Installation and Upgrade Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft

Wisewiz · Oct 4, 2021

Mark Phelps said:
Did the same for me -- so how is this different from the 22000.194 build that has been out since 9/16?

I don't think MS has any history AT ALL of naming two different builds with the same build number. The 22000.253 build that's been cited here seems like a figment. Everybody seems to be getting the same 194 build.

Bree · Oct 4, 2021

Brink said:
Media Creation Tool now available for Windows 11.

A nice touch is that this W11 download page offers the choice of MCT or direct ISO download. No need to change your browser to look like an iPad to get the ISO option as you have to do for the W10 page.

IronZorg89 · Oct 4, 2021

Still hesitant about going full blown win 11 on my machine that meets the necessary hardware requirements — in which case I will let MS go with the upgrade — or create a new partition for a dual-boot system — in which case I will need the .iso. Main reason is that I don't know what kind of trouble win 11 has in store for me. I really don't want to have a "Holy Smokes!" moment. The night (tonight) is very good at bringing forth some good advice.

barman58 · Oct 4, 2021

Technically now that the RTM has been released, if you decide to run Windows 10 and 11 on partitions on the same system you may be expected to provide two different Licence keys - I say "May" as sometimes as it's two installs on the same hardware, the system can sometimes get confused and apply the digital licence to whichever is running

IronZorg89 · Oct 4, 2021

barman58 said:
Technically now that the RTM has been released, if you decide to run Windows 10 and 11 on partitions on the same system you may be expected to provide two different Licence keys - I say "May" as sometimes as it's two installs on the same hardware, the system can sometimes get confused and apply the digital licence to whichever is running

A new license key wouldn't be a problem as there always will be future use for it. Remember MS said at the time of Win 10 that this will be Windows' last version; that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Nobody really knows what the future holds with MS.

I think my decision to whether or not go dual-boot is the main issue for me. :)

barman58 · Oct 4, 2021

The "Last Windows" was a throwaway remark by a lower ranking Microsoft engineer that was picked up by the press and went viral - nothing official ever made the claim

A dual boot is more likely to work "out of the box " as the hardware and hardware "key" would be the same - of course the dual boot can be less stable in some systems

IronZorg89 · Oct 4, 2021

barman58 said:
The "Last Windows" was a throwaway remark by a lower ranking Microsoft engineer that was picked up by the press and went viral - nothing official ever made the claim

Good to know. I really didn't know about that as this throwaway remark was in most articles at the time. So I took it for granted.

"A dual boot is more likely to work "out of the box " as the hardware and hardware "key" would be the same - of course the dual boot can be less stable in some systems"

This is where my indecision lies. You have hit the nail squarely on the head. Instability issues would probably keep me from going dual boot. I will have to think about it or wait to see if other users have gone that path and what kind of issue they are facing. That means I will have to wait at least a full month before taking a decision. Time will tell... :wink:

secondsight · Oct 4, 2021

barman58 said:
The "Last Windows" was a throwaway remark by a lower ranking Microsoft engineer that was picked up by the press and went viral - nothing official ever made the claim

A dual boot is more likely to work "out of the box " as the hardware and hardware "key" would be the same - of course the dual boot can be less stable in some systems

Rufus usb made.........into that dark night I go. Will see you all on the other side with a Windows 11 Enterprise laptop.....wish me luck. Send out a search party if I am not back in 1 hour......

:wink:

erpster4 · Oct 4, 2021

Wisewiz said:
where is this 22000.253 build number coming from?

non-existent for now (unless it shows up tomorrow on uupdump.net)

the newly released W11 media creation tool app, on the other hand, is build 22200.253 as I downloaded & checked that myself.

BunnyJ · Oct 4, 2021

erpster4 said:
non-existent atm

the newly released W11 media creation tool app, on the other hand, is build 22200.253 as I downloaded & checked that myself.

But when you run it you'll find that you have .194

Wisewiz · Oct 4, 2021

Yes, but that’s just the MCT build number; not an OS build number. All’s clear now. It’s 194 all the way home.

secondsight · Oct 4, 2021

Wisewiz said:
Yes, but that’s just the MCT build number; not an OS build number. All’s clear now. It’s 194 all the way home.

MSDN iso is 194. Both of mine are now alive and running with the speed of many antelope.

:)

IronZorg89 · Oct 5, 2021

After this productive and beneficial exchange I had with @barman58 yesterday (see posts #83, #84 and #86 above) I have decided to go full blown Win 11 on my PC which met the necessary hardware requirements (Asus in my specs' profile). Besides, my other machine will stay on Win 10 for not meeting the requirements of the PC Health check and the dual boot option seems to be creating issues with MR's Boot menu as being discussed in the following thread:

Windows 11 Insider Preview Dev Build 22471 (RS_PRERELEASE) - Oct. 4

This morning, after receiving this notification from MS (screenshot below), my first reaction was to pause updates for 7 days. The reason being that I had to prepare the machine before letting MS go with the upgrade ostensibly in the upcoming days. Recent system image backup with MR not a problem since I always have one ready, but checking for Drivers, BIOS updates and scan the PC for virus and malware with MSERT & Microsoft Defender. Now that I am ready, I have unpaused Windows Update.

Athanasian_Creed · Oct 5, 2021

erpster4 said:
non-existent for now (unless it shows up tomorrow on uupdump.net)

the newly released W11 media creation tool app, on the other hand, is build 22200.253 as I downloaded & checked that myself.

If you hover over the MCT, the file version is listed as 10.0.22000.253

Josey Wales · Oct 5, 2021

Wisewiz said:
where is this 22000.253 build number coming from?

Maybe on The 12th-Patch Tuesday.

Josey Wales · Oct 5, 2021

Athanasian_Creed said:
If you hover over the MCT, the file version is listed as 10.0.22000.253

I used it and it installed 22000.194.

Bree · Oct 5, 2021

Athanasian_Creed said:
If you hover over the MCT, the file version is listed as 10.0.22000.253

It has long been common practice on Microsoft's part (and very confusing) for the MCT to have a different build number from that of the Windows contained in the ISO it will build. Whatever the build of the MCT, the true test is to mount the ISO and check it's build with DISM

See Full Details about a Windows 10 ISO file or USB

How to See Full Details about a Windows 10 ISO file or USB

www.tenforums.com

The MCT makes an ISO for build 22000.194, as shown by the Version and ServicePack Build in the screenshot below.

SuperConker · Oct 6, 2021

Bree said:
A nice touch is that this W11 download page offers the choice of MCT or direct ISO download. No need to change your browser to look like an iPad to get the ISO option as you have to do for the W10 page.

View attachment 8940

What's with the huge difference in filesize between ISO's created with the Media Creation Tool,
and the direct ISO download?

jimbo45 · Oct 6, 2021

SuperConker said:
What's with the huge difference in filesize between ISO's created with the Media Creation Tool,
and the direct ISO download?

Not sure if there is any -- initial install will still show DEV version -- but after a WU which adds cumulative updates it will show 21H2.
Note though on my system search doesn't work and from the menu I can't enter anything - the menu just disappears.

I think MCT does a Hardware validation before it allows creation or download -- not sure about that but some have reported getting "This PC can't install W11" when trying.

I installed via direct download and then using RUFUS to create a WintoGO system on an external SSD.

Edit : -- After another update via WU the search defect is fixed.

Cheers
jimbo

Bree · Oct 6, 2021

SuperConker said:
What's with the huge difference in filesize between ISO's created with the Media Creation Tool,
and the direct ISO download?

The direct download ISO contains an install.wim in its sources folder. The MCT creates an ISO with an install.esd, a file format that uses a higher level of compression.