at 06:35 PM
That is one fine accomplishment!
Jeremy Wa on August 11, 2009 at 06:52 PM
If they were Macs, it would be far too simple to earn a badge.
When Mac OS-X 10.6 comes out, people will simply install them and they will work.
There will be no need for Scouts or IT people or other helpers.
There will also be no need for anti-virus and anti-spyware and such impediments.
Blake on August 11, 2009 at 07:14 PM
Yeah, Jeremy, Mac people won't need IT, because if they decide to upgrade hardware, they'll have to take the system to a licensed Mac repair station. At which point, they'll pay a premium for the extremely proprietary hardware.
Oh, and shut up about the virus and spyware problems Mac's don't have.
The only reason Mac appears to not have the problem is market share.
As soon as Mac's gain a 25% or better market share, you'll be screaming for anti-virus software.
Idiot.
CE on August 11, 2009 at 08:42 PM
This is fine for developed!
Sailfish on August 11, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Yeah, Mac OS-X 10.6 will repartition the old hard drives like it's on auto-pilot and hand-wash and polish the cylinders while it's at it.
Those old printers? No problem-o. It will simply shine the magic Apple logo upon them and immediately transform them into Mac-compatible devices and have them purring like cuddling kittens after a nice dinner of Kibbles and Bits.
And networking, where's the problem? Mac is known for their great networking, just check-out all the Silicon Valley blogs and social networking sites, for example.
And the best part, it will all be overseen by that cool Mac guy on the commercials who wouldn't admit to knowing an Eagle Scout from a bald eagle.
epobirs on August 12, 2009 at 12:07 AM
Actually, the correct term would be 'imaging.' Ghosting refers to a specific commercial product from Symantec that has no shortage of competitors.
This the difference between photocopying and Xeroxing.
Locomotive Breath on August 12, 2009 at 04:57 AM
"Yeah, Jeremy, Mac people won't need IT, because if they decide to upgrade hardware, they'll have to take the system to a licensed Mac repair station. At which point, they'll pay a premium for the extremely proprietary hardware."
What a whopper. Apple uses the same suppliers as everyone else and upgrade/replacement parts are available everywhere. Either that or I just imagined doing upgrades on my Macs for the last 22 years. A Mac is no harder to upgrade than any other computer.
"Those old printers? No problem-o. It will simply shine the magic Apple logo upon them and immediately transform them into Mac-compatible devices and have them purring like cuddling kittens after a nice dinner of Kibbles and Bits."
My HP laser is from 2000 and has continued to work just fine after every OS X upgrade.
Scratching Head on August 12, 2009 at 07:48 AM
As a recipient of the Eagle award many, many moons ago I support anyone in this endeavor. Although I am taken aback a little, the effort that he is undertaking would surely meet the requirements for time and community service. Proper deployment of any OS in a large-ish environment can be a daunting task. And to the Jeremy Wa's out there, this isn't just installing an OS. This is (should be?) configuring each system for the network, file shares, printing applications, and permissions for that environment. It would be just as complex no matter what is installed.
That being said, I am tempted to say that choosing a proprietary OS (read $$) for a school system makes me want to say this may also qualify as vandalism... ;)
Sailfish on August 12, 2009 at 11:01 AM
"My HP laser is from 2000 and has continued to work just fine after every OS X upgrade."
In the Windows environment, all that glitters is not HP.
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