Windows 10 Enterprise: FAQ for IT professionals

If you have Windows volume licenses with Software Assurance, or if you have purchased licenses for Windows 10 Enterprise volume licenses, you can download 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10 Enterprise from the Volume Licensing Service Center. If you don't have current Software Assurance for Windows and would like to purchase volume licenses for Windows 10 Enterprise, contact your preferred Microsoft Reseller or see How to purchase through Volume Licensing.

For details, see Windows 10 Enterprise system requirements.

Most computers that are compatible with Windows 8.1 will be compatible with Windows 10. You may need to install updated drivers in Windows 10 for your devices to properly function. For more information, see Windows 10 specifications.

Yes, a 90-day evaluation of Windows 10 Enterprise is available through the Evaluation Center. The evaluation is available in Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain, International Sort). We highly recommend that organizations make use of the Windows 10 Enterprise 90-day Evaluation to try out deployment and management scenarios, test compatibility with hardware and applications, and to get hands on experience with Windows 10 Enterprise features.

For many devices, drivers will be automatically installed in Windows 10 and there will be no need for further action.

• For some devices, Windows 10 may be unable to install drivers that are required for operation. If your device drivers aren't automatically installed, visit the manufacturer's support website for your device to download and manually install the drivers. If Windows 10 drivers aren't available, the most up-to-date drivers for Windows 8.1 will often work in Windows 10.
• For some devices, the manufacturer may provide more up-to-date drivers or drivers that enable more functionality than the drivers installed by Windows 10. Always follow the recommendations of the device manufacturer for optimal performance and stability.
• Some computer manufacturers provide packs of drivers for easy implementation in management and deployment solutions like the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) or Microsoft Configuration Manager. These driver packs contain all of the drivers needed for each device and can greatly simplify the process of deploying Windows to a new make or model of computer. Driver packs for some common manufacturers include:
  • HP driver pack
  • Dell driver packs for enterprise client OS deployment
  • Lenovo Configuration Manager and MDT package index
  • Panasonic Driver Pack for Enterprise

Many existing Win32 and Win64 applications already run reliably on Windows 10 without any changes. You can also expect strong compatibility and support for Web apps and devices.

Desktop Analytics provides powerful insights and recommendations about the computers, applications, and drivers in your organization, at no extra cost and without other infrastructure requirements. This service guides you through your upgrade and feature update projects using a workflow based on Microsoft recommended practices. Up-to-date inventory data allows you to balance cost and risk in your upgrade projects.

Updated versions of Microsoft deployment tools, including Microsoft Configuration Manager, MDT, and the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) support Windows 10.

• Microsoft Configuration Manager simplifies the deployment and management of Windows 10. If you aren't currently using it, download a free 180-day trial of Microsoft Configuration Manager (current branch).

• MDT is a collection of tools, processes, and guidance for automating desktop and server deployment.

• The Windows ADK has tools that allow you to customize Windows images for large-scale deployment, and test system quality and performance. You can download the latest version of the Windows ADK for Windows 10 from the Hardware Dev Center.

Computers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can be upgraded directly to Windows 10 through the in-place upgrade process without a need to reimage the device. For more information, see Upgrade to Windows 10 with Microsoft Configuration Manager.

If you have Windows 7 Enterprise or Windows 8.1 Enterprise and current Windows 10 Enterprise E3 or E5 subscription, you're entitled to the upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise through the rights of Software Assurance. You can find your product keys and installation media at the Volume Licensing Service Center.

For devices that are licensed under a volume license agreement for Windows that doesn't include Software Assurance, new licenses will be required to upgrade these devices to Windows 10.

The Windows 10 operating system introduces a new way to build, deploy, and service Windows: Windows as a service. Microsoft has reimagined each part of the process, to simplify the lives of IT pros and maintain a consistent Windows 10 experience for its customers. These improvements focus on maximizing customer involvement in Windows development, simplifying the deployment and servicing of Windows client computers, and leveling out the resources needed to deploy and maintain Windows over time. For more information, see Overview of Windows as a service.

Traditional Windows servicing has included several release types: major revisions (for example, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 operating systems), service packs, and monthly updates. With Windows 10, there are two release types: feature updates that add new functionality two to three times per year, and quality updates that provide security and reliability fixes at least once a month.

To align with the new method of delivering feature updates and quality updates in Windows 10, Microsoft introduced the concept of servicing channels to allow customers to designate how aggressively their individual devices are updated. For example, an organization may have test devices that the IT department can update with new features as soon as possible, and then specialized devices that require a longer feature update cycle to ensure continuity. With that in mind, Microsoft offers two servicing channels for Windows 10: General Availability Channel, and Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). For details about the versions in each servicing channel, see Windows 10 release information. For more information on each channel, see servicing channels.

There are many available tools:

• Windows Update
• Windows Update for Business
• Windows Server Update Services
• Microsoft Configuration Manager

For more information, see Servicing Tools.

For an overview of the new enterprise features in Windows 10 Enterprise, see What's new in Windows 10 and What's new in Windows 10, version 1703 in the Docs library.

Another place to track the latest information about new features of interest to IT professionals is the Windows for IT Pros blog. Here you'll find announcements of new features, information on updates to the Windows servicing model, and details about the latest resources to help you more easily deploy and manage Windows 10.

To find out which version of Windows 10 is right for your organization, you can also compare Windows editions.

Windows 10 combines the best aspects of the user experience from Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 to make using Windows simple and straightforward. Users of Windows 7 will find the Start menu in the same location as they always have. In the same place, users of Windows 8.1 will find the live tiles from their Start screen, accessible by the Start button in the same way as they were accessed in Windows 8.1.

The desktop experience in Windows 10 has been improved to provide a better experience for people that use a traditional mouse and keyboard. Key changes include:

• Start menu is a launching point for access to apps.
• Universal apps now open in windows instead of full screen.
• Multitasking is improved with adjustable Snap, which allows you to have more than two windows side-by-side on the same screen and to customize how those windows are arranged.
• Tablet Mode to simplify using Windows with a finger or pen by using touch input.

Use the following resources for additional information about Windows 10.

• Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft Support Community