Hey, Win10 peeps: Now’s a good time to download and save a fresh, clean copy of Win10 version 1803

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It’s a fairly straightforward process, as long as you have access to a Windows 10 machine. Step-by-step details coming in Computerworld.
[See the full post at: Hey, Win10 peeps: Now’s a good time to download and save a fresh, clean copy of Win10 version 1803]

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abbodi86, Elly, SteveTree, Noel Carboni, PKCano, Microfix

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Is on my to do list, looks like that list is now nearing expiry..
[Edit] ISO saved offline in external HDD – downloaded raw .ISO using Linux from:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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Couple questions, which I hope you’ll hit over at Computerworld:
(1) Are we talking about a nice pristine unmodified copy of version 1803, as it emerged from the shop back in April, or a nice cleaned up version of 1803 as it might exist today, an idealized version with various fixes and improvements applied but free of cruft that gets attached with updates modifying updates which modify earlier updates ad infinitum?
(2) If the latter, is such a cleaned up version of 1803 actually better than a comparable cleaned up version of 1709? And is there such a better version of 1709?
(3) What are the drawbacks of waiting a couple more weeks or so and installing version 1809 with the first month of bug fixes? Isn’t that going to be somewhat better than 1709 or 1803? After all, even those “fresh, clean” older versions are going to need patches and upgrades.

Not to carp — I’ve been musing about reinstalling Win 10 from scratch the last couple of weeks, so you’ve definitely found a topic that interests me.

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It would be difficult for anyone but yourself to judge whether one version is “better” than another. For my needs, and what I’ve used it for, v1803 has been “better” than v1709, even though it’s more bloated and keeping control over what it does has grown ever more difficult.

-Noel

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Well written, Woody.

I’m a bit disappointed to see the build is only 17134.112. Of course that’s presumably only one “cumulative update” away from 17134.319 or whatever today’s version is.

Brings to mind a question…

How did we come to a time when adopting a new version starts to become attractive right about the time it’s being pushed aside by its maker?

Wouldn’t it be AWESOME if we could actually both install mature, stable, functional software AND bask in the glow of that system being current for another few years? People did once enjoy that. I know I did.

Put another way, Microsoft, can we PLEASE have something between “RTM” (unpaid beta test) and “LTSB” (something only ATMs are supposed to use) every now and then?

-Noel

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Mele20, JCCWsusser, woody

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Microsoft loves you basking twice a year!

I still fail to see how and who this scheme benefits.

But guess it’s a take it or leave it scenario…

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Noel Carboni wrote:

How did we come to a time when adopting a new version starts to become attractive right about the time it’s being pushed aside by its maker?

Around here, the next version is automatically regarded as much worse than the current version. Thus 1803 is suddenly the one Woody wants you to save, despite nothing but castigation for it over the last six months. Its place at the top of the avoidance ladder has been usurped by 1809, even before its release.

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b wrote:

Thus 1803 is suddenly the one Woody wants you to save, despite nothing but castigation for it over the last six months. Its place at the top of the avoidance ladder has been usurped by 1809, even before its release.

There’s a lot of truth to that. And there’s a reason for it.

Microsoft has shown, categorically, that the versions of Win10 it releases are not ready for general use. Instead, they have to go through an additional beta testing period. You can call it gamma testing if you like, but the fundamental reason for the two branches is that, simply, the initial release isn’t fit for consumption.

It’s very similar to the old adage that you should wait for Service Pack 1. Except now we don’t get Service Packs, we get new versions.

I haven’t yet decided if I trust 1803 enough to move there from 1703. I’m not at all convinced that there are enough feature changes to warrant the trauma of upgrading versions. But I realize that I’ll have to choose among 1709, 1803 and 1809, in the next few weeks.

Doesn’t hurt to have a copy of 1803 in your pocket. Especially if you have 4 GB of free space lying around.

 

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Microfix, Elly, RamRod

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You want it because there will be a time that you’ll want an 1803 not an 1809 to install somewhere.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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BobbyB, Microfix, Elly

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Still sitting pretty on 1511.

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You’re talking to people who individually have a good portion of a century of experience with software systems, and whose combined experience is unprecedented.

A new version of a software system this complex works worse than something that’s had time to mature and be stabilized. There may have been a few exceptions throughout history, but this is the rule. It’s a case of being guilty until proven innocent, because it is the way things really work, and it actually matters.

I don’t know how young you are, but the notion that a brand new release should be considered better than what came before is just another example of the “New and Improved!” marketing hype that has been with us since the 20th century. It’s not real; it’s made up to tug at our emotions, and anyone with half a mind can see through it. It’s intended to get us to abandon what we know to take a chance on something else (with a monetary benefit to Microsoft in this case).

The reality, as actually observed by people with 40+ years experience, is that an operating system is the basis for development of things that make tech useful. It is not an end; it is the means. It needs to be the cornerstone.

1. It needs to be stable for years to be able to do important things thoroughly and reliably, without fault.

2. It needs to be stable for years in order to allow developers to come to know it.

3. It needs to be stable for years to be chosen as the basis for business.

4. It needs to be stable for years in order to be trusted.

Do you sense a theme in the above? A theme that’s decidedly NOT being followed by today’s Microsoft? I don’t care what the stated reasons are, they are just bunk. Rapid, repeat releases of an operating system just can’t/don’t/won’t fly. Since Microsoft execs aren’t stupid, we can only assume it’s Microsoft’s intent to get out of the OS business.

People with many, many combined decades of experience working with both software AND people are saying that 6 month releases are wrong, and you need to listen. Nothing has changed to make their experience less applicable, but only to make it more so. If you or your Marketing department say otherwise, it’s just something being said, not reality.

Reality rules, marketing drools.

-Noel

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JCCWsusser

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Noel Carboni wrote:

A new version of a software system this complex works worse than something that’s had time to mature and be stabilized. There may have been a few exceptions throughout history, but this is the rule. It’s a case of being guilty until proven innocent, because it is the way things really work, and it actually matters.

If that’s always been the rule, I’m surprised you found it necessary to ask the question:
How did we come to a time when adopting a new version starts to become attractive right about the time it’s being pushed aside by its maker?

Noel Carboni wrote:

It’s [“New and Improved!”] intended to get us to abandon what we know to take a chance on something else (with a monetary benefit to Microsoft in this case).

What’s the monetary benefit to Microsoft in you or I updating from 1803 to 1809 on October 2nd?

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b wrote:

What’s the monetary benefit to Microsoft in you or I updating from 1803 to 1809 on October 2nd?

Personally, I think they’re playing a long game of “let’s get out of the OS business”. Breaking virtually everything good about Windows while not looking to Wall Street like you’ve just stopped trying seems a prudent way to do that.

-Noel

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This is such a tragedy, they had something precious, a fantastic product, no desire or will to consider options… it could’ve gone on forever!

Prior to Win8, I had used and loved Win7 so much I felt I could’ve probably used it forever. Then it started to unravel, they appeared determined and I reluctantly looked for an alternative. It was challenging and took 3 years to eventually get there.

It wasn’t broken, it didn’t need fixing!
greynad

EDIT please keep on topic

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well Noel the “refreshed” v1803 downloads with the MCT have the June 2018 cumulative update slipstreamed/integrated (ask abbodi86 about that); hence the build is 17134.112 [KB4284835]

MSDN subscribers are even luckier – they get newer 1803 ISO images that have the September 2018 cumulative update (KB4457128) integrated – with build 17134.285

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abbodi86, Sueska

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Reading through the various posts here, am I to believe then that there are not one, not two, but three different flavors of ISO file available from different sources?

This doesn’t really sound like a company in control of its processes, does it?

What version do you get, I wonder, if you buy a boxed disc from e.g., NewEgg or Amazon…

A possibly even more pertinent question is: With each of these different versions, do you get the exact same thing if you install them then bring them up to date with the latest cumulative update? We’re of course supposed to believe so without question, but wouldn’t we like to see it proven?

-Noel

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geekdom

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Nice guide.

One minute detail though. Step 1 doesn’t specify number of Gb needed…

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4.7Gb space [8Gb or greater USB flash drive to burn ISO to]

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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The downloaded ISO is less than 4 GB…..

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64-bit ISO I downloaded 6 weeks ago to fix a friends shows…

Win10_1803_English_x64.iso
raw CD image (application/x-cd-image)
4.7 GB (4,692,365,312 bytes)

greynad

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that’s the one released back on April 30 / May 1

the MCT will actually download the 1803 refreshed version, which has the KB4284835 update integrated (build 17134.112)

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Agreed. Just made mine (within minutes) as well.

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Call it 5 GB to store the download to be safe, but you’ll also need a fair bit more than that to achieve the update. Does anyone here know how many GB Windows will actually need to install the new version successfully?

Personally I wouldn’t choose to install/use a Windows system with less than 100 GB free myself, but that’s me. Don’t skimp on disk space!

-Noel

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Um… not to be too technical, but there’s some important info missing in your article, Woody: it says “Step 1. Make sure you’re running a validated copy of Win10, any version, with any browser, and that you have about  GB of free space”

I’m assuming by now you decided how much GB it’s supposed to be? Thanks for all your work!

Edit to remove HTML. Please use the “text” tab in the entry box when you copy/paste.

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I downloaded the ISOs yeaterday for 1803. The 64-bit was 4.69GB and the 32-bit was 3.39GB. If you are running the Media Creation Tool, you will need more free space than that.

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Noel Carboni, Microfix

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Interesting. I used the MCT this morning for the 64 bit, and came up with an ISO at 3.9 GB.

 

??

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Same here – mine is 3.986GB

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I wonder if we got a different version from the one that’s being talked about here….

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I downloaded the ISO using the MCT. It is a different version of 1803 than the one I downloaded direct using Linux at:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

The direct ISO link indicates clearly at the time of download that it is the “raw” version of 1803 from April 2018. It contains “install.wim”  3,996,986 kb.

The current MCT downloaded version contains “install.esd”  3,394,101 kb. Has to be a much more current version than April, it seems.

Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.

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I just downloaded via changing the user agent. [THANKS so much for the tip! Now I don’t need my in-laws’ 10 PCs!] It’s the 1803 – but from April? Huh? Please, someone, are there different 1803s out? If there is a newer 1803, shouldn’t it be offered for download? I just want to make sure I have the right one.

The download was 4.4 GB for the 64-bit English version.

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If you download from another OS, you get the original RTM version build 17134.1

If you use the Media Creation Tool on Win7/10, you get the June version build 17134.112 (a few months later than that one).

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Maybe you received the rare bug-free version.

.

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…Made from unobtanium.

-Noel

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Seattle27, HiFlyer, Microfix

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see one of my recent comments above

the MCT downloads the revised/refreshed 1803 ESD, which includes the KB4284835 cumulative update – installing this refreshed 1803 version after creating it from the MCT gives you build 17134.112

the “direct” ISO link from MS has the 1803 (original) 17134.1 version

abbodi should tell you about this

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You can set your browser user agent to mobile (Android, WP) and the Windows 10 ISO site will let you download the ISO directly without the need for media creation tool, which they force you to use with Windows for some reason.

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Elly, liamZ

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Also tru if you approach from Linux or MacOS.

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Elly

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Yes, i don’t know why they block ready-ISO for Windows users
but on the other hand, MCT offer refreshed (updated) version of 1803

another hand
Microsoft have killed MCT for Windows 8.1, and its download page now redirect to ready-ISO download page

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Why not just back up your present system? I have mine backed up everytime M$ comes out with another episode of drama! My Dragon touch tablet I had to go back 3 times until I found out rolling back the drivers worked really well and now I put that on fast track for windows insider program. If it blows up I just revert to the backup and start over.

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Just consider it the third level of redundant backup. Still prudent even if it is never used. Unnecessary for people who only move forward.

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Echoing JanK above. That’s a gold star article right there. Surprisingly short for the extensive directions given. Yes, there are other ways to do it. Yes there is more information to know. But to grab a ‘dummy’ and get it done is one of your specialties.

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Microfix, RamRod, woody

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It helps MS keep their jobs of useless feature creating.

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Everything went perfectly following your step by step instructions until Step 10.  After the double-click I got an error message that said:”The File [TrialMgr.exe] is missing.”  Did someone at Microsoft find out what you were doing and modified the file?

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Well its likely either a long solution or the simple right click, workaround.
https://www.bleepstatic.com/tutorials/windows-8/mount-an-iso/mount-right-click.jpg
Or the longer solutions in here: http://www.dllfixis.com/TrialMgr.exe.html#Method-1-Solving-the-DLL-Error-by-Copying-the-Mapimldll-File-to-the-Windows-System-Folder
Never had it my self, but pretty sure it wont be the .ISO, as a last gasp you can use 7Zip to extract the install.esd or install.wim from the .ISO, copy to folder and run the DISM CMDs pointing to the relevant file as per @woody ‘s instructions Hope that works for ya

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Thanks, this helped me out.

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While the merits of downloading an up to date ISO can’t be overstated, you don’t need a valid copy of Windows 10 to download the ISO, (though you may to use their media creation tool). You have been able to download the ‘most recent’ non beta ISO of Windows 10 since day one, and there are third party tools that can burn the DVD or write the flash drive bootable image. The ISO can install Home, Pro, and I believe euro versions of home and pro. If you are using the digital license, skip entering the key since you don’t have it, pick the correct version (home for most users) and when you sign in to your MS account it will activate automatically. If you have a physical key, the installer should automatically pick the correct version for you based on your license key.

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I’m running Win 7 Pro x64 and have downloaded the MCT, ran it and created the Win 10 ISO. I’ve done this several times with various versions before they dropped from the MS site. It doesn’t seem necessary to use a Win 10 machine to do so – at least for me.

Maybe because I ‘upgraded’ this machine to Win 10 back when the free ‘upgrade’ was about to expire? Back then, I activated Win 10 (local account only) and shortly after reverted to Win 7 from a drive image I’d made. Haven’t had Win 10 on here for several years now.

Win10 Pro x64 22H2, Win10 Home 22H2, Linux Mint + a cat with 'tortitude'.

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“Now’s a good time to download and save a fresh, clean copy of Win10 version 1803”

Grab a free copy of Win10 version 1803 and save it for a rainy day

“Fresh” isn’t a clickbait term like “Free” is. Good look using that implied “free license”.

Edit to remove HTML – Please use the “Text” tab in the post entry box when you copy/paste

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At Step 9 I had the option suggested but also an option to for a thumbdrive. I didn’t try it.

At step 10 it did not work as presented. I have 7Zip installed and it automatically opened the ISO. Instead I used “Open with” and chose “File Explorer” and it mounted the ISO.

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Can one use this ISO with a Windows 7 64-bit Pro or Home license key? Will that license key be acceptable for a new install?

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That’s exactly what I done, used Win7 license key to activate W10 on a new installation.

Windows - commercial by definition and now function...

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The current heading “Grab a free copy of Win10 version 1803 and save it for a rainy day” is misleading. The cooy isn’t free, sure the download is, but, once installed, it will require a valid key which costs money.

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only for those who using it on a new PC with no previous version of Windows
if it had a genuine version of Win7 or 8.1 installed, it will upgrade to Win10 for free and still activate

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BobbyB, Jan K.

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C***y clickbait headline about “Free” aside, this seems a bit useless to me. JMHO.

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this seems a bit useless to me. JMHO.

Well, friend, doesn’t seem useless to me at all. imho.
In my experience, it’s useful to be able to easily install a previous (non-current) version of Win10 if/when needed.

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I already check for updates and have kept those ISO files (even Win10-1511). But, I generally skip nearly ALL the steps you listed .. including NOT running the slow/cumbersome/unstable special/proprietary ‘download/installer’ .EXE ..

Just select/download ISO file (you don’t even need Windows) and (at a later/convenient time) use Rufus (on any Windows variant) to create a boot USB.

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1803 is now stable enough for me to use it as my primary OS, there is no need to even look at 1809’s direction anytime soon.

Why can’t they just focusing fixing bugs instead of releasing half-finished products?

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Per Step 12, I tried to verify my ISO on Win10 1803 Home, but DISM gives me “Error: 21  The device is not ready.”

I’m sure I did something wrong.

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@latka get hold of a copy of 7Zip, install, right click on the .ISO (1803 or any you want) Open Archive, navigate to sources, look for the install.esd or the install.wim copy to a folder on your C: drive (easier to type out that way) then run the CMD below:

That should give you the details, should you wish to see all the Versions present just drop the /index:1 from the CMD as in the bottom of the Screenshot. .WIM and .ESD both respond to the same CMD you’ll just need to change the file extension depending what you “plucked” out of your Sources folder. Alternatively you can make a USB stick and use the same CMD on that as well just need to change the drive letter. Hope that helps

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Latka

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Thanks, BobbyB.

I got it now.  Had to right-click the ISO file and choose Open With… Windows Explorer, instead of the DVD burner bloatware that came with the PC.

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Has anyone used this to upgrade an existing vaild Windows 8.1 system? Did it ask for a license?

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Hey, looks like the 1803 build is gone now and replaced by 1809. Was late to the game. Any ideas on where I can get a fresh clean copy of 1803? Sorry that I posted Anon before. Just created profile and donated to the cause via paypal!

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@merlinflex these should help both access the M$ servers so are clean just different ways of doing it fast too depending on your connection.
https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool https://tb.rg-adguard.net/index.php just follow the instructions for the version of our choice.

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