I'm a Windows Insider but didn't install any pre-release builds

[PepperdotNet]

If you are an insider and haven't yet built an ISO from the 10240 esd for your other machines... you're doing it wrong.

 

[Scott Bradley]

If you are an insider and haven't yet built an ISO from the 10240 esd for your other machines... you're doing it wrong.

So, let me ask why. I know some of the benefits to having a stand alone ISO, but for most users it is unnecessary. What is your thoughts on this being a "must do" process? The ISO install still needs to be registered or "certified" against a qualifying Windows 7 / 8.1 build.

 

[michail71]

Were you able to upgrade to 10240? I just got a Surface 3 today and I'm missing Windows 10.

I have the ISO prior to 10240.

 

[PepperdotNet]

So, let me ask why. I know some of the benefits to having a stand alone ISO, but for most users it is unnecessary. What is your thoughts on this being a "must do" process? The ISO install still needs to be registered or "certified" against a qualifying Windows 7 / 8.1 build.

Based on an assumption that several things are true:
- you have a machine that's not yet been upgraded
- you are worried how long you might have to wait for the automatic upgrade to happen
- you have the 10240 ESD file on another machine (same edition and bits)

Since the downloads for Windows 10 ISOs aren't officially available anymore, you can't upgrade it in the normal way by installing a previous build and running Windows Update. You can't upgrade directly from 7 or 8.1 through Windows Update without waiting an unknown amount of time until "your" reservation is ready.

The process of turning that ESD into an ISO is much less convoluted than figuring out how to copy it over and make windows update see it on another machine, but that too is possible. (footnote)

In my experience so far, a Windows 7 or 8.1 machine that has never had any Microsoft Account tied to it, and never been in the preview program, upgraded and activated to Windows 10 just fine by mounting the ISO and running setup.

As far as "must do" - in my situation at work, it is prohibitive to have a large number (more than zero) machines download a 3GB ESD over Windows Update because of our slow Internet connection. I've been able to upgrade a machine at home, grab the ESD from the hidden $windows.~bt or whatever that folder is called, make an ISO from it and carry that to work the next morning.

Footnote:
Finding the leaked WZOR builds is even easier but I didn't say that

 

[Scott Bradley]

@PepperdotNet, I think those are all valid reasons and agree that it is a strategy that some tech savvy people might want to consider... If nothing else, just as a hedge bet.

But for most people, I don't that it brings a lot of value to burn the ISO. Within a few weeks your PC will be upgraded, and the Windows 10 ISO is always going to be available online and useful for at least the next year.

I don't plan on burning one, and you might consider me a pretty technical guy. (Software Engineer)

 

[michail71]

What I'm worked about is installing my ISO to my Surface 3 and then not being able to update to 10240. Thus getting locked out of the store. All my other machines are on 10240 but they were preview before the cutoff.

 

[michail71]

My Surface is downloading 10240 now. It seems it needed a little time.

So the an older iso can still be used to upgrade a system and then get 10240 through windows update.