Upgrade to which version from 1803

AddRAM said:

Also, not sure if it was addressed, if you do a ISO file method (which is by far the best way to do it IMO) make sure to choose to save your apps and files etc.
Then you can just wait 10 days and the windows.old folder should just disappear.
Also, and once again this is just my opinion, each feature update is almost as good as a clean install.
But if you have any serious problems with windows they may or may not still remain when you update.

Hello to all,Thanks to all for the answers and advice, so I would like to share with you my thoughts.It looks like I am going to upgrade (not clean install) to 1809 version. The version file I have is 10.0.17763 Build 379 1809. Searched the MS update catalog for updates relevant for this edition, downloaded (so far) 21 updates. After the upgrade I will install then one by one - auto update is in current system disabled, if there is something new in the catalog I check what it is, if suits I install it manually. Hope I can disable the auto update also after the upgrade. I do not know when I'll start all this, it takes lot of time, but we are approaching holidays. Some tips for the way will be appreciated.Thanks to all again.Motim

Motim said:

...looks like I am going to upgrade (not clean install) to 1809 version. The version file I have is 10.0.17763 Build 379 1809.

The ISO that the MCT makes was updated several times through the life of 1809. That is the latest one, the build from March 12, 2019.

Searched the MS update catalog for updates relevant for this edition, downloaded (so far) 21 updates...

For the Cumulative Updates you only need to apply the latest one. It will contain all previous fixes and patches. Use this one: August 17, 2019 — KB4512534 (OS Build 17763.720), or wait until Tuesday 10th September when the next 'Patch Tuesday' cumulative update is expected to be issued.

The same should apply to the servicing stack updates, just need the latest one.

Motim said:

Hope I can disable the auto update also after the upgrade. I do not know when I'll start all this, it takes lot of time, but we are approaching holidays. Some tips for the way will be appreciated. Thanks to all again.Motim

I haven't had any problems with auto-update surprises until recently. I had set Group Policy to notify before download (option 2) sometime last year and was able to check for updates and easily avoid Feature Update 1903.

Then sometime a week or so ago I catch this download starting called "Getting ready for 1903". It was a small file so I wasn't that concerned. It failed to update, I hit retry, it failed again and displayed the failed/retry button yet again.

I decided to Tweak a bit more because I wasn't receiving notification in advance.

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings

DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays - changed from 0 to 365 decimal or 16d hex
DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays - changed from 0 to 30 decimal or 1e
ExcludeWUDriversInQualityUpdate - changed from 0 to 1

Immediately after changing the Defer Feature Updates to 365 days and a reboot my failed update/retry notification disappeared and it displayed Up to Date.

If this 'auto-update' happens again, I'll install Sledgehammer and be done with this grief.

I hope this info helps someone with the Windows Challenge