Same ISO many installs


  1. Posts : 2
    Win 10
       #1

    Same ISO many installs


    If I understand the premise, the ISO on a USB is for the purpose of preparing for the actual installation. The installation follows, with a download.

    I will be upgrading between 20 and 40 units for a Seniors Center, where I work as a volunteer.

    Can I use ONE ISO on the same USB for each download, without having to create a unique one for each upgrade?

    Be gentle folks, this is my first posting.

    Aurel:)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    The USB or DVD made from the ISO will contain all the necessary files for the upgrade. The upgrade does have the option of asking if you want to download updates - which is just the Windows Update process performed during the installation, if you choose it. You can use the same USB to upgrade as many computers until the USB physically wears out.

    Just make sure that it is the same architecture as what is being upgraded - 32bit or 64bit - and you can make a dual 32bit/64bit USB. Also make sure it is the same version - Home, Pro, Single Language, "N", etc.

    Also, don't boot the computer from the USB - just insert the USB with the computer already running and run setup.exe form it. Also during an upgrade from a previous operating system, if at any time you are asked to enter a product key then something is going wrong and the upgrade should be cancelled right then. You are probably trying to upgrade to a different version of Windows 10 or the Windows 10 is not reading the license for the previous operating system and if you continue you will have activation problems when it is done.

    A clean install (which requires an upgrade first to activate) will ask for a product key and that is when you should skip it, but not during the initial upgrade.

    I'm curious - why are you wanting to torture the senior citizens with Windows 10? What did they do to you?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Same ISO many installs - Problem solved


    Thank you for a great answer. It solves my problem.

    As for your "torture" question, :), I myself am 69 years young with 30 years of IT experience. While I'm tutoring (not torturing) I encounter Windows 7 to 10, deal with desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones and I won't list all the programs, commercial or freeware that I have to keep on top. Not bad for an old f..t like me.

    I'm not afraid to ask questions and admit ignorance (which is easy to fix, just educate me).:)

    This is a fantastic forum, I've benefited the most from the tutorials, but to receive a correct, literate answer (not in techie-speak) in minutes, is outstanding!

    Again, much thanks

    Aurel
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #4

    I will be upgrading between 20 and 40 units for a Seniors Center, where I work as a volunteer.
    Are they all running the same OS? Are they the same version (i.e., Home or Pro)? Are they the same bit-wise (i.e., 32-bit vs. 64-bit)? Are they using the same hardware?

    Asking because there are different options of ISOs that you can download and USB sticks/DVDs that you can create. With the USB sticks, you can combine 32-bit and 64-bit on the same USB stick. With DVDs, you can't because they're not large enough.

    If the machines are identical, you should upgrade one (as a test) and see how it goes. If it goes well, you can then just upgrade all the others, one at a time. IF it goes poorly, you should reconsider the whole upgrade idea. An Old OS that works well (along with its applications) is vastly better than a new OS that works poorly (including its applications).

    Also, there have been lots of cases of OEM machines being corrupted and/or trashed by the Win10 upgrade. The HP forums has hundreds, if not thousands, of such reported cases. Thus, before you start, you should do the following (on your test machine):
    1) Download and install the free version of Macrium Reflect (MR)
    2) Use MR to make an image backup of the System Reserved and OS partitions (unless the machine is UEFI -- and in that case, I can't tell you what to back up)
    3) Use the MR option to create a boot USB/CD. You will need this later if the machine gets corrupted from the Win10 Upgrade and you need to restore it to working state.

    Good Luck
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    aurel2015 said:
    Thank you for a great answer. It solves my problem.

    As for your "torture" question, :), I myself am 69 years young with 30 years of IT experience.
    You are more patient than I am. My mother-in-law is still on Windows XP. I can't imagine trying to get her to use Windows 7, let alone Windows 10! I have to pay $40/month for a landline telephone just so she can keep using a fax machine with a keypad...
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    Also, see here for making a nifty 4 in 1 Windows 10 USB that will have Home and Pro, 32bit and 64bit Windows 10 on it:
    Solved How to make 4 in 1 installation USB? - Windows 10 Forums

    The upgrade process is still the same - it will just go to the proper version and bit level for the upgrade.
      My Computer


 

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