Techline computers in GM dealerships running a Windows 7 Professional operating system (OS) must be replaced by December 31, 2019 in order to receive assistance from the Techline Customer Support Center (TCSC) in 2020.
All dealer-facing GM applications will end support for Windows 7 on December 31, 2019 due to Microsoft no longer providing operating system updates or security patches. Microsoft has announced that it will end support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020.
Replace or Upgrade your PC?
When replacing a Techline computer (Fig. 10), refer to the “Better” or “Best” columns for recommended computer specifications in the latest GM Dealer Infrastructure Guidelines (DIG). New Techline Connect users will be required to have Windows 10 Professional, 8GB RAM or more and 100 GB free Hard Drive space to install the application.
Fig. 10
U.S. Dealerships: To view the latest DIG as well as computers for purchase, go to gmdesolutions.com and select the Dealer Services tab. Once you’ve input your BAC and zip code, select Techline IT Solutions from the Dealer Services menu.
Canadian Dealerships: The latest DIG can be found in the Dealer Security and Information Technology App on GM GlobalConnect.
GM Dealer Equipment also continues to offer a Windows 10 Upgrade & Diagnostic Bundle promotion that includes a new standard or GM-configured laptop along with an MDI 2 diagnostic tool.
If you’re considering upgrading a PC that is currently running Windows 7 to Windows 10, an upgrade is only recommended if the PC processor is 6th generation or newer. Lower than 6th generation PCs must be replaced.
To check the processor system on your current PC, select Start at the bottom of the screen, and then right-click on Computer, followed by a left click on Properties. The generation of the processor is the first number after i7, i5, or i3. For example, if the processor is an i3-5005U, the number 5 listed after i3 indicates that the Intel Core i3-5005U processor is the 5th generation. Since this processor is lower than the 6th generation, it’s recommended that it be replaced and not upgraded to Windows 10. (Fig. 11)
Fig. 11
– Thanks to Lisa Scott
