How to get the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

torrente2008 said:

I have version 1511 and now want to upgrade to 1607.
Is there a cumulative update just for that?

You have to download the whole ISO and then use that to update your PC to 1607. Here is the link, use Option #1
Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

torrente2008 said:

What is option 1?

Is it equivalent to a brand new install

I imagine that the online update brings to a different result and is not a

This will do just an UPGRADE of your OS IF you choose THAT Option once you start up the installation process. It will keep all your personal files and programs. No windows key is needed or asked for. If your current OS is already activated.

Slugger said:

Copied from my comment above. Also had 1511.

"That link did not work for me because my version was slightly earlier. I downloaded the media creation tool Windows 10 which is version 1607. Imaged the hard drive, upgraded and everything is fine."

That link that I posted works just fine.....:) I've already used it a couple times. (the ISO)

torrente2008 said:

What is option 1?

Is it equivalent to a brand new install

I imagine that the online update brings to a different result and is not a

torrente2008 said:

If i donwload ths iso and use option 1 what happens?
The licence needs to be validated again?
Do i keep all programs i have already installed?

The first option you run into is the immediate online upgrade which may fail on the spot. That starts the upgrade process downloading the files needed as soon as the OS is detected to insure the correct upgrade path is seen. The next option when skipping past that is the choice of creating usb media or saving the iso file where you would then see the "windows.iso" download take place. From there you would either burn the iso disc image to a blank dvd-r or even dual layer dvd-r, see the iso written to a 4gb or larger flash drive, or see the iso mounted on a virtual optical drive where you would be limited to the upgrade type install only.

For a full clean install you would need to boot live from removable media, flash drive, or network type install where nothing on the main OS drive is active and running including the existing Windows install.

OldMike65 said:

This will do just an UPGRADE of your OS IF you choose THAT Option once you start up the installation process. It will keep all your personal files and programs. No windows key is needed or asked for. If your current OS is already activated.

With the free offer expired unless 10 has already been on a brand new 10 key would need to be purchased! You can no longer simply upgrade 7, 8.1 and use the previous version's key at now that the offer is over. A new key is now the mandate for the new version. The promotional offer is where you could simply use the OEM or other key from the previous.

The option to skip entering any key however is still there for trying 10 out on a limited trial basis only however. You wouldn't have more then 28 days by default unless able to rearm to extend the trial period as previously seen with 7.

As for the continuing problems seen with the link it has nothing to do with the MS link itself but something recently seen added into the FF and other FF variant browsers I have suspected would be tracking protection now seeing a block or allow prompting on familar sites! You then have to click the Allow or Allow + Remember button for each event. A fast right click to choose open in new private window works every time however as indicated earlier.

I think you will find you are in error there! The online upgrade is online while the offline is still an upgrade that offers to keep your files as well as most all programs intact with the default boxes checked off. After numerous Insider Previews builds upgrading over each other haven't lost a single file and the one and only item that needs to be reinstalled has been the software for the sound card!

As seen for the last year the builds lately have been upgrading over each other very smoothly without issues for most. I just finished updating the third desktop I will be delivering back to someone later today as well as one of three laptops with flying colors. I simply mounted the iso download on the flash drive I use to carry the update and Virtual Clonedrive app on since some laptops simply won't boot live from flash drives but would require it on option instead for the update.

With the latest Insider builds on two of the desktops I wasn't expecting it come along with the regular updates since those were also Redstone 1 builds but Preview not RTM. For the 3rd desktop and laptop already having downloaded the update I simply didn't plan on waiting to see if it arrived by WU on those two desktop seeing TH2 update and laptop bought in January also most likely seeing the TH2 update there as well while the OEM info doesn't show version or build information only the edition as well as the version of Windows.

With the manual offline upgrades to update here those went just as if the update had arrived by the WU instead. The main files were updated while everything looks identical for each newer build as well as now seeing the RS1 update going on. Unless you are booting live with intent on seeing a full clean install the update goes on as if you were simply installing a service pack for a previous version except the RS1 will be enabling a few new items as well as offering a few more fixes to the OS itself. There's no drastic changes for anything else seen.