Question about Windows 10 "big version" updates

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  1. Posts : 17
    Windows 10
       #1

    Question about Windows 10 "big version" updates


    OS upgrades have never been exactly clean, they usually present issues that seem completely random. People have often said that if you upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 that as soon as you're done, do a Reset this PC immediately after because God knows what kind of stuff is going to go wrong after the upgrade.

    So with that being said... As we all know, Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (presumably 16299.15) is going to be released to the public. With that said I have never understood why these big "updates" are installed the way that they are. Why are they installed as if they are full OS upgrades and not just as a "slightly bigger" cumulative update?
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  2. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    This is actually a huge advantage from a maintenance perspective.

    Each new build you get a complete new set of compatible system files- your PC's system files (and some settings) are given a spring (or autumn! clean.

    In Windows 7 days we ended up having huge numbers of updates between service packs- over 100 I think- then finally SP3 came out. Then more updates.. To get up to date from a clean install was a nightmare of updates.

    With Windows 10, starting from scratch, expect to install the major base build, one large cumulative update and perhaps one other.

    Further, the build upgrades are used to both remove (deprecate) features and add new ones. whereas updates are to correct issues. So each new major build is to a revised specification.
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  3. Posts : 17
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    But there's a lot of things that are going on behind the scenes when you're doing a Windows Upgrade (be it from Windows 7 to 10 or from an older version of 10 to a new version of 10). You can tell that there's a lot of things going on because there's lots of junk left behind after the upgrade. With that being said, the more things you do the more things can go wrong.

    So I come back to the question... Why can't one of these "big updates" to Windows 10 be installed more like a cumulative update as versus what seems like an in-place upgrade?
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  4. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    trparky said:
    OS upgrades have never been exactly clean, they usually present issues that seem completely random. People have often said that if you upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 that as soon as you're done, do a Reset this PC immediately after because God knows what kind of stuff is going to go wrong after the upgrade.
    My system started life as an OEM Windows 7, took the free upgrade to 10 when it was first released and has been through every "big version" upgrade since. I've had no issues so far.

    Actually, a Windows 10 upgrade install seems to be quite effective at sorting out the 'dross'. It's often recommended an effective cure for system problems that sfc/scannow and dism can't fix.

    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
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  5. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    trparky said:
    So I come back to the question... Why can't one of these "big updates" to Windows 10 be installed more like a cumulative update as versus what seems like an in-place upgrade?
    Microsoft are working on that, it's called the Unified Update Platform (UUP).
    https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexp...uhvH7WFEsgh.97

    The current system is called Electronic Software Download (ESD). Judging by comments from some Insiders, UUP needs a bit more work yet...
    I started the download at 3:22 PM. At midnight it was still installing. I left it run and when I woke up this morning it was finally installed and running. I wish MS would give us the option to choose between UUP or ESD.
    https://www.tenforums.com/windows-10...ml#post1161073
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  6. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    You can tell that there's a lot of things going on because there's lots of junk left behind after the upgrade.
    Unclear to what you are referring. Windows.old? That's automatically deleted after 10 days- during which period it allows you to reverse the upgrade.
    @Bree
    For a full build, we refer to this as a canonical download package. It is a self-contained update that contains all files for the update, and does not rely on any files on your device. Canonical download packages tend to be larger in size and may take longer to download.
    - does that mean that the change in download size actually only applies to cumulative updates, not build upgrades?
    does not rely on any files on your device
    seems to mean that upgrades would be as is.. after all, the build number changes on all system files if nothing else.
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  7. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #7

    dalchina said:
    @Bree - does that mean that the change in download size actually only applies to cumulative updates, not build upgrades? seems to mean that upgrades would be as is.. after all, the build number changes on all system files if nothing else.
    @dalchina, I'm not an Insider, so I can only go by what those who are say on the 16299.15 thread (the likely candidate for Fall Creators Update) and this from the MS blog...
    We are excited to begin releasing PC builds to Windows Insiders using differential download packages! As we discussed in November, as we roll out UUP in our retail release, users can expect their download size to decrease by approximately 35% when going from one major update of Windows to another. For retail users, the first time they get the UUP client code is part of the Creators Update, therefore, they will see the benefit of differential download packages when they go from the Creators Update to the next feature update of Windows.
    ...which seems to say the Fall Creators Update will be sent through windows update just containing the changed system files, provided you are up to date on Creators Update. We'll find out in the Fall...
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  8. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    Thanks.. which implies files with a mix of version numbers.. well, why not? Actually, if imageres.dll were not replaced, that saves me a small job of changing icons in it!
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  9. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #9

    dalchina said:
    Thanks.. which implies files with a mix of version numbers..
    We already have that apparently - check the Details tab for the properties of your C:\Windows\explorer.exe
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  10. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #10

    15063 - I meant the major build numbers would become a mixture (presumably) if unchanged system files were left unmodified.
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