Tip: Download Any Version of Windows 10

Thanks to a new batch file, you can configure Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to download any version of Windows 10, and not just the latest version.

What a great idea. And thanks to DeskModder (via Ghacks) for tipping us off to this. The batch file is attributed to someone identified only as BAU, though there’s no link. (Let me know if you find the original source of this batch file, please.)

Anyway, you can download the batch file here, and if you’re worried about anything nefarious, just take a look at its source code as it’s a plain text file.

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After you’ve got that, download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website and put it in the same folder as the batch file.

Then, open a Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and navigate to the folder with the batch file and the Media Creation Tool. Then, run the following command:

MediaCreationTool.bat

The batch file will run and a window will appear, letting you choose the version of the Windows 10 ISO to create.

Select the version you want, and the batch file will then run the Media Creation Tool, passing it the correct version to download. Then, just use the tool normally.

Nice!

 

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Conversation 16 comments

  • CTaylor

    01 November, 2020 - 9:28 am

    <p>I checked it and you do not have to download the Media Creation Tool separately. In fact, I think you shouldn't because there are a couple of versions. The script will download and run the correct version. Slick!</p>

    • wosully

      Premium Member
      01 November, 2020 - 1:51 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590138">In reply to CTaylor:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yes, great tip. Thanks.</p>

  • YoWhadup

    01 November, 2020 - 11:57 am

    <p>Script has trailed MCT releases since 2018 for good reason: many versions reached EOS, but end of support =/= end of life.</p><p>Microsoft was even quicker to artificially break MCT for version 2004 with the release of the 20H2.</p><p>Many might take issue with that. First, in-place upgrade still being broken in 20H2. Second, new Edge no longer being optional, but integrated in the media (being the reason why 20H2 no longer fits FAT32 media 4GB file size limit even in ISO with install.esd form.</p><p><br></p>

    • dftf

      02 November, 2020 - 3:56 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590143">In reply to YoWhadup:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yeah, it is a tad annoying an ISO for 64-bit 20H2, created using the Media Creation Tool, comes to around 4.7GB in size — too-big for a single-layer DVD.</p><p><br></p><p>You could try a workaround of (1) downloading the regular ISO (which has "install.wim", not "install.esd"), (2) extract the specific SKU install-image you want from it (using something like DISM or GImageX) and (3) re-compress the new .WIM you create to reduce the size (say using LZMS and solid packing), (4) rename your new file "install.wim", put it back into the extracted ISO files, and finally (5) use a tool like ImgBurn to create a new bootable DVD (if the new WIM is now small-enough).</p><p><br></p><p>But I guess Windows 10 is only going to get bigger, and buying some dual-layer DVDs might just be an easier option — or a USB flash-drive, given you only need one of 8GB in size and they are ridiculously cheap thesedays (a 64GB one can be had over-here for around ÂŁ8, including tax).</p>

      • Paul Thurrott

        Premium Member
        03 November, 2020 - 8:32 am

        If you have a DVD drive, you have USB. Just use USB.

      • epguy40

        05 November, 2020 - 7:30 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#590329">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>sorry dftf. 64bit 20H2 ISO still TOO BIG to fit on a single-layered DVD disc, even when trying to convert the install.wim file to an install.esd file.</p><p>the KB4562830 "enablement" packages in 20H2 bundle the Chromium Edge MSI installers which added more "bloat" to the install.wim/install.esd file – causing it to still go over the 4.7gig DVD disc limit.</p><p><br></p><p>I tend to lean what Paul T said – better use at least an 8Gb sized USB flash drive rather than DVD (unless YoWhadup here has a double-layered DVD burner that can write onto DVD DL discs).</p>

  • will

    Premium Member
    01 November, 2020 - 1:03 pm

    <p>Would have to think about what 1507 had and how it compares to what we have today</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      02 November, 2020 - 8:24 am

      It had a much simpler Settings app, for starters. 🙂

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    01 November, 2020 - 2:03 pm

    <p>This is excellent, thanks.</p>

  • mattbg

    Premium Member
    01 November, 2020 - 2:46 pm

    <p>Very nice.</p>

  • proftheory

    Premium Member
    01 November, 2020 - 6:38 pm

    <p>Interesting that they have Powershell code in there also.</p>

  • hastin

    Premium Member
    01 November, 2020 - 6:51 pm

    <p>Rufus has this as well. Just select any version to Download, you can even grab via browser.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/78mF5SZ.png"&gt; </p>

  • dftf

    02 November, 2020 - 3:43 pm

    <p>I would only question *why* this would be helpful: where is the advantage to ever installing an old version of Windows 10?</p><p><br></p><p>Any app that worked on 1507 should still work today on 20H2, no (assuming you were on 64-bit 1507 and still 64-bit 20H2 today, not starting with 32-bit and switching to 64-bit later!)</p><p><br></p><p>I can understand needing to stick with Windows 7 SP1 or 8.1 for some sort of compatibility reason — but when would you need an older version of Windows 10 itself? (Plus, you won't get security-updates for anything-less than Version 1903 for Home and Pro, or Version 1803 for Education and Enterprise. LTSC obviously get 10 years of support, but are a specific use-case).</p>

    • jgraebner

      Premium Member
      02 November, 2020 - 4:38 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590324">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's mainly useful to developers looking to test an application on different builds of the OS.</p>

    • epguy40

      05 November, 2020 - 7:32 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590324">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>not only that – some still need the 32bit 1607 ISO since newer Win10 versions no longer support Intel Atom Clover Trail or Cloverview based devices.</p>

  • lightbody

    03 November, 2020 - 3:50 am

    <p>Excellent! I just downloaded the wee zip file, extracted it, and off it went!</p><p><br></p><p>Thanks.</p>

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