Saving bandwidth when installing W10 in multiple computers

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 13
    Windows 10 IP
       #1

    Saving bandwidth when installing W10 in multiple computers


    Hi,
    I run a small computer repair shop and I have been testing W10 IP for some weeks now in anticipation of a slew of customers wanting my help to install W10 / upgrade to W10 on their computers.

    I know about creating an ISO image from an ESD file in order to have myself a copy of W10 32 bit and W10 64bit. I already have a VM of each ready to upgrade to RTM on release and ready to copy and create the two ISO images I will need.

    Would this be the normal way to do deployments / upgrades or is there a better way by simply copying the "$windows.~bt" folder from one machine to another? Apart from the x32 x64 aspect of the upgrade files in the said folder, are there any other tings in that folder that relate its contets to a specific machine (e.g. upgrade scripts and log files, drivers, AMD/Intel designation, etc.). What, if any are the benefits / drawbacks of each method (if the copy method indeed works).

    Also, If I let the machines use the "download" option instead, is there a way to force the machines to only use the local network to obtain the files via the P2P feature in order to try and save my bandwidth. If so I could fire up the appropriate VM and somehw point the machine to its copy of the files. Perhaps a registry file to limit it and then another file to revert to standard as part of my build effort.

    The key thing is to minimise bandwidth and speed up the download phase on my meagre connection but at the same time to leave the finished computer in a "normal" state for the end user upon return so the updates work corretly for them in their own envronment (and their own broadband connections).

    Thanks for any tips

    Cheers,
    Paul.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #2

    I'm no expert by any stretch, but the first thing you should know is that in order to get the free upgrade, the computer has to first upgrade from a qualifying OS; genuine Windows 7 or 8 with required service packs and updates installed. I don't see any way around Microsoft's requirements.

    Once that is done, then Windows 10 can be clean installed to that machine as many times as you want.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13
    Windows 10 IP
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Wynona,

    I did know that and this was more aimed at those W7 SP1 and W8.1 machines I get in to upgrade that have alreaady been qualified but the update files have not been downloaded yet. I don't want to download the update each time for each machine but also don't necasserily want to install it from an ISO image unless that is the best way to go.

    thanks
    Paul
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,124
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #4

    I don't want to download the update each time for each machine but also don't necasserily want to install it from an ISO image unless that is the best way to go.
    It is via download by MS - we are all hoping to create an ISO
    The ISO method being the preferred way to upgrade to 10
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #5

    smipx said:
    Thanks Wynona,

    I did know that and this was more aimed at those W7 SP1 and W8.1 machines I get in to upgrade that have alreaady been qualified but the update files have not been downloaded yet. I don't want to download the update each time for each machine but also don't necasserily want to install it from an ISO image unless that is the best way to go.

    thanks
    Paul
    Yes, they have been qualified and yes, you will still need to upgrade each machine separately. It's a Microsoft requirement.

    Unless there's a Partner solution and you're a Partner.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13
    Windows 10 IP
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Kyhi said:
    It is via download by MS - we are all hoping to create an ISO
    The ISO method being the preferred way to upgrade to 10
    Thanks Kyhi,

    If I upgrade with an ISO rather than with the download will the "Refresh" and "Reset" options still work the same. Do I need any extra files to be copied over to the target machine at all so that the end user can "self serve" reapiring their own machine etc. I remember back to he old days where you had to copy the old i386 folder over to the C: drive so that a repair or SFC or DISM did not keep asking for the original CD/DVD. I will not be supplying them with a DVD.

    Cheers,
    Paul
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #7

    smipx said:
    Thanks Kyhi,

    If I upgrade with an ISO rather than with the download will the "Refresh" and "Reset" options still work the same. Do I need any extra files to be copied over to the target machine at all so that the end user can "self serve" reapiring their own machine etc. I remember back to he old days where you had to copy the old i386 folder over to the C: drive so that a repair or SFC or DISM did not keep asking for the original CD/DVD. I will not be supplying them with a DVD.

    Cheers,
    Paul
    As far as I know, if you do a clean install and do not let your Windows 7 or 8 upgrade first, you don't get the free upgrade because Windows 10 can't see the old Windows OS; thus, thinks this is a brand new installation.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4,124
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #8

    On an OEM built PC there is usually a recovery image partition that contains the custom install.wim - which is used in the recovery process..

    upgrading the PC with windows 10 - registers the windows 10 recovery tools (winre) which so far have been on the same partition as the windows 10 OS..

    there are several choices as far as what you are asking
    one is to capture a new custom install.wim and place it inside the recovery image partition and then register that with the 10 OS
    or create a customrefresh image using recimg.exe

    there are many ways to do Push Button Reset - just gotta wait to see just how the upgrade will work first..

    is it a matter of just overwriting or replacing certain files - exactly how and where - is the unknown
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13
    Windows 10 IP
    Thread Starter
       #9

    To be absolutely clear.

    • I'm looking to upgrade these computers not fresh install (unless thay ask for that).
    • I'm not interested in the licensing aspects here - just the technical "How to" aspect. All licences will be either Genuine "free" upgrades or I will procure and sell them a genuine W10 license.
    • If I use the ISO I will be double clicking setup.exe from within Windows 7 or 8 and so it will be an in-place upgrade.


    Hope that clarifies things and sorry if it was not clear. I guess I may be asking questions that cannot be answered until the RTM.

    You raise a good point about the OEM install.wim partition though. I was expecting that to remain as-is and if the user was so inclined to try to use that option they would simply go back to Windows 7 or 8 - not a good situation I guess but I will remember to add notes to their invoice to warn them of this and instruct them how to do recovery using their own W10 DVD or the Shift/Restert method.

    I was more alluding to the built-in Windows 10 option to refresh (Shift>Restart initiated). Would this exist and would it be usable? I expect the answer is "yes".

    I don't think it will be practical for me to rebuild the OEM recovery partition for each customer, there are so many methods employed by the OEM's for each laptop it seems that this would add hours to the customers upgrade bill.

    They will be given instructions on how to burn their own recovery DVD and if they do it - great. If they don't then more they will have to return it to me (for the appropriate fee) to redo the upgrade should it prove necessary going forward.

    Does that make sense?

    Cheers,
    Paul
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 4,124
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #10

    If I use the ISO I will be double clicking setup.exe from within Windows 7 or 8 and so it will be an in-place upgrade.
    Same as the download will be an in-place upgrade

    It appears that once the system (PC) has been flagged as a windows 10 activation - then a clean install can be performed
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 21:50.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums