newbie questions from non-newbie about update to 1909 and unattended

So I'm not exactly a newbie, but recently I have been very, very pressed for time, so I can't do my usual "try it and see what works." But I know that the longer I put off all these updates, the more problems I will have, and I want to get these updates done and behind me, so I'm asking some newbie questions here.

I have to upgrade about 10 physical Windows partitions, some on 1809 and some on a much earlier versions None are on 1903. I also have to update 4 Win 10 VMs, which don't get used very much. The VMs are probably 1709 or maybe even 1703. All these Windows installs are Pro 64.

So can I use the USB for the 1909 update, that I created with the MCT directly? Or do I need to update first to an earlier version (1809?)?

I know I should know this. Do I need to boot up each of the physical Windows partitions to do the update from inside Windows, or do I boot up my system using the USB and then pick the partition to update? Same question for the VMs. I did try to find a tutorial, but maybe I didn't look hard enough.

Finally, does anyone have an unattend XML file that I can use as a guideline? Do I need to modify the unattend file for each separate Windows partition, or can I make my edits just once and then use the unattend over and over again? Can someone point me to a tutorial for using these files.

x509

I have to say just how helpful these replies have been, and all in less than one hour after my original post. I was confused by the word "repair" where it also applies to normal updates to a newer version even if there are no repair-type issues. I appreciate the comment about using an ISO for the VMs. (Respectful suggestion for the gurus who put together these tutorials: explain that "repair" also applies to "normal update.")

Once I get a definitive answer about the unattend file, I can mark this thread SOLVED.

Once I get a definitive answer about the unattend file, I can mark this thread SOLVED.

You are doing an upgrade so unattended.xml does not come into play at all.

Why do you want one? Are you also looking at doing clean installs? That's where it would come into play.

Ztruker said:

You are doing an upgrade so unattended.xml does not come into play at all.

Why do you want one? Are you also looking at doing clean installs? That's where it would come into play.

No I did not want to do clean installs. I didn't realize that the unattended.xml file is used only for a clean install. Here is what I had in mind. When I did previous updates, there were several screens to get started, to select (turn off) all the damn telemetry options, etc. I was hoping that I could use an unattended.xml file to automate that entire process.

100% ignorance on my part.

Now that all my questions have been answered, I can mark this thread solved.

Hmmmm, looks like I'm wrong.

See here: Answer files (unattend.xml)

You'll have to go through the same gyrations everyone has to go though.

Create media for automated unattended install of Windows 10 | Tutorials

Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation | Tutorials

You won't want the full setup, just the OOBE part which automates the responses after the first boot of the upgrade.

x509 said:

Do I need to boot up each of the physical Windows partitions to do the update from inside Windows, or do I boot up my system using the USB and then pick the partition to update?

You must boot to desktop of the Windows installation you want to upgrade. Booting from USB install media only allows clean install.

Bree said:

I thought am Unattend.xml was just for clean installs.

Correct. It is possible to use an unattended answer file also on upgrade media, but it most probably breaks more than helps.

In any case, here's a tutorial to show how to apply an answer file to USB or ISO install media: Apply unattended answer file to Windows 10 install media

Kari