2 questions regarding MediaCreationTool21H1: I need clarity.

pintree3 · 06 Sep 2021

With things changing so quickly it is hard to tell how old or not info given is regarding this tool or reinstalling windows. What I have read regarding the use of 'MediaCreationTool21H1' is this; that once I run it I will have 2 choices:
-1- Upgrade this PC now
-2- Create installation media....for another PC.
The 1st choice suggests that I have for example Windows 8.1 and want to upgrade to Win10. If so, then this is not what I want to do since my OS is Windows 10 Pro from purchase. The 2nd choice, Create media for another PC is also wrong since it is not for another PC but for this same one. Am I to conclude then that the MediaCreationTool21H1 is not something I should be using to reinstall Win10 Pro on my PC? If I am wrong then what choice must I use 1 or 2? If I am correct then what is my other choice? Thanks in advance
Win 10 Pro ver 20H2 (OS build 19042.1165)

zbook · 06 Sep 2021

When an end user is using Windows they can perform the above two steps with a Windows 10 iso.

Alternatively, once a bootable flash drive is created with the iso, a Windows clean install can be performed.

See these links:
Clean Install Windows 10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10
Download Windows 10 ISO File

Ghot · 06 Sep 2021

The 2nd choice is to create an ISO file, that you can use to create install media or to do an In-Place Upgrade.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.

Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will look like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.

The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations. Your programs and data will be intact.

Shawnloveshorse · 06 Sep 2021

1: Upgrade your PC means it would upgrade your PC and you can choose to keep files/apps all note. This counts for 8.1 and 10 and 7.

2: On another computer that means you can create a bootable USB for Windows 10 :)

Bree · 06 Sep 2021

pintree3 said:

...once I run it I will have 2 choices:
-1- Upgrade this PC now
-2- Create installation media....for another PC.

Choice 1 will upgrade the PC to the current version of Windows 10. You can use it to upgrade W7, W8 or any version of W10. Useful for upgrading an older version of W10 to the latest one.

Choice 2 will give you a further choice of making an ISO file or an install USB. Whichever you choose, by default it makes one in the same language and bits (32 or 64) as the PC you are making it on. You can use this to upgrade the PC that made it, or another PC.

I generally go for choice 2, as I have several machines I want to upgrade. It means I can download just the once to upgrade as many machines as I like.

pintree3 · 06 Sep 2021

Thank you everybody. My main concern was the "for another PC" wording. I had a pretty good idea of what and how all is done but the words, "another PC" were of concern. Now that I know "another PC" can be used for the same PC and not another one I feel assured/safe/good.

idgat · 06 Sep 2021

pintree3 said:

Thank you everybody. My main concern was the "for another PC" wording. I had a pretty good idea of what and how all is done but the words, "another PC" were of concern. Now that I know "another PC" can be used for the same PC and not another one I feel assured/safe/good.

"For another PC" just allows you some tweaking in the end product - e.g. a different language. I instinctively make mine as such, irrespective of whether I'm using on the same or another device. Really makes no matter what.

Berton · 06 Sep 2021

I always use the "for another PC" as I want both x86 and x64 editions as I seldom know ahead of time whose computer I'll need them for. Main thing is to use an 8GB, 16GB or 32GB as there's a FAT32 size limit of 32GB. The .iso for x64 or both won't usually fit a DVD+/- R disc so I get the DVD+R/DL [Dual Layer] disc, seldom available in local stores [local being 40, 80, 120 or 170 miles away].

Shawnloveshorse · 06 Sep 2021

I forgot to mention that, if you went to option 2, you only can do a in-place upgrade if you are in Windows OS. If you boot from it, you can only clean install Windows. That is a big catch.

pintree3 · 06 Sep 2021

Sometimes the brain reads words or sentences as to what the brain wants them to mean. In re-reading your posts I realized a word that hadn't registered as such: "upgrade". To me upgrade means going from one version of Windows to another version of it. This is NOT my case. I am not upgrading I have the latest version of W10 Pro and want to reinstall the latest version. No upgrade. Anyhow here goes nothing. I just unplugged all of my extra HDDs and am in the process or reinstalling it (even though it is not an upgrade).