Stanford Desktop Tools for Windows

Installing Stanford Desktop Tools

Download and run the Stanford Desktop Tools installer.
At the Welcome window, click Next to continue.
Accept the terms of the license agreement and then click Next.
If you wish, read the release notes and then click Next to continue.
Click Install to begin the installation.
When the installation has completed, click Finish.

Configuring update preferences

The Setup Assistant opens automatically the first time you install Stanford Desktop Tools. It walks you through the process of setting up your software update preferences.

You can change your preference settings anytime by going to the Stanford Desktop Tools Tools menu and clicking Preferences.

Configure the following options:
- Launch Stanford Desktop Tools at login: check this box if you want to have the Stanford Desktop Tools icon available in the notification area when you log in to your computer (default). If this box is not checked, you can launch Stanford Desktop Tools by clicking the Windows Start menu and navigating to Programs > Stanford > Desktop Tools > Stanford Desktop Tools.
- Sounds to play when updates become available: if you want to be notified by sound when updates become available, click the Non-critical updates and/or Critical updates arrow and choose Default. Or, choose your own sound by using the Browse button to locate a .WAV file on your computer. To preview the sound you have selected, click the Play arrow .
Click Next to continue.
Select the software you want to keep updated.
- To add a program to the list of software you are keeping updated with Stanford Desktop Tools, click a program in the list of available applications on the left and then click Subscribe.
- To remove a program from your list of subscriptions, click a program in the list of selected applications on the right and then click Unsubscribe.
Note: Recommended software for all Stanford computers is indicated by a red circle .
Click Next to continue.
To automatically check for updates to the programs to which you have subscribed, click the Automatically check for updates box and specify the frequency (once per day, per week, or per month). The default is to check for updates weekly.
Click Finish to save your preferences and close the Setup Assistant.

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Installing software

After installing Stanford Desktop Tools and configuring your preferences, check to see whether there are any programs or updates to install.

Launch Stanford Desktop Tools by clicking the icon in the notification area.

Note: If you don't see the icon, you can launch Stanford Desktop Tools by clicking the Windows Start menu and navigating to Programs > Stanford > Desktop Tools > Stanford Desktop Tools.
To install a program to which you have subscribed, click the corresponding Not Installed link. To update a program, click the Update Required link.

Note: You can subscribe or unsubscribe to software by clicking the Manage Subscriptions link.
When the Install Software message is displayed, click OK to begin the installation.

Note: During installation, the icon changes to in the lower right corner of your screen.
When you are finished updating your software, click Close.

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Checking for software updates

Stanford Desktop Tools automatically checks for software updates according to the schedule you set in the preferences. If updates are available for any of your software subscriptions, you will be notified.

When Stanford Desktop Tools automatically checks for updates, a window will pop up to notify you if updates are available.

Windows XP Nortification Message:

Windows Vista Notification Message:
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If an update is urgent, typically to address security vulnerabilities, you will also see a warning icon covering the icon.
Click the icon to open Stanford Desktop Tools.
Click the link in the Program Status column to update your software.
If you want to check for updates manually, right-click the Stanford Desktop tools icon ( ) in the notification area and then click Check for Software Updates.

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Obtaining new credentials (Authenticating to Kerberos)

If Kerberos for Windows is installed on your computer, you are automatically prompted to obtain new credentials when you open an application that requires Kerberos authentication. However, you can manually obtain new Kerberos credentials using Stanford Desktop Tools.

Right-click the Stanford Desktop tools icon to display the shortcut menu.
Click Obtain New Credentials.
When the New Credentials dialog box is displayed, enter the following information and then click OK:
- Username: your SUNet ID
- Realm: stanford.edu
- Password: your SUNet ID password
See Kerberos for Windows for more information about authenticating to Kerberos.

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Accessing Stanford OpenAFS

If Stanford OpenAFS is already installed on your computer, you can mount AFS volumes and manage pts groups from Stanford Desktop Tools.

Right-click the Stanford Desktop Tools icon to display the shortcut menu.
Click Mount AFS Volume or Manage PTS Groups.

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If you see a message asking if you want to obtain a token now, click Yes.
If the Obtain AFS Token dialog box is displayed, enter your SUNet ID and password and then click OK.
Depending on your Stanford Desktop Tools menu selection, either the OpenAFS Mount AFS Volume or My PTS Groups window is displayed. See the Using Stanford OpenAFS for Windows for information about mounting AFS volumes and managing pts groups.