Campus-wide
Support of Windows Vista Enterprise
By
Joe Lee
|
|
|
After Microsoft had officially announced Windows
Vista on 29 January 2007, the Computing Services Centre (CSC)
formed a task group to study the features of this major version
of Microsoft’s operating system and to work out a schedule for
its deployment in the CityU. The initial plan was to launch the
Windows Vista with the latest central software installed as one
of the multi-boot environment in the CSC Teaching Studios, Library’s
Information Space, Lecture Theatres and Classrooms for teaching
and learning in Semester A, 2007-08. This had been completed according
to schedule with over 1000 units of desktop computers being upgraded
and the new operating environment was well received by students.
For details, please read the article “Windows Vista at CityU“
in Network Computing, Issue 51 - March
2007 and article “Windows Vista at CityU – An Update”
in Network Computing, Issue 53 – September
2007.
When Windows Vista Service Pack 1 was formally released in the
first quarter of 2008, the task group started to formulate a proper
working environment for staff. This version was not deployed until
various service units had completely sorted out the compatibility
issues of their in-house developed applications running in this
new environment. Starting from June 2008, a finalized configuration
of Windows Vista for Staff LAN was installed as the default desktop
operating system on new computers for administrative departments
in the hardware replacement project. This project was completed
in November 2008.
Following the successful installation of around 1,000 new Windows
Vista PCs in administrative departments and no compatibility issue
was found , the CSC is pleased to announce the campus-wide support
of the Windows Vista operating environment with immediate effect.
The CSC is now accepting requests from departments for joining
existing Windows Vista PCs and newly purchased Windows Vista PCs
to the staff LAN.
The software menu of the Staff LAN under the Windows Vista environment
now provides users with a new standard set of centrally-funded
software (such as Office Professional 2007 and anti-virus software)
and of the basic utilities (such as department print queues and
shared network drives). Please note that Office Professional 2007
with its Outlook 2007 have become the University’s new standard
office tool and email client respectively under the Windows Vista.
Other than Microsoft Office, departments may request to add Windows
Vista-compatible software to the Staff LAN menu through submitting
an online CSC Work Request.
The CSC will continue to support Windows XP until Microsoft formally
ceases its support in the future. Therefore, current XP users
or users running on existing computers can choose to stay with
Windows XP.
However, if users choose to upgrade to Windows Vista, it is their
responsibility to take care of the migration of their personal
applications and data. In any case, fresh installation of Windows
Vista is always recommended as upgrading to a new operating system
from its previous version may cause instability or even unpredictable
outcome. Due to limited manpower, the CSC will not take up the
foregoing migration work. Any department which needs migration
service of data and personal application software can contact
the CSC for an outsourcing arrangement.
The CSC has prepared some quick start guidelines for new users
of Windows Vista to get familiar with the environment. For details,
please visit
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/deptweb/support/faq/windows_vista_faq.pdf
.