Installing Applications & Managing Updates on Parkland Computers (Windows)
System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is a tool used for managing software installation and updates for Windows computers in the PC domain at Parkland College.
The Configuration Manager (CM) Client application is software installed on computers to allow SCCM to deliver services to our users. Software Center (part of the CM Client) is a self-service portal for users. Through Software Center, IT staff can make new applications and updates available, required, or both.
Notifications of New Software
1) You may need to click Show Hidden Icons button 
to see all the icons in the Notification Area.
to see all the icons in the Notification Area.
2) When new software is available, you will receive a notification from the Software Center icon in the Notification Area.
3) Notification bubbles or Tooltips, as these images show, may also accompany the icon.
a. Available Software:
b. Required Software:
Install or Schedule Installation of Required
Software
1) When you click on the Software changes are required bubble or on the Software Center icon in the Notification area and you see a dialog like this, you can install or schedule the installation of required software.
a. The software will install at the specified time unless you have already installed it. You can do so by selecting either Right now (recommended) or Outside my business hours.
b. The option to Restart my computer automatically if needed is not available if you choose Right now (recommended). Instead, you will be prompted to restart your computer if it is required.
c. If
you are notified of a required restart, your computer will restart in 10 minutes.
However, you may click on the notification bubble or icon and you will be
presented with this dialog which provides additional options.
View and Install Available Applications
1) Search for Software Center in the Start Menu.
2) Click
Applications. The Applications tab
shows a list of applications that are available.
3) When you click on one you can see its current installation status.
4) If the application is not installed, click Install.
5) During the installation, you should receive notifications saying the software is being downloaded and installed.
View and Install Available Updates
1) Search for Software Center in the Start Menu.
2) Click
Updates. The Updates tab shows a
list of updates that are available (and have not been installed) including the
current status for each update. You can click Install All to install all the updates together.
3) Click on an update to see addition details about it or to install it individually.
4) You will not receive notifications of the download and installation of Updates. However, you can watch the progress from the Updates tab.
View Installation Status
1) Search for Software Center in the Start Menu.
2) Click Installation status. The installation status tab shows a list of applications that are available and Updates that are pending installation.
The following status messages will be displayed:
No items found: No updates are pending.
Waiting for user logoff: The update will complete installation when the device is on and no one is logged in.
Requires restart: The update will complete installation after the device is restarted.
Failed: The update did not install and additional action is required if the software is needed.
Past due - will be retried: The update failed to install and will continue trying to install, manual action may be required to resolve the issue.
Past due - will be installed: The update has not tried to install yet.
Installed: Application is installed.