Publication Date: June 20, 2005
Author: G. Kay Jacks, General Manager, FSA Application, School Eligibility and Delivery Services
Summary: Second Reminder!!! Install EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005, Service Release 2.1 to use the Interface to FAA Access to CPS Online
Posted on 06-20-2005
The Department would like to issue a second reminder to all EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 users to install Service Release 2.1. This service release was made available on December 27, 2004, and on January 10, 2005 we reminded all schools of the urgency of installing it right away. We have observed, however, that some schools continue to use the outdated version of the 2004-2005 software.
** Important: Service Release 2.1 MUST be installed immediately to continue using the EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 interface with the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site. Service Release 2.1 adds necessary functionality to EDExpress to synchronize the software with changes to the ED PIN authentication process.**
Service Release 2.1 is an upgrade to Release 2.0, and is available on the Department's Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload) Web site, located at http://fsadownload.ed.gov.
You must already have Release 2.0 installed in order to install Service Release 2.1. Release 2.0 is also available for download from the FSAdownload Web site.
** Enhancements **
In late December 2004, authentication enhancements were implemented on the ED PIN Web site to increase the security of the PIN. These enhancements, which affect current and new PIN holders, included the selection of a Challenge Question and Response and acceptance of a PIN Terms and Conditions Agreement.
The Department posted an Electronic Announcement on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site on December 16, 2004, titled "New PIN Terms and Conditions Activation Agreement and Challenge Question and Response Process To Be Implemented on December 26, 2004," describing the new process.
You must install Service Release 2.1 to continue to take advantage of EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005's interface with the FAA Access to CPS Online Web site now that these security enhancements are implemented.
** Downloading and Installing **
The Service Release 2.1 installation file, called Express45r21.exe, is available on the FSAdownload Web site. You should download the file to a network drive or a folder on your PC. Be sure to close Release 2.0 on your PC before installing the file.
You are required to have Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME or Windows XP as your PC workstation operating system in order to run EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005.
NOTE: If you use Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you must be an Administrator on your workstation to install Service Release 2.1. If you are not an Administrator, you will receive a warning or error message when you try to install Service Release 2.1. After an Administrator has installed Service Release 2.1, you can run EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 as a member of the Power Users group. If your database is on a network server, you must be a Power User or higher on the network (or "domain") as well as on your workstation. There are no workarounds for these Windows rights issues. Consult with your school's technical department if you receive a warning that an Administrator must install Service Release 2.1.
The Service Release 2.1 installation does not perform any updates to your EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 database (expres45.mdb). The installation file only updates EDExpress program files on the PC's hard drive.
If you are running EDExpress for Windows 2004-2005 in a network environment, you should run the Release 2.1 installation on ALL workstations that use EDExpress, rebooting each PC as you finish installation.
If you receive any prompt during the installation indicating an existing file was found and asking if you want to overwrite it, click "Yes."
If you have any questions, please contact CPS/SAIG Technical Support at 800/330-5947 or by e-mail at CPSSAIG@ed.gov.