Windows 10

Overview

As of Fall 2017, all Penn State Information Technology (Penn State IT) classroom and lab computers part of Cooperative Lab Management (CLM) have been upgraded to Windows 10.

Contact your local IT staff, or visit our Lab Locations and Our Rooms pages for a complete listing of upgraded computers.

On this page:

Why Windows 10

Windows 10 is Microsoft's current version of Windows, combining several features from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, as well as offering several of its own, including the following:

  • Flexible, modern user interface
  • Enhanced enterprise and end-user security
  • Improved search capabilities
  • Better performance and resource management
  • Expanded compatibility with devices

For more information on Windows 10 features, click here.

Which Edition of Windows 10

There are several editions of Windows 10. We're using Windows 10 Enterprise Long Term Servicing Branch (LTSB), which may be slightly different from what you're used to at home or in your office.

Key Difference in Our Labs vs. Your Home or Office

Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB excludes personal Windows features like Windows Store, Cortana, and most bundled Windows Apps (including Microsoft Edge).

Why This Edition

There are several benefits to using Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB in a classroom and lab environment:

  • Stability: large feature updates, which can break course-specific applications and result in mid-semester interface-changes, are deferred until they're tried, tested, and readied.
  • Security: security updates and bug fixes only (as opposed to feature enhancements) ensure that systems remain stable and secure, protecting you and Penn State's environment.
  • Smaller footprint: less overhead allows Windows to run faster on more hardware, and still gives the ability to utilize Roaming Profiles and the UDrive.
  • 64-bit: allows 64-bit applications to take full advantage of a computer's resources.
  • Enterprise feature set: all of the traditional features of Windows Enterprise are available, allowing Penn State IT to effectively deliver a secure and flexible teaching and learning environment.

What's Different in Windows 10

Windows 10 combines the look & feel of Windows 7 with Windows 8.1 for a more flexible, modern user interface. Some things you might've been familiar with in older versions of Windows have changed:

"Log Off" is Now "Sign Out"

To sign out of a Windows 10 computer, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Start button
  2. Click the User icon
  3. Click Sign out

 

In University Park general purpose classrooms and labs:

  1. Double-click the Logoff shortcut on the desktop.

Note: This shortcut may not be available at all campus locations.

 

Search for Applications Using the Start Menu

The Start Menu has been updated to more effectively search for installed applications rather than navigate through nested folders.

To search for an application, perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Start button
  2. Start typing the name of an application

Find Software by Category with the Desktop Applications Folder

If you're used to a more traditional (i.e., nested folder) listing of software by category, try the Applications folder on the desktop, which categorizes installed software:

  1. One the desktop, double-click the Applications folder

Training And Resources

Penn State IT provides several Windows 10-based training and tutorials:

Hands-On, Online Training

  • Windows 10: An Introduction (via Zoom) - This demonstration will explore the changes that users will experience as they migrate from Windows 7 to Windows 10. We will focus on Windows 10 Desktop Mode.

On-Demand Video Tutorials

Personalized, Face-to-Face Help

Support

Need assistance? Have a question? Penn State IT is here to help:

Students, Faculty, & Staff

IT Staff

 

Last Updated August 18, 2017