Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14986 for PC Insider

fdegrove said:

Hi,

Thanks a lot Kari, that must be it.
Since I keep my IP installs on a second disk I sometimes forget to update the tools I have on there.
I'll update ESDO to ISO asap and redo the ISO from there.

Cheers,

Please test clean install with new ISO and tell if it worked.

I posted this just now in ESD to ISO tutorial thread, thought it important to post here, too:

   Information

As of build 14986, released to Fast Ring Insiders this week, Microsoft has changed the way upgrades will be delivered. The new method is called Unified Update Platform (UUP). More information on Microsoft blog: Introducing Unified Update Platform (UUP) - Windows Experience BlogWindows Experience Blog

UUP downloads and delivers an upgrade as a differential upgrade. All geeks know what a differential backup means, it simply backs up only those files changed since the last full backup. The same principle applies to differential upgrade: Windows Update will only download and install those system files changed since the current installed build.

This will make the downloaded upgrade packages smaller and will most probably also reduce the time needed for upgrade.

Let's see the main differences in these two methods, in a very simplified way.

ESD method:

Windows Update downloads files for a full Windows 10 setup. This includes everything to perform a clean install of Windows or replace everything in in-place upgrade and repair install, containing all native Windows desktop and UWP apps, all system files and folders, dynamic libraries, absolutely everything. It also contains the install.esd file which can be converted to an ISO image, giving user a full Windows install media.

When a user starts upgrade, all Windows system elements and components will be replaced. Mail app will be reinstalled, as will PowerShell and Command Prompt, Notepad and Windows Media Player, and so on, regardless if these applications have been changed (new version) since the current build which will be upgraded. All dynamic libraries will be replaced and reinstalled, all Windows components will be reinstalled.

This of course means unnecessary downloads, file replacements and application reinstalls. A simple example: The Weather app version did not change in build 14971, compared to build 14965. In both of these builds the app version is 4.17.74.0. However, as the ESD method does a full in-place upgrade replacing / overwriting all Windows system components, Weather app will be reinstalled replacing the same version of itself.

UUP method:

When Windows Update finds a new build, it will check the user's current build application / dynamic library / other system file versions and download only those Windows components that have been changed. Using the above Weather app example it would not be downloaded and installed if the app version in new upgrade build is the same as that user has currently installed.

OK, leaving Weather app out of upgrade download does not save too many bits and bytes, but if you multiply that with the number of Windows desktop and UWP apps, dynamic libraries and other Windows system components not needing an upgrade, it will become quite clear that depending on upgrade, the download size will be smaller and because there's less to overwrite also the time needed for upgrade will be reduced.

By default UUP is enabled.

   Tip

If having the possibility to make an ISO image and create your own install media weighs more than reduced download size, you must manually disable UUP in Windows registry.

Both of the following DWORDs have by default value 1 (UUP enabled). You must change both values to 0 (UUP disabled) to keep getting the ESD file and full build download:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>WindowsUpdate>Orchestrator
DWORD: EnableUUPScan

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>WindowsUpdate
DWORD: SupportsUUP

These DWORDS must have the same value, 1 for UUP enabled, 0 for UUP disabled.

If you have already upgraded when UUP was enabled, you do not have and can't get the ESD file. Do the above registry changes before next build upgrade to assure you will get ESD file.

If your upgrade has been downloaded and prepared but you have not yet clicked Restart now button in Windows Update to start upgrade, you can do the following to redownload upgrade and get the ESD file:

- Edit the registry as told above
- Open Disk Clean-up > Clean up system files
- Select Temporary Windows installation files, click OK:



- Wait until clean up is done
- In Settings app > Windows Update, click Restart now
- Windows will now restart for upgrade but as no upgrade files will be found, it boots back to desktop
- Now let Windows Update to download the upgrade again, this time it will be the full upgrade and include the ESD file

Thanks for fellow member @Bat 1 for registry tip.

Kari

@Kari Thanks for the information.

Jeff

OK geeks, as many of you missed the ESD and possibility to make your own install media, I asked site owner and admin @z3r010's permission to make links available for ESD files of build 14986 to fellow members.

As I do not do Home editions nor do I 32 bit versions, I can only offer Build 14986 x64 PRO ESD files in both UK and US English. Both can be found here in my OneDrive as zipped archive: Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.

• British English file name: ESD (14986 PRO x64 EN-GB).zip
• American English file name: ESD (14986 PRO x64 EN-US).zip
  

Extract the archive, copy the ESD file in ESDtoISO folder, run ESDtoISO.

Kari

Many thanks Kari, need it for my "Museum", I'll make my own from next build.