MCT boot usb

Well, if @Bree is like me, the ISO files we get with the media creation tool has an install.esd file that is smaller than 4 gb.

Farvatten said:

I see now why it's different.

The Rufus version is no doubt a multi-edition iso where as when you run the MediaCreationTool2004.exe and before the iso gets downloaded it zeros in on your specifications creating the smaller esd.

My confusion - my mistake..

These are the editions included in the ISO file created by the Media Creation Tool:

Code:

F:\sources>dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:install.esd

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.1

Details for image : install.esd

Index : 1
Name : Windows 10 Home
Description : Windows 10 Home
Size : 14,212,376,596 bytes

Index : 2
Name : Windows 10 Home N
Description : Windows 10 Home N
Size : 13,441,677,475 bytes

Index : 3
Name : Windows 10 Home Single Language
Description : Windows 10 Home Single Language
Size : 14,211,972,277 bytes

Index : 4
Name : Windows 10 Education
Description : Windows 10 Education
Size : 14,450,251,000 bytes

Index : 5
Name : Windows 10 Education N
Description : Windows 10 Education N
Size : 13,693,633,242 bytes

Index : 6
Name : Windows 10 Pro
Description : Windows 10 Pro
Size : 14,450,428,963 bytes

Index : 7
Name : Windows 10 Pro N
Description : Windows 10 Pro N
Size : 13,691,468,430 bytes

The operation completed successfully.

NavyLCDR said:

These are the editions included in the ISO file created by the Media Creation Tool:

Well I'm certainly striking out here tonight. Thanks for this info. I wonder why Rufus wants to send this larger install.wim then?

I suppose there's some advantage over the esd?

Farvatten said:

Well I'm certainly striking out here tonight. Thanks for this info. I wonder why Rufus wants to send this larger install.wim then?
I suppose there's some advantage over the esd?

It's not up to Rufus, you're just getting a link to download the ISO direct from Microsoft. It is Microsoft's decision to put the larger install.wim in all their direct download ISOs.

The one for 2004 is larger than 4GB partly because .esd uses more compression, but mainly because the 2004 install.wim contains more editions than the install.esd.

NavyLCDR said:

Windows 10 ISO file downloaded without the MCT contains 4 more versions: Windows 10 Pro Education, Windows 10 Pro Education N, Windows 10 Pro Workstation and Windows 10 Pro Workstation N. I know with the Media Creation Tool, Microsoft is trying to keep the install.esd file under 4 GB so it will still fit in a FAT32 partition, maybe they couldn't do that with the 4 extra editions included.

Windows 10 2004 Media Creation Tool


As for any advantage of a .wim over a .esd, for install purposes they are interchangeable, but for customising an image you need to start with an install.wim.

Kari said:

This method requires Windows image in a WIM file. An ISO or USB flash drive created with Windows Media Creation Tool contains Windows image in install.esd file instead of install.wim, and therefore it cannot be used.

Apply unattended answer file to Windows 10 install media

Bree said:

As for any advantage of a .wim over a .esd, for install purposes they are interchangeable, but for customising an image you need to start with an install.wim.

Again thanks.

I always appreciate the time you take to clear things up and can see now with these straight forward diskpart steps that @NavyLCDR documented along with this knowledge of a FAT32 compatible MCT iso that this really is a smart way to go.

The reason you want the USB flash drive to be FAT32 is to maintain compatibility with most UEFI computers that will only boot from FAT partitions in UEFI mode. If you have no need for that specific compatibility, the flash drive can be NTFS using the same manual creation process. One line gets changed to "format fs=NTFS quick".

...and the reason I want Fat32 is that some of my collection of laptops are Legacy BIOS machines

Legacy BIOS will boot from NTFS no problem. In fact, the default System Partition Windows creates on a legacy BIOS install is NTFS.