James Gillespie's High School

Windows 11 Upgrade

Windows 11 upgrade guide

Windows 11 upgrade — staff guide

James Gillespie’s High School · Learning & Teaching estate

Your school’s rollout dates

School Rollout begins Forced install date
James Gillespie’s High School Wed 4 June 2025 Wed 11 June 2025

From 4 June, a pop-up will appear on your device when Windows 11 is ready to install. You have one week to choose a convenient time — after 11 June, the installation will happen automatically.

Important — plan ahead to protect learning time

The upgrade takes up to 2.5 hours and cannot be interrupted. Once the installation phase begins, your device will be unusable until it finishes.

A forced installation on 11 June will prevent you from using your laptop during that time — directly impacting lessons.

The simplest approach: start the upgrade at the end of the school day and leave your device to complete it overnight. CGI have confirmed it runs without any user input — you’ll come in next morning to Windows 11, ready to go.

Why are we upgrading?

Windows 11 offers a more modern, secure experience. The upgrade is rolling out across the entire Learning & Teaching estate over two months.

Before you install — preparation checklist

1
Move files off your desktop. Data saved to your desktop is not backed up. Move anything important to one of these before upgrading:
OneDrive SharePoint H: Drive G: Drive / group share
2
Empty your Recycle Bin. The upgrade needs significant free space. To empty it: double-click the Recycle Bin → click the Manage tab → click Empty Recycle Bin.
3
If you manage iPads — check for large iTunes/Apple files. These can take up several gigabytes and prevent the upgrade from starting. Check these locations and delete any large files:
  • C:\ProgramData\Apple\AMPDevicesAgent\iPad-Temporary-Files
  • %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\AppleInc.AppleDevices_...\LocalCache\Roaming\Apple\AMPDevicesAgent\iPad Software Updates

If you can’t find them there, search for a large iTunes folder. The upgrade requires at least 60GB of free space.

4
Connect to power. The upgrade takes up to 2.5 hours — make sure your laptop is plugged in.
5
Connect to a CGI network. Connect via ethernet to LTAD where possible — it’s the most stable option. Alternatives: LTAP_P (wireless) or AOVPN (remote).

During the upgrade

1
Download phase — you can still use your device while Windows 11 downloads in the background.
2
Installation phase — once installation begins, your device will be unavailable. This is the longest stage.
3
Restart — your device will restart automatically. This is normal — leave it to complete.
4
Do not interrupt — don’t power off or close the lid during installation. If stopped partway through, you may need to start again.

After the upgrade — what’s changed

Windows 11 feels similar to Windows 10 but you’ll notice a few differences:

  • The Start Menu is now centred on the taskbar (not left-aligned)
  • The Start Menu has a new look when opened

Personalising your Start Menu:

  • To pin an app: click Windows icon → search or click All Apps → right-click → Pin to Start
  • To create a folder: drag one pinned app onto another, then click the folder to rename it

Troubleshooting common issues

“Desktop unavailable” message after upgrade

  1. Open the Start Menu and search for Software Center
  2. Click Applications
  3. Click VHD Mapping to D: then click Reinstall
  4. Restart your device if prompted

Can’t open files after upgrading

Try the D: drive fix first: open Software Center → Applications → VHD Mapping to D: → Reinstall. If that doesn’t resolve it, call the CGI Service Desk on 0800 085 7232.

Can’t see AOVPN after upgrade

AOVPN has moved to the System Tray (bottom right). Click the internet connection icon — you should see Wi-Fi and AOVPN as separate tiles. If AOVPN isn’t there: click the pencil icon → Add → VPN.

If your upgrade seems stuck

If your device has been running for more than 7.5 hours, the screen is frozen, or it won’t power back on — call the CGI Service Desk:

📞 0800 085 7232

They will guide you through next steps, which may include bringing the device in for an engineer visit.

Get help

For issues after the upgrade: Call the CGI Service Desk on 0800 085 7232.

For rollout enquiries: Use the L&T Windows 11 Rollout form. Please check the guidance sections before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

Click a question to expand the answer.