Skype Room Systems Users Warned Again About Windows 10 Upgrades -- Redmondmag.com

Skype Room Systems Users Warned Again About Windows 10 Upgrades

By Kurt Mackie
02/20/2018

Microsoft on Friday warned users of Skype Room Systems version 2 that they should not try to upgrade to Windows 10 version 1709.

The warning is actually a repeat from December, when Microsoft had declared that Skype Room Systems version 2 are only validated for use with Windows 10 version 1703 (the 64-bit and English-language version). Microsoft apparently needs more testing time before approving the use of those devices with newer Windows 10 releases.

It's not clear why Windows 10 version 1709 doesn't play well with Skype Room Systems version 2, but Microsoft has blocked those operating system upgrades from being successfully delivered to those devices. The upgrades will "fail silently." However, Friday's announcement suggested that an end is in sight.

"Testing [with Windows 10 version 1709] is expected to conclude soon, at which time the block will be lifted," Microsoft's announcement promised.

If IT pros attempt to force a Windows 10 upgrade for those devices, then they'll get a confusing message about a Rigel Skype Room System application needing to get uninstalled. That's Microsoft's intended message, and it supposedly is telling IT pros that there's an operating system upgrade block in place.

The word "Rigel" perhaps comes from Project Rigel, which is the name of Microsoft's partner program for bringing the Skype for Business unified communications solution to meeting room equipment.

Microsoft warned IT pros that trying to uninstall the Rigel Skype Room System app in such cases could cause more work, as "your system may need to be re-imaged afterwards if you apply the [Windows 10] Version 1709 upgrade."

Skype Room Systems are specialized consoles for unified communications (voice, presence, video and audio) built by Microsoft's hardware partners, such as Crestron, Lenovo, Logitech and Polycom. Those products, available either last year or this year, have been undergoing certifications to work with Microsoft Teams, which is Microsoft's designated future client replacement for the Skype for Business client.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

Featured

Choosing the Right SSID for Your Network

Attracting attention, whether through a default or funny Wi-Fi name, could lead to a security issue.
Microsoft Outlines Latest Security Efforts at Ignite

In the wake of last year's CrowdStrike incident, Microsoft has worked to publicly rehabilitate its security image through new initiatives and public commitments to improve. That push continued this week at Ignite, where Microsoft announced a handful of new security tools and updates.
Nadella on Copilot: 'Major Platform Shifts Are in the Air'

As should be no surprise, Copilot took center stage during Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's keynote speech to open Microsoft Ignite 2024.
Azure AI Foundry Revealed at Microsoft Ignite

Microsoft is consolidating its Azure generative AI tools into a unified platform named Azure AI Foundry.
Microsoft Bolsters Fabric at Ignite

While Fabric has improved in the year since its release, there are still some glaring issues with the platform.