Windows - First Time Login User Guide

This article explains the steps of the initial log in process on a new or replacement College-provided Windows 11 computer.

Use go/windowssetup/ to revisit this page easily.

Contents

• What is "First Time Login" and how does it work?

• First Time Login — In Brief

• First Time Login — Full Details

• Restore saved items & applications

What is "First Time Login" and how does it work?

The First Time Login experience relies on Zero-Touch deployment, which is a modern method for provisioning College-issued, primary-user Windows computers. This method of deployment replaces the need for an ITS staff member to prepare computers before they are deployed to the client. With Zero-Touch, a computer can be delivered directly to a client without ever needing to be physically handled by ITS.

Microsoft has a pair of programs, Autopilot and Intune, which allow organizations to register devices to automatically receive software and policies over the Internet. When a registered computer is turned on for the first time, it checks Microsoft's Autopilot servers to determine any initial settings to apply. Middlebury machines then provide a streamlined Out of Box Experience (OOBE) and prompt for Middlebury user credentials. 

NOTE: MFA prompts will not appear if you are doing your first time login on campus.

First Time Login — in Brief

1. Unbox and plug your computer into a wall power outlet. 

2. Connect directly to the network via ethernet cable if possible. 

   • If you do not have access to an ethernet cable, connecting to WiFi after powering on is fine.

3. Power on the computer. 

   • NOTE: If you are connected to ethernet and the device is running the latest version of Windows, it should automatically skip to step 8 (signing in with your Middlebury account).

4. Choose United States for your region, US Keyboard for your keyboard layout, and, unless needed, click Skip when asked if you want a second keyboard layout.

5. If you are not connected via ethernet, now connect to the network via WiFi.

6. Once connected to the network, confirm you want to allow network discovery (click Yes) if connecting to a trusted network. Click Next after the connection is complete.

7. The computer should reboot.

8. Enter your full Middlebury email address (username@middlebury.edu format) and password.

   • Complete the MFA (multi-factor authentication) prompt if you are off-campus.

9. Your computer will now automatically install settings from Middlebury. 

   • NOTE: This can take between 5-25 minutes depending on your internet speed. The computer will reboot once or twice during this phase while it installs essential apps like Antivirus and OneDrive.

10. Log in and allow initial account setup to complete.

    • Complete the MFA prompt a second time if you are off-campus.

11. The setup screen will display again while it installs user-specific applications and settings.

    • NOTE: Unless the computer is connected to the Middlebury Ethernet or wireless networks during setup, you should NOT click “Continue anyway”, as there may be another sign in request prompt (that will not appear once you are logged in).

12. You are now logged in and ready to access Middlebury apps and other resources.

    • For details on how to download the GlobalProtect VPN client, visit go/vpn/.

    • Click Start (Windows icon) then type and select Company Portal to access installers for many Middlebury provided apps, such as Zoom and Microsoft Office.

    • See Restore saved items & adjust settings below for a checklist of items to review.

First Time Login — Full Details

You will go through a customized version of the Windows 11 "Out Of Box Experience". If you have purchased and setup your own Windows PC, most of this will look familiar. For the most part, this is simply a matter of getting your computer connected to the internet, clicking "Next" multiple times, and logging in with your Middlebury email address and password. Detailed below are the steps and screens you can expect to see.

1. Unbox and plug your computer into a wall power outlet. 

2. Connect directly to the network via ethernet cable if possible. 

   • If you do not have access to an ethernet cable, connecting to WiFi after powering on is fine.

3. Power on the computer. 

   • NOTE: If you are connected to ethernet, it should automatically skip to step 10 (signing in with your Middlebury account).

4. Choose the region. This defaults to the United States, so you can simply press Enter or click Yes.

   

5. Choose your keyboard layout. This defaults to a US keyboard, so you can simply press Enter or click Yes.

   

6. Unless needed, click Skip when asked if you want a second keyboard layout.

   

7. A hard-wired ethernet connection is best, but you are welcome to connect via WiFi if that is the only Internet connection available.

   

8. Once connected to WiFi, confirm you want to allow network discovery (click Yes) if connecting to a trusted network. Click Next after the connection is complete.

9. The computer will reboot.

   

10. Enter your Middlebury email address (username@middlebury.edu). This setup phase links your computer to Middlebury resources and makes you a local administrator.

    

11. Enter your Middlebury password.

    • Complete the MFA (multi-factor authentication) process if you are off-campus. This step will not happen if you are connected to the Middlebury campus network.

    

12. Your computer will now automatically install settings from Middlebury. 

    • NOTE: This can take between 5-25 minutes depending on your internet speeds. The computer will reboot once or twice during this phase while it installs essential apps like Antivirus and OneDrive.

    

13. Log in and allow initial account setup to complete.

    • Complete the MFA prompt a second time if you are off-campus.

    

14. It will now show the setup screen again while it installs user-specific applications and settings. 

    • NOTE: Unless the computer is connected to the Middlebury Ethernet or wireless networks during setup, you should NOT click “Continue anyway”, as there may be another sign in request prompt (that will not appear once you are logged in).

    

15. You are now logged in and ready to access Middlebury apps and other resources.

    • For details on how to download the GlobalProtect VPN client, visit go/vpn/.

16. To access the Company Portal for many Middlebury provided apps, click Start (Windows icon) then type and select Company Portal. On the Company Portal, you can install common apps like Zoom and Microsoft Office.

    

    

Restore saved items & applications

Here is a checklist of items to review for setup on your new computer:

• MiddleburyCollege network - go/wifi/

  • On your first time connecting to the network, you will need to trust the certificate

• Microsoft 365 - go/getoffice/

  • Outlook

  • Word, Excel, Powerpoint

  • Teams

• Browser

  • Edge is downloaded on Windows by default. If you would prefer different, download the browser of your choice (e.g. FireFox, Chrome, etc.)

  • Import bookmarks and/or sign into your browser account

  • Sign in to webmail - go/mail/

  • Sign in to Google - go/drive/

• Google Drive desktop - go/gdrivedesktop/

• Zoom - go/getzoom/

• Adobe Creative Cloud - go/getadobe/

  • e.g. Acrobat, Premiere Pro, Photoshop

• Other specialized applications you may need for your work

• Printers - go/howtoprint/

• Middfiles - go/middfiles/

• Check for computer updates

  • Go to Settings > Windows Update > click Check for updates. It may say "You're up to date" before clicking the button- you should still check for updates, as there are often many updates to be done on a new computer, regardless of what it initially says