In-place Upgrade vs Win10Upgrade9252.exe

Could anyone kindly explain the difference between using the In-place Upgrade that was explained by Shawn here:
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade


……and the Windows 10 October 2020 Update, seen here:

Windows 10 October 2020 Update by Philip Mock, on Flickr



That downloads Windows10Upgrade9252.exe, seen here:

Windows10Upgrade9252 by Philip Mock, on Flickr


That finally installs Windows 10 Update Assistant shortcut and a 7.82GB Windows 10 Upgrade Folder to the Desktop, seen here:

Windows 10 Upgrade Assis by Philip Mock, on Flickr

Pip

pipmeister said:

Could anyone kindly explain the difference between using the In-place Upgrade that was explained by Shawn
……and the Windows 10 October 2020 Update ... That downloads Windows10Upgrade9252.exe, ... That finally installs Windows 10 Update Assistant...

The end result will be the same whichever you use, both will perform a full upgrade to the latest version 20H2. Both will create a windows.old folder in case you wish to go back to your previous Windows.

The Update Assistant requires an internet connection while it runs, it will check for and download the latest cumulative update during the install. It will download the files it need to perform the upgrade and work in the background until it's ready to ask you to restart to complete the install. In theory you could continue to use the PC up to that point. In practice it will be too slow to do much, so you might as well let it get on with its work.

The in-place upgrade with an ISO does not require an internet connection. All the files it needs are in the ISO you download before you start. If you are connected, by default Setup will check for the latest cumulative update - but you can change how it will handle updates and tell it 'not now'. Updating with an in-place update should be (a little) faster than using the Update Assistant, but you will not be able to continue using the PC while it is updating. Once updated you can check for updates in Windows Update if you told Setup not to.

Also, when all is done, you will still have the ISO to use again if needed, with the Update Assistant there are no files for you to keep and re-use.

Bree said:

The end result will be the same whichever you use, both will perform a full upgrade to the latest version 20H2. Both will create a windows.old folder in case you wish to go back to your previous Windows.......

Thank you very much Bree for your detailed reply that has answered my question.

The issue I had was that my Windows Update was stuck on 2004 (OS Build 19041.329) since it was installed on 28/05/2020. Each subsequent update failed to install - i.e. .388, .423, .450, .488, .508, .546, .572, .610 mainly with error code 0X800f081f, so I asked for advice on this forum.

I tried the more straightforward fixes that were suggested - Windows Update Troubleshooter, DISM, sfc / scannow, chkdsk c:f, until I ran out of options; notwithstanding an In-place Upgrade that was explained by Shawn.

With my limited P.C. skills, I didn’t have the confidence to attempt the In-place Upgrade, so I therefore left my P.C. with its ver: 19041.329, particularly after reading that many users are still on 1909.

I then noticed the Update Assistant button on the same page as the “Create Windows 10 installation media” in Shawn’s link. I made a couple of System and Data Back-ups, and gave U.A. go.

As you say, it was a slow process, and I can understand the difference in file types between U.A. and In-place Upgrade. The end result is that I am now on 20H2 (OS Build 19042.630), and all seems well with my P.C.

Many thanks,
Pip

pipmeister said:

.....The end result is that I am now on 20H2 (OS Build 19042.630), and all seems well with my P.C.

Many thanks,
Pip

glad I could help.