Frequently Asked Questions for Windows 10

  1. When is Windows 10 supported in CityU?

    Windows 10 was first launched in November 2015 by Microsoft and the CityU adopted Windows 10 as one of the supported operating systems in CSC’s Student LAN in August 2016. The support of Windows 10 for Staff LAN began in December 2017.


  2. Will the configuration of my PC hardware be enough to run Windows 10?

    In fact, the hardware requirements for Windows 10 is not more demanding than Windows 7. According to Microsoft, you should have at least the following configuration:

    • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor
    • RAM: 2 GB for 64-bit Windows
    • Hard disk space: 20 GB for 64-bit Windows
    • Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
    • Display: 800x600

    Most existing PCs should meet these requirements; however, the performance depends on the workload and the applications.


  3. There are different editions of Windows 10, and what is the edition supported in CityU?

    The edition in the CityU is the Windows 10 Enterprise edition.


  4. Can I in-place upgrade Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8.1?

    Technically, it is possible, but not recommended. It is advised not to upgrade to Windows 10 with other Windows systems already installed in the PC to prevent possible system instability. The CSC supports fresh installation only.


  5. What are the new features in Windows 10?

    The following are some new features different from Windows 7 and Windows 8:

    • Easy-to-use interface and desktop experience which combines folder-based (like Windows 7) and metro style start menu (like Windows 8)
    • Cortana: a new voice assistance manager
    • New Browser called Microsoft Edge
    • Central notification in the tray bar that contains more information and controls

  6. What is the default browser for Windows 10?

    The default browser is Google Chrome but you can still be able to find and use Microsoft Edge in Windows 10. Google Chrome is used as the default browser because it is fast and highly compatible with many different web applications.


  7. Is there any privacy and security concern in Windows 10?

    Microsoft claims Windows 10 as the most secure operating system ever made, but this does not mean that we are totally free from security risks. To protect our data and other privacy information, it is necessary to control some security settings in Windows 10. As to increase the level of security, around 200 system policies are modified from their default values in Staff LAN PC. For example, report error to Microsoft and allow apps to access location features are turned off. As a result of these controls, some applications may not be able to run probably, and if so, users can modify the policies by themselves or raise a CSC work request to apply exemption to the policies if they are under central administration controls category. Of course, users should understand the security risk imposed after relaxing the controls.


IT.ServiceDesk@cityu.edu.hk