IMAGING & TUNE-UPS
Status Update
Art Rudeseal – NTC, CO1 D18 TC
(HMR Modified)
TAX-AIDE
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
1
Agenda
● Windows Imaging status

Windows 7

Windows 8
● Windows Tune-up Guide status

IRS computers

Non-IRS computers
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
2
Windows 7 Pro SP1
32-bit image
● Windows 7 is the OS of choice for Tax-Aide.

AARP-purchased systems ship with Windows 7
● Office viewers were removed from the latest
Windows 7 image to allow continued use of a
standard single-layer DVD.

Recommend use of OpenOffice or LibreOffice for
viewing Office documents
● Windows and MSE updates applied; Aug 12 bad
Microsoft updates removed
● Windows log in credentials updated
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
3
Windows 8.1 Pro Update
64-bit Image
● The Tax-Aide Windows 8 image
removes “Modern” tiled interface,
replaces it with Windows 7 style
desktop interface.

For volunteer users, very much like
Windows 7
● No Office viewer applications.
 Use Microsoft OneDrive online office
applications, or Win 8 Word viewer
application, OpenOffice or
LibreOffice.
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
4
Win 8 Image Requirements
● Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
(UEFI) capable computer
 All Windows 8 capable 64-bit computers
(includes Lenovo B590 & E540)
 Many modern Windows 7 systems can
support UEFI with a bios selection.
● This image is not intended for use with
older systems – use Windows 7 for
these systems.
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
5
Windows 8 Licensing
● “Core” is approximate equivalent of Windows 7
Home Premium

Machine label = Windows 8
● “Professional” = Windows 7 Pro

Machine label = Pro Windows 8
● Tax-Aide image is Professional only
● OEM Windows 8 Pro systems have the Pro license
key built into the BIOS. This key will be used by
the image.
● To upgrade Win 8 Core to Win 8.1 Pro apply to
Taxaidetech for access to national Windows 8 Pro
license key.
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
6
Locally Donated Win 8 Systems
● Entry point of Windows 8 systems into the program.
● The “Modern” interface causes issues for many
volunteers.
● Win 8.1 Update is configurable to traditional “desktop”
look
● For the below alternatives, the computers must first
be entered into the TCS and National inventory
● Alternative 1 – Use the National License Key to
downgrade to Windows 7.
● Alternative 2 – Use our Windows 8 image with the
system’s built in Pro or use the Windows 8 Pro
National License Key
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
7
Which OS?
● The primary or default OS for Tax-
Aide usage is Windows 7
● Windows 8 is being supported to
allow upgrade of locally donated
Windows 8 computers to a
standardized Windows 8 system
image.
If in doubt use Windows 7
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
8
Where do I find the images?
● Images and installing instructions
are available at
AARP Tax-Aide NTC Resource
Website
( http://www.taxaideaarp.org/ )
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
9
Availability
● 2014 Windows 7 (August) and Windows 8
(July) Images are available now.

Both will be updated in Nov/Dec so that they
are more up to date when most systems are
pulled from storage.
● New Lenovo E540 systems

Will ship with our August 2014 Windows 7 image

Has an AARP Tax-Aide product key installed

Windows must be activated upon receipt
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
10
Windows User Log Ins
● All AARP Tax-Aide images starting
with the August releases

Use the 2014 IRS Volunteer user password

Include the additional “Installer” user


Explained below
Require passwords to be changed annually



TAX-AIDE
At least 8 characters
Must meet complexity requirements
May not be any of the most recent 10 passwords
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
11
DVD Issues
● Image DVD

Fails to boot correctly (should be <1min to first user
interaction) or

Fails with an error during image installation
● Always due to data corruption

Check ISO download validity; see website

Use CDCheck to validate DVD media

DVD readers on old computers may have issues with
modern DVDs
● Windows 8 image requires a double-layer DVD
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
12
Tune-up Guides
● For systems that are not re-imaged – 2
guides:
 IRS-owned computers
 Personally-owned, Site-owned, and
AARP-owned donated computers
● These guides are published on the
Volunteer Portal at:
 OneSupport Help Center
 Technology
 Image and Tune-up
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
13
IRS Tune-up
● A workaround for the failure of
the TaxWise Workstation Setup
Program
● A fix for the failure of TWO Client
Letters to print correctly
● Sets the IE Compatibility View List
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
14
Non-IRS Tune-up
● For TWO
 Verifies the proper setting of the IE Compatibility
View List
 Configures comprehensive delete browsing history
upon exit from the browser – “clear cookies +”
● For TaxWise desktop
 Updates .NET Framework requirements to 4.5.1 or
higher
 Enables Linked Connections Windows system
policy for computers that will be using TaxWise
client/server networking
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
15
Demoting the Volunteer User
● For non-IRS computers used only
for TWO without the Alternative
Preparation Solution (APS)
● To reduce susceptibility to malware
installation
● Create a new Windows user called
“Installer,” make it an Administrator
● Demote the Volunteer user from an
Administrator to a Standard user
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
16
Lenovo B590 Download Issue
● B590 systems that still have the factory image:

“Tax-Aide Lenovo B590 18AUG13”
The Volunteer user may exhibit a failure to correctly download
files with the .exe file extension (or others).
● Effective workarounds include:

Use the Administrator user for downloading

Delete and re-create the Volunteer user

Temporarily turn off UAC for downloads
● Recommended solution is to re-image these
systems.
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
17
Imaging & Tune-ups
Questions ???
TAX-AIDE
September 5 & 8, 2014 TCS Calls
18