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Upgrading to MS CRM 4.0 from 3.0

Answered Upgrading to MS CRM 4.0 from 3.0

  • Thursday, July 03, 2008 8:38 PM
     
     
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    Will upgrading from MS CRM 3.0 to MS CRM 4.0 eliminate the need to touch every machine when I need to install patches and future upgrades?  Right now we have a remote sales force of over 200 reps.  Touching every machine to install the 2.0 patch was cumbersome.  Does anyone know if 4.0 has push technology?
     

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  • Sunday, July 06, 2008 5:21 AM
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    You can use SMS to do a silent install.

    see blogs.msdn.com/crm/archive/2008/02/22/how-to-deploy-microsoft-dynamics-crm-client-through-sms.asp for instructions.  If that link doesn't work, paste it into Google and view the google cache.

    This was discussed in this forum thread:
    http://forums.microsoft.com/Dynamics/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2690247&SiteID=27

    For updates/rollups it is hard to speak for updates and sp's that haven't been published yet, but it is probably safe to say that since it is supported for the install of the 4.0 client, it should also be supported for updates.

    One thing to note though, if you are upgrading from 3.0 to 4.0, it may not be that easy to push the upgrade.  3.0 Outlook client does not uninstall neatly, and I've seen several cases where I had to go and manually delete the crm 3.0 address book and tool bars before I could install and configure the 4.0 client.
     
  • Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:47 PM
     
     
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    Thanks for the info.  I have a mobile salesforce of 220+ all over the US and Canada.  We are contemplating the most effective way to upgrade from 3.0 to 4.0.  WE already have the 2.0 patch installed and 3vc on each machine.

     

    In your opinion, is it feasable to send instructions for our reps to uninstall 3.0 and install 4.0 through the SMS silent install?  Or is this something only trained IT people can do?

     

    The problem becomes an issue of resources and money for us.  We can send a team of I.T. personnel to our annuall sales meeting and have reps bring in their laptops for updates.  That will require a large group of I.T. people, airfare, hotels expenses, around the clock wages, etc.

     

    If we can have a large % of these reps do the upgrade themselves through well written instructions, then we would only have to touch those computers where there may be problems.  Is this unreasonable?

     
  • Tuesday, July 08, 2008 5:40 PM
     
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    Are you using the offline client?

     

    The latter is reasonable and how we are doing our installs. 

     

    220 can be done at the conference with 2 -3 people if you aren't using the offline client.  Have the users tape a business card with their username and password to the machine, then take them 20 at a time, you will also need a switch internet access and about an hour for 20 machines.  2 people work 10 at a time and you have one person for the anomolies. 

     

    The other option is you send our the instructions a week before with a CD, have the sales people try it then you be back up at the conference.  DO NOT TELL THEM THAT YOU WILL BE AT THE CONFERENCE though, if you do a great many of them will just wait.

     
  • Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:02 PM
     
     
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    Yes.  We are using the offline client.  Have you used the CD method to upgrade to 4.0.

    I understand the 3.0 doesn't always uninstall cleanly and that causes problems. Do you still find continued success by sending out the CD with instructions?

     

    Historically, we have found internet connections at conferences and hotels tenuous at best, thus slowing down the process.  I am looking for the most viable option to upgrade with the least cost associated with it.  That is why I am exploring the CD option.

     

     
  • Tuesday, July 08, 2008 6:09 PM
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    We had pretty good success with some non-techie people by sending out instructions and having them download the installer; however, it wasn't on the scale of 220 users.  I would probably send out the instructions and installer on CD or download, but plan on fixing a lot of them at your conference.