How fresh is the installation file downloaded from the Windows site?

Hello @decimus,

decimus said:

I bought a laptop without os and want to install w10. I've had a flash drive with the installation image for about 3 years. Should I install from this flash drive and then run all 3 years' updates or should I download a new image file, create a new installation source, install and run the latest updates (fewer updates?)?

I mean, does the image file on the windows site stay a bare bone w10 version, or is it constantly updated and I will spend less time downloading updates?

MOST resources that provide ISO's, and I always recommend that you get them from a reputable source, whether they are sites that provide previous older versions, do tend to keep them as upto date as possible. That said, obviously NOT do.

With regard to your question, I would download the latest version that you require. It will make your life a lot easier, and the installation a LOT quicker.

Just make sure that you download the correct Version that you have a legitimate Key for, and Bit-Type.

Here is a list of available resources in case you are wondering . . .

ISO Resources - Including MS Servers:

> Create Windows 10 Installation Media - Microsoft
> Download Universal Windows Downloader v0.2 - MajorGeeks
> Download Windows 10 Disc Image [ ISO File ]
> Media Creation Tool & ISO Downloader - Rufus
> Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool 8.44 - MajorGeeks
> TechBench by WZT - Includes OLDER Windows 10 ISO's - RECOMMENDED
> Universal Windows Downloader [ Portable ] - MajorGeeks
> UUP Dump - Download UUP Files from Windows Update Servers with Ease.
> Windows 10 ISO & Office ISO Download Tool – Heidoc
> Windows ISO - Windows 10 Download Database

A new addition to ISO availability is Rufus.

> Downloading Win 10 ISO Images using Rufus - NextOfWindows
> How to Download Older ISO Versions of Win 10 - PureInfoTech

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I hope this helps.

decimus said:

(noob question)

I bought a laptop without os and want to install w10. I've had a flash drive with the installation image for about 3 years. Should I install from this flash drive and then run all 3 years' updates or should I download a new image file, create a new installation source, install and run the latest updates (fewer updates?)?

I mean, does the image file on the windows site stay a bare bone w10 version, or is it constantly updated and I will spend less time downloading updates?

Windows 10 is upgraded (to a new version) twice a year. So you should download a new version from MS site (Media Creation Tool - MCT)

Let MCT create the USB drive for you.

Reset BIOS or load defaults.
Set Disk mode to AHCI, not RAID
Select OS mode = UEFI or Select OS mode = other + UEFI (depends on BIOS).
Disable fast boot and secure boot (you can turn it on after installation)

Windows can be installed in two ways: Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT
To install as Legacy-MBR you must boot the installation drive as Legacy
To install as UEFI-GPT you must boot the installation drive as UEFI.

As you have a new MB, you should install as UEFI-GPT
Detach any other drives (SATA or Power cable) from the MB.

During POST, press F12(?) to launch the boot menu. You will see two options for the USB drive. USB UEFI (Name) and USB (Name). Select USB UEFI (Name).
Go to install and delete ALL partitions on the drive till you have one and only one unallocated space and then proceed.
If you don't want to use MS account, don't enable updates or connect to the internet during installation.

decimus said:

I've had a flash drive with the installation image for about 3 years. Should I install from this flash drive.....

No. Your flash drive would be for version 1903 or 1909. Those versions are so old that they went out of support years ago. The first thing your 'new' install of Windows would do is start downloading the install files to upgrade itself to the current version.

Your best course of action is to use the Media Creation Tool to make an install usb for the latest version of Windows.