Windows 10: From Anniversary Update (1607) to Creators Edition?

I would like to have everyone's feedback here.

Currently, I am running Win10 1607 (AU) and would like to soon upgrade to the Win10 Creative Edition.
Should I perform a Clean install from the 1607 to the Creative Edition or just do an upgrade through the Windows Update?

In other words, would a Clean install of from the Anniversary Update to the Creative Edition would be the best option?

What would be the best option when performing basically ANY Windows 10 upgrades?


Thanks

:)

 

Windows 10 Creators Update Rollback

As Big Techie says, 1607 IS the Anniversary update.

I'm having the same problem - I need to roll back from Creators (1703) to Anniversary (1607). And the download tool only loads 1703. Microsoft, can you provide a link to download 1607 please?

 

Windows defender is disabled

Are you using 1607 Anniversary Update or 1703 Creators Update?

 

Usually clean installs are always best. I always do them on mine. But despite them being best if your upgrading from Windows 10 to another Windows 10 version (ie Anniversary to Creators) then an in-place upgrade should be fine. (WU or download and run the ISO setup.exe from the ISO in Windows.)

 

At a minimum, I recommend downloading the ISO file and not waiting for Windows Update. Then make a bootable USB flash drive or DVD from it as a backup.

If your Windows 10 is running good now with no problems (especially failed updates), then I would just upgrade by mounting the ISO file and running setup.exe from it.

You can then always do a clean install later, but I've been happy with upgrades so far.

 

The only time I relied on windows update to upgrade my machine was the initial free upgrade from 7 to 10 in July 2015. Since then I've upgraded to 1511 and then 1607. I always used the Media Creation Tool to make the bootable install USB, then used that to do an in-place upgrade. Never had any problem and intend to get Creators Update the same way.

The added bonus is if you have several machines to upgrade - download once and upgrade as many at you want.

 

As our esteemed posters above say, do the upgrade first. In most cases, it works fine.

You can do the "nuke" option later if you get issues, but upgrading from AU to CU should be relatively painless compared with e.g. 7 to 10 where the changes were very fundamental - particularly drivers changing which was usually prime reason for issues. Within reason drivers should hardly change between AU and CU.

 

Using the ISO as I did will avoid the extras that will most likely come with the windows update route. I had no new "suggested" app's added to my start menu. *Rolleyes

 

If you go from Anniversary to Creator by way of USB/DVD clean install, don't you have to spend the best part of a day reinstalling all your other programs and adjusting settings/appearance to the way you like it? Or is there a way to minimise such hassle?

 

Yes @dortmunder, but only if you do a clean install.

You can also use the USB/DVD to do an upgrade and keep all your files, apps and settings - just run its Setup from within your existing Windows. That's how I went from 7 to 10, then to 1511 and now on 1607. I still have apps that I installed when it was running Win7.

 

I have had every build since 9926 and I always just upgrade or do an in place repair upgrade when I get a DVD. I have never had problems.

 

Thanks, Bree. However, I'm not seeing the benefit of installing an Update using USB/DVD. Don't you get the same end result as simply letting WU do it?

 

I believe the benefit is the elapsed time. Downloading and burning the media and upgrading from there is quicker than using WU since WU does not use your full bandwidth when downloading Updates.

 

Not quite, first you have the reassurance that the download has succeeded before you start. Second, you don't have to download all over again should WU fail part way through. Third, the manual method has been found to be more reliably successful than the WU method. Anniversary Update Failure

Finally, you can chose to do the upgrade at a time that's convenient to you, rather than one of WU's choosing. The download size is about the same either way, but the bonus is you keep the install USB/DVD for later use - it's a useful repair tool in its own right.

 

Interesting, I think I'll give that a go. First, I'll have to change my WU settings so as not to receive auto downloads...

But how to tell if the Media Creation Tool you're downloading is the right one? I imagine the one in this pic contains the Anniversary Update but there's nothing confirming that. Is it perhaps the case that there's only one MCT available at any given time and it's changed simultaneously with major Updates?