Some Windows users are reporting problems restarting their computers after applying the latest Windows updates (KB4493472 (Windows 7, Server 2008R2) and KB4493446 (Windows 8.1, Server 2012R2)).
If your Windows system is having trouble, here are the basic steps to fix the issue. Please note that you will need to have administrator rights on the computer and have working knowledge of the Windows operating system. Please feel free to Request Help if you would prefer to not fix the issue yourself:
Restart in safe mode, see https://go.lbl.gov/WindowsSafeModeBoot. Methods include:
Reboot and hold down the F8 key and select safe mode OR
Before reboot use the msconfig tool to set safe mode on startup OR
Before reboot use the command prompt and issue safe mode commands
Once in safe mode, disable the Sophos Anti-Virus service
Open the Control Panel
Choose System and Security
Choose Administrative Tools
Open the Service icon
Locate the Sophos service and open “Properties” by double-clicking
Choose “Disabled” for the Startup Type
Click OK to confirm your choice
Restart the computer normally (Boot into normal mode)
Uninstall the Windows KB4493472 or KB4493446 updates depending on your operating system
Open the Control Panel
Click “Uninstall a program” from the Programs icon
Select “View installed updates” on the left window pane
Scroll down the list and search for the update(s)
Highlight and click “Uninstall”
Confirm you want to uninstall the update by selecting “Yes” button
Click “Restart Now” button
Enable the Sophos Anti-Virus service
Open the Control Panel
Choose System and Security
Choose Administrative Tools
Open the Service icon
Locate the Sophos AntiVirus service and open “Properties” by double-clicking
Choose “Automatic” for the Startup Type
Click OK to confirm your choice
Restart the computer normally again for good measure
Users can minimize this sort of impact in the future by utilizing the IT User Support WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) server rather than Microsoft. Request this support via Request Help.
On April 29, 2019, the certificate for the LBL server that handles eduroam authentication will expire. Once this certificate expires, you will not be able to use eduroam. You will need to update your eduroam profile if you plan to continue using this service. After April 29, 2019, you will not be able to use eduroam until you update your profile.
What do I need to do?
To update your profile you must first remove your existing eduroam profile (if you have one) and download a new profile from http://cat.eduroam.org/.
If you have any issues with the installation or would like some assistance, please contact the IT Help Desk at [email protected] or (510) 486-4357.
The commons server was down for another hour on Sunday, April 7th starting at 8PM while the Confluence software was upgraded again to fix performance issues.
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The commons.lbl.gov server was down for ~1 Hour on Friday, April 5th starting at 6PM while the Confluence software was being upgraded to a newer version which contains a bugfix for the following security vulnerability:
https://confluence.atlassian.com/doc/confluence-security-advisory-2019-03-20-966660264.html
The WebDAV Plugin and Widget Connector and Office Connector Add-ons have been re-enabled.
The IT User Support Group would like to notify all Asus users to update their computers as soon as possible.
Asus recently announced the need to patch their computers due to potential “ShadowHammer” malware, see http://go.lbl.gov/AsusShadowHammer. Asus Live Update servers were hacked and malicious code was implanted in their servers. It has been cited that at least 1 million downloads of the malicious code were distributed and hundreds of thousands of installs have been executed.
Asus has a diagnostic tool to determine if you have been infected. Further details are explained on the company’s website, http://go.lbl.gov/AsusLiveUpdateNews. Please take action and protect your computers and your work.
Additional methods to protect your systems:
Install a backup application like Druva inSync to protect your data if a rebuild is in order
Download and install BigFix so IT User Support can identify if you have been infected
If you desire support, please Request Help.
For Elements Visitors: Apologies for the wrong link in the Oct 26 Elements.
The correct link to the October 2020 vulnerability information is here: Update Chrome Now
In early March Google confirmed a serious Chrome security issue. This security vulnerability is a memory management error that can enable the execution of malicious code on a user’s computer, see Google reveals Chrome zero-day active attacks.
IT recommends that users immediately update Chrome by restarting it. Users should verify they are running at least version 72.3.3626.121. The current version is 73.0.3683.86. For your reference Google provides Chrome update instructions here.
Thanks to BigFix, the IT Workstation Support Group will be distributing a communication to users who still have the vulnerability. If you wish to receive proactive communications regarding the health of your computer, you can Download BigFix and install it. If you have further questions about BigFix, please Request Help.
Lab IT has released Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 10, version 1809 (see What’s new in Windows 10, version 1809 for IT Pros). This update is recommended for all Windows 10 users.
Installing this update will require a couple of reboots, so be prepared for it to take some time.
During the update installation, users will see progress updates with messages such as:
Preparing to update…..
Downloading…..
Installing Update…..
This entire process can take up to an hour, but you can continue to work during this time.
Windows will notify you that you need to reboot. The reboot can take up to 15-20 minutes to complete, so you may want to choose the option to schedule the reboot for later.
After the initial reboot, Windows will automatically reboot a couple of times as part of the update process.
If you want to install this update now, please follow the directions at Get the Windows 10 October 2018 Update.
For general information regarding Windows updates, see Microsoft’s site, Update Windows 10.
Remember: always keep your operating system up to date, your applications patched, and your system rebooted at least once a week!
You asked, we listened! We’re bringing LabTech to you!
April 1 @ 10AM
Bldg. 84 Lobby
Come see us to learn how IT can help you with all your computing needs. We will be offering no-cost consulting on:
- Scaleable, cost efficient centralized IT services
- High Performance Computing
- Virtualization
- Storage Solutions
- Software Training
- Desktop/Laptop/Mobile support
- Backup and Multi Factor Authentication guidance
For more information see scienceit.lbl.gov.
In six of the seven facilities of the Molecular Foundry, scientists at benches or instruments, in lab coats or clean room suits, are hard at work creating and characterizing nanoscale materials. Sandwiched in between those laboratories, however, is a different kind of lab — one within a more traditional workspace of offices and cubicles. “Our computing is our lab space,” said David Prendergast, director of the Berkeley Lab’s Theory of Nanostructured Materials Facility located on the third floor of Foundry. More >
Smartsheet is experiencing connectivity issues. To monitor the progress of the work click here.
The servers that run commons.lbl.gov and conferences.lbl.gov will be inaccessible from outside the LBL network between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, this Thursday, January 17, 2019.
To minimize this service disruption, we recommend that you sign out of these services by 5:30 PM, since any unsaved changes made while the servers are offline will be lost.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact the IT Help Desk at [email protected] or 510-486-4357.
Zoom is currently experiencing a service disruption. For current status of the issue, please visit https://status.zoom.us/.
An alternative to Zoom is Google Meet (https://meet.google.com), for more information and to learn more about Google Meet, visit https://support.google.com/meet.
December 23, 2018: The work for this migration has completed. If you have any questions please contact us at [email protected].
The CIFS server has reached end-of-life and to reduce the high costs associated with hardware replacement, operation, maintenance, and data backup, the IT Division is retiring the CIFS service at the end of the calendar year 2018. User content currently stored in the CIFS server will be migrated to a new storage device.
The migration will begin at 5:30 PM on Friday, December 21, 2018. The work is estimated to be completed by Sunday, December 23, 2018.
IT Division's user survey kicks off this morning. A statistically valid sample of the laboratory population has been selected by the survey firm retained by IT Division (MOR Associates) and those users received email this morning asking for them to participate in the survey. IT wants to thank those of you selected in advance for your participation in the survey. The survey is one of the most critical tools we have in charting our near and medium-term priorities and investments, as well our performance.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact [email protected]
The IT Identity Management services, including LDAP, Single Sign-On, and MFA services will be inaccessible on December 6, 2018 starting at 6:00 PM for up 15 minutes while LBLnet performs network infrastructure upgrades. During this period, no services that depend on Identity Management systems for authentication will be available.
Apple recently announced that there are a limited number of 13-inch MacBook Pro (non-Touch Bar) laptops from 2017 and 2018 that have defective 128GB or 256GB solid-state drives. Apple suggests that to avoid data loss, these drives be replaced as soon as possible. They have a website to determine if your laptop is affected, see 13-inch MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) Solid-State Drive Service Program. Enter your serial number to see if the laptop requires repair.
If Apple’s website indicates that your system is affected, IT User Support recommends that you do the following:
- Ensure that you have a backup of your computer. We recommend using Berkeley Lab IT’s enterprise backup solution, Druva inSync, but there are other options available.
- Entering a help ticket by clicking here: REQUEST HELP. Berkeley Lab IT has a contract with an authorized Apple repair service. There will be no charge for the repair, but there may be some charges for the procurement and shipping.
- Alternatively, you can take your system to an Apple Store location to get it repaired at no cost. A Genius Bar appointment is required.
- If a loaner computer is needed while your laptop is being repaired, please indicate this in your help request.
