Support Statement: Microsoft Windows
Computing Services supports the following Microsoft Windows operating systems.
|
Version |
Support Details/Exceptions |
| Windows 11 |
Supported with the following exceptions:
|
| Windows 10 |
Supported with the following exceptions:
|
Licensing
Carnegie Mellon participates in the Microsoft Campus Agreement, providing specific Microsoft software to university-owned computers and, with restrictions, to personally-owned computers.
- University-owned computers: obtain a copy from your departmental computing administrator and then Activate your Windows Media.
- Personally-owned computers and mobile devices: visit Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching and follow the steps provided.
Level of Support
Computing Services supports Microsoft Windows and provides the configuration settings necessary for the system to operate safely on the campus network. The Computing Services Help Center does not perform operating system installations, repairs or restores and does not install drivers.
- Students should contact their academic department to determine their recommended operating system(s).
- Faculty and staff should contact their departmental computing administrator or functional business group lead for operating system upgrade recommendations.
Software
The Computing Services Help Center does not perform operating system installations, repairs or restores and does not install drivers.
Hardware & Peripherals
Computing Services does not install, configure or otherwise support specific hardware or peripherals.
Printing
Computing Services supports printing to Computing Services public printers.
Network Connections
Network services for Microsoft Windows should be configured using the Network Access instructions.
Activate Windows
There are two methods for activating Windows products on Carnegie Mellon computers: Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Keys (MAK).
Step 1: Choose the activation method
KMS Server for on-campus computers
If you typically use your computer ON-CAMPUS, activate via our KMS server.
- Connect to the campus network and install the Windows software. Windows will automatically activate via our Key Management Service (KMS) server.
- Connect your computer to the campus network once every 180 days, this includes general VPN, for the software to remain activated.
If KMS activation fails, follow the steps below.
- Open Command Prompt.
- Type CD \Windows\System32 at the prompt.
- Press Enter.
- Type cscript slmgr.vbs /skms kms1.andrew.cmu.edu:1688 to specify the KMS host. Type one of the following commands to specify the KMS client key manually:
-
- Windows 7 Enterprise - cscript slmgr.vbs -ipk 33PXH-7Y6KF-2VJC9-XBBR8-HVTHH
- Windows 8.1 Enterprise - cscript slmgr.vbs -ipk MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7
- Windows 10 Enterprise - cscript slmgr.vbs -ipk NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43
- Type cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato to activate immediately.
- Type cscript \windows\system32\slmgr.vbs -dlv to confirm that the computer has received a full product activation key.
MAK Server for off-campus computers
If you travel or use your computer off-campus for extended periods contact the IT Administrator for your department to perform the MAK activation steps below. The computer will contact Microsoft to activate.
- Install Windows on your computer. You will not be prompted for product key during installation.
- Click Start then right-click Computer and select Properties once installation completes.
- Click Continue through the warning message.
- Enter the MAK product key and click Next. IT Administrators can contact the Help Center to obtain the campus MAK..
Step 2: Verify activation
To verify the product activation:
- Click Start, then right-click Computer and select Properties.
- Scroll down to the Windows activation section.
- Verify that Windows is activated and displays the Genuine Microsoft Software logo.