Windows 10 Pro version 1809 fresh install related questions

Hi, I have a few general questions I want to ask about:

1) Windows 1809 will be released soon and I want to know when the Windows 10 Media Creatie Tool will contain this update. Is it available to download on the same day as the 1809 update is released?
Please keep in mind that I'm using a Dutch/Belgian version so there might be a time-gap.

2) I want to do fresh install with Windows 10 Media Creatie Tool on an USB stick and I want to know what is best during the install. Do I first create an offline account, update and tweak Windows the way I want it, install Drivers and Software and then switch to a Microsoft Account, or is it better to do it right from the start, I mean during the install of 1809?

3) Matter of fact I already used the Windows 10 Media Creatie Tool twice as of late.
One time I installed Windows from an ISO and yesterday I made one on an USB and re-installed again to test things out. I followed the instructions given in the link below to "Clean Install Windows 10" and both installments worked perfectly.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...7378d93e587Tho

There' one thing that bugs me a bit, namely, in this tutorial, or the comment section below a tip was given to delete all the partitions (except your Data partition) and so I deleted Windows, System Reserved and Factory Image, because I assumed all of them would be re-created during my fresh install. Alas my Factory Image didn't make it. Did I make a wrong choice here, or is this nothing to worry about?

I still have an Acronis Image of it so I can always put it back if I want to. As I bought a 16gb USB stick yesterday my local computer shop guy said it was alright. But to be absolutely sure I want to check with the knowledgeable crowd here at Tenforums.

4) Is it possible or safe to unplug my Internet/Network cable during the installation of Windows?
The reason I ask is because when do a fresh install Windows automatically updates a few Drivers, and I would like to update those myself after the installation of Windwos.

Well, I'm not sure Windows updates those Drivers during the installation or directly after Windows is installed. Either way I have no control over it. I want to be able to update my Graphics Driver (Nvidia) as quickly as possible after the Windows installation, so Windows doesn't have a chance to do it. I have an offline version of my Graphics Driver ready, so I could unmplug my Internet cable just after Windows installation is finished, but if Windows already updates my Drivers during the installation I'm too late. What would be the best way to remediate this?

PS I posed 4 questions so I think it would be best to add a number, ranging from to 1 to 4, depending on which question you want to answer to avoid any confusion.

Thanks in advance, regards Carlo.

@witten1972 I'm no guru, but I'll give you what works for me. Win 10 Pro.

Re Question 1. MS has currently pulled the 1809 download, they will make it available when they clean up the bugs.
Re Question 2. I never create an off line account during installation, that can be done anytime.
Re Question 3. When performing a clean install, the process will format your HD before installing.
Re Question 4. I always disconnect my internet connection and remove any peripheral devices that may be plugged in with the exception of Keyboard/mouse.
Please make sure you have a current disk image before a clean install.

Stitch194 said:

Re Question 1. MS has currently pulled the 1809 download, they will make it available when they clean up the bugs.

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that! I did a fresh install yesterday (Media Creation Tool 1803) and I only installed the necessary software thinking it is all a big waste of tiime to tweak Windows the way I want it when 1809 is about to be released. But now there are several bugs to deal with I assume it could take a month or so before that new version is released, so I might as well install other software I need, and wait until a stable 1809 is released.

Stitch194 said:

Re Question 2. I never create an off line account during installation, that can be done anytime.

Sure, but it also works the other way around, and since I noticed something yesterday I think I will use an offline account to set Windows the way I want it and then implement the Microsoft Account. My main reason to do so is that I used my Microsoft Account during the installation process and afterwards my Profile on C:\Users contained the 5 first letters of my email account, whereas when I use an offline account I can name it Carlo, like my parents did LOL

Stitch194 said:

Re Question 3. When performing a clean install, the process will format your HD before installing.

Yes I'm aware of that, because I deleted my existing partitions during the installation process.
One of them was my Factory Image and I assumed it would be recreated during the installation, alas it wasn't. Well,I say alas, but if it doesn't have any consequences I might as well continue without a Factory Image on my Drive. I still have an Image of it so I can always put it back...

Stitch194 said:

Re Question 4. I always disconnect my internet connection and remove any peripheral devices that may be plugged in with the exception of Keyboard/mouse.

Yeah, I will try this too. i mean install without an internet connection. Never done this before.
That way I can install the Drivers that I want, and then turn it back on to allow Windows to update...

Stitch194 said:

Please make sure you have a current disk image before a clean install.

I always do buddy ;-)

Hi folks
I'm sure when it's re-released all the languages will be downloadable via UUPDUMP which I prefer to the MCT tool anyway - but choice is yours of course.

With UUPDUMP you can also select specific edition of W10 to download -- using MCT installs HOME by default and if you have pro etc it's a hassle to get the upgrade.

With the MCT though you still can get a prompt for which edition of Windows to install if you add the ei.cfg file into the \sources directory before install --then you should see a dropdown.

For the ei.cfg file create with notepad (and save it as ei.cfg -- don't save it as ei.cfg.txt or similar)

[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0

If you want to use UUPDUMP

UUP dump

cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo, thanks for your reply and useful tip.

To be honest I've never heared of UUPDUMP before.

And you're quite right about this:

With UUPDUMP you can also select specific edition of W10 to download -- using MCT installs HOME by default

Didn't even notice that Windows 10 Home was installed, whereas prior I had a Pro version.

So when I see the 1809 update ready to install I'll go to UUP dump and select Windows 10 Pro 64 bit.
Is there a time difference between the official Microsoft release and the availability on uupdump?

witten1972 said:

One of them was my Factory Image and I assumed it would be recreated during the installation, alas it wasn't. Well,I say alas, but if it doesn't have any consequences I might as well continue without a Factory Image on my Drive. I still have an Image of it so I can always put it back...

I'd assume your "Factory Image" is a recovery partition put there by HP and is not a Window partition per se, so it would NOT be re-created by a new Windows installation. If you don't care about ever reverting to factory specs, I'd forget about it. If you do care, you'd have to restore it.

Hi Ignatzatsonic yes my "Factory Image" is from HP and I can't think of a reason to keep it.
In a worst case scenario I can always revert it back with an Image I made. Thanks for chiming in...

jimbo45 said:

For the ei.cfg file create with notepad (and save it as ei.cfg -- don't save it as ei.cfg.txt or similar)
[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0

What does the "_Default" flag do versus using "OEM" or "Retail" as described in this Microsoft article...

Hi there

Afraid I have no idea --all I know that the file as shown works.

For Enterprise change the 0 to a 1

Cheers
jimbo