Windows 10: How to get the Windows 10 Creators Update

For you maybe, but for many it means a lot of work reinstalling stuff etc. Sure better advice is to upgrade first, and try it and do a clean install if major issues?

 

Provide evidence to backup MICROSOFT are warning users. It is well known the automatic upgrade does compatibility checks and warns some users to wait. That is not the same as a general warning.

 

Here...

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexp...-phase-update/

 

That is what I said - the warning is for those doing updates who get a compatibility issue - that is not the same as a general warning and only affects a small minority.

This is just telling people they run a risk if they use MCT but this is no change from earlier build upgrades - always applied but MS are being more open about it.

 

ISO disk images can be mounted in Windows to run a virtual drive to see an update by upgrade type of install take place without any usb flash drive or dvd required. For a full clean that however requires booting live without the present Windows installation running.

The first update following the rtm release was one of those builds you would have wanted to have made a full system image backup from the rtm install to restore thing back since many ran into headaches! As with any installation in prime condition having an image or two is always practical when possible. After that first update however there hasn't been any need to see a clean install but still saw the flash drive made up for the anniversary update just in case the time came when a clean install would be needed.

In fact right before this latest Creators update was available the automatic log in started failing where I had to get the main booted up in safe mode to try and debug things. Upon the next attempt suddenly saw two accounts one being a reflection and once the update went on I now simply enter the password on any restart since the main runs 24/7. The upgrade install corrected that type of glitch where Windows suddenly couldn't find any network connection to sign in automatically to the MS account which had been the cause of things freezing up at the lock screen. Fortunately that repair went quickly.

 

If Creators Update is in the root directory, and Anniversary Update in a sub-directory, CU will be loaded when it is booted from the stick.
If Anniversary Update is in the root directory, and Creators Update in a sub-directory, AU will be loaded when it is booted from the stick.
And you can always move installation files between different directories.

 

So as long as two OS install files don't clash that OS will be bootable...

 

I have never tried that, but I think they will not clash because they are in different directories.

 

Oh, so not so sure? lol. It's fine, might as well try it out...

 

You may try it out, but remember that the stick must have an active primary partition according to How to make active@boot disk bootable on uefi/gpt? - Solved - Windows 10 Forums

 

It would stand to reason that you could multiple iso files on a large enough flash drive tucked away in a folder but only one could be unpacked by the MCT which then allows that one to booted live from when planning a clean install. For an upgrade type install on the other hand you would simply plug the drive in while Windows was running in to order to browse the folder and then simply right click on the select ISO to see it mounted on a virtual optical drive by choosing the OPEN option at the very top of the right click menu.

Disk images when stored unopened in a folder are similar to how any zip file or rar file would be for example sitting there as a compressed archive until opened and generally do not interfere with any other similar files nearby. If you try using the MCT on multiple ISOs note that one disk image written when unpacked will overwrite what was already written where you only get the choice of one build you can boot live with not seeing a multiple choice instead as you would wnen dual or multi-booting different OSs. Here I simply keep several 4gb, 8gb, 16gb flash drives onhand for testing multiple builds as well as the updates while ISO raw images are downloaded and stored on a separate large capacity storage drive. Of course I work with about 5tb of storage space between two 2tb and a 1tb external drive on the main desktop here. A second remotely accessed desktop used for testing purposes will see 2tb only between the second 1tb internal and a third 1tb external despite that pc also seeing a working 10/7 dual boot presently.

 

ok

Active partitions only apply to legacy bios installs.

 

location

Actually, this is no longer necessary with standard flash drives as you can now use multiple partitions on a standard flash drive provide you use version 1703 to create the flash drive.

The slightly tricky part is setting up the boot menu to boot to correct install.

 

Do you mean 1703 supports multiple partitions on a USB stick?

 

Yes, it does....
CU supports multiple partitions on a standard USB Flash Drive

...creating them is a little difficult though, Disk Management can't do it. The USB needs an MBR to have multiple partitions, you need Diskpart to make that. Once it has the MBR then Disk Management can be used.