Microsoft withdraws Media Creation tool for Nov update

[nlinecomputers]

It also doesn't help that Microsoft no doubt is trying to do damage control. No one is going to want to admit that the big roll out first new build under the new system is borked and had to be pulled. Even though IMO from a PR point of view that is better then the haphazard left hand not knowing what right hand is doing clusterf-ck that stunts like this do. Microsoft really sucks at PR and Media relations.

 

[Porthos]

Here is a direct link for the Tech Bench English x64 of 1511.

The difference between MCT and Tech Bench is MCT is ESD based and Tech Bench is WIM based which is better with system repair.

http://software-download.microsoft.com/pr/Win10_1511_English_x64.iso?t=8b6db787-ac10-4d1f-8ee2-337f38c626b3&e=1448417589&h=669868215fed57a2ce3f48262c462a6e

 

[pcpete]

Are any of you going to use the November build even though it was pulled?

 

[Porthos]

I am using it. I see it this way if something is "wrong " it will be patched or upgraded soon anyway. It is still on MSDN so it is still viable.

 

[Metanis]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the 1511 version of the Media Creation Tool by allowing the use of Win7, 8, 8.1 product keys for activation would essentially violate and bypass Microsoft's control of the 1 year free update period. By forcing us back onto the Windows Update channel they can easily control when to pull the plug on free updates.

At least that is what struck me as meaningful here.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the 1511 version of the Media Creation Tool by allowing the use of Win7, 8, 8.1 product keys for activation would essentially violate and bypass Microsoft's control of the 1 year free update period. By forcing us back onto the Windows Update channel they can easily control when to pull the plug on free updates.

At least that is what struck me as meaningful here.

Nonsense, part of activation is phoning home to Microsoft. Obviously after July you would not be able to redeem your free copy from Microsoft.

 

[4ycr]

One think I did notice is the automatic reeding of the BIOS for the COA. client bought 2 new laptops with windows 10 home but needed pro for their server. I thought I had nothing better to do than use the nov update DVD and enter their 8.1 volume licence COA. Nope, it read the BOIS and installed home again.

 

[nlinecomputers]

One think I did notice is the automatic reeding of the BIOS for the COA. client bought 2 new laptops with windows 10 home but needed pro for their server. I thought I had nothing better to do than use the nov update DVD and enter their 8.1 volume licence COA. Nope, it read the BOIS and installed home again.

That is the very bug that may be the reason it got pulled. There is a workaround: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...=1&msgId=f357494b-014c-45f4-9ba4-b2422775bedb

 

[glricht]

Are any of you going to use the November build even though it was pulled?

Just did one yesterday. I had downloaded the ISO's before they were pulled and had them available. As a test, used them to upgrade a spare Win 7 Home Premium PC I had in the shop. Upgraded just fine, Win 10 shows activated and "About" says Version 1511, OS Build 10586.11.

 

[Porthos]

This is the current party line.

The current status of v. 1511, according to BetaNews website (seems to confirm what others have been saying):The November update was originally available via the MCT (Media Creation Tool), but the company decided that future installs should be through Windows Update. People can still download Windows 10 [Build 10240] using the MCT tool if they wish. The November update will be delivered via Windows Update.
Microsoft has not pulled the Windows 10 November 10 update. The company is rolling out the November update over time -- if you don’t see it in Windows Update, you will see it soon.

Right now having the ISO just makes things faster for us techs and we can deliver the newest OS to our customers to prevent headaches for our clients later on.

 

[glricht]

Per Ed Bott's post earlier this evening, Microsoft's decision to pull the MCT and the 1511 ISOs has been reversed.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...=nl.e589&s_cid=e589&ttag=e589&ftag=TREc64629f

 

[Appletax]

Per Ed Bott's post earlier this evening, Microsoft's decision to pull the MCT and the 1511 ISOs has been reversed.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...=nl.e589&s_cid=e589&ttag=e589&ftag=TREc64629f

Soooooo awesome

"Today, the company explained the seemingly minor bug responsible for the decision, and has now made the tool available again."

They should have told us immediately!

 

[altrenda]

FWIW, the rumor I heard was that the first November MCT allowed pirated Windows 7 installations to activate. No idea if this is true, but fun to think about.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Soooooo awesome

"Today, the company explained the seemingly minor bug responsible for the decision, and has now made the tool available again."

They should have told us immediately!

Except that they were in violation of EU law which is why they waited to make it online again when they had the patch available that gets them back in compliance. They were not going to admit that they were in violation of EU law.

 

[dannyict]

you can still download it here
https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/software-download/techbench
the German TechBench website still allows you to download the removed files in English too, but make sure you select the version you want (use Google Translate if you don’t figure out how to do it).

More versions of TechBench could be used in the process, but make sure that the file you download has the “1511” tag in the filename. If it doesn’t, the chances are that you most likely download the 10240 RTM ISO.

 

[TechLady]

Per Ed Bott's post earlier this evening, Microsoft's decision to pull the MCT and the 1511 ISOs has been reversed.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/micros...=nl.e589&s_cid=e589&ttag=e589&ftag=TREc64629f

Thank you. That actually makes some sense; the Forbes writeup was horrible.

Microsoft really sucks at PR and Media relations.

An understatement. I am getting more disgusted with Microsoft by the day.

I think it's hilarious how they continually shoot themselves in the foot in their never-ending zeal to invade privacy with all these little default option "oopsies." The EU is absolutely right to nail them when they do this.

 

[pcpete]

According to Paul Thurrott, talked about on "Windows Weekly", Microsoft has re-released the November update and it is identical to the one that was pulled. So nothing must have been wrong with it originally.

My main question, has any one had luck installing clean with this newest version and activating with a Windows 7 key?

 

[Porthos]

My main question, has any one had luck installing clean with this newest version and activating with a Windows 7 key?

Have had no issues. Just skip key and put it in after you have internet connection.

 

[nlinecomputers]

According to Paul Thurrott, talked about on "Windows Weekly", Microsoft has re-released the November update and it is identical to the one that was pulled. So nothing must have been wrong with it originally.

They also released a cumulative patch and it fixed the privacy issues that violated EU law. As critical patches are mandatory this is good enough for the EU.

 

[Sergio3]

Just a thought here, but if you step back a little and look at what's happening at Microsoft; first they introduce their OS with a 1 year free upgrade for (mostly) anyone with a PC using the upgrade channel, then you realize they are collecting some sort of data from users and it's really hard to turn off. Now they are allowing users to enter an old product key to activate which will allow an ever greater amount of people to install it legally (for obvious reasons) but at the same time they are talking about adding some publicity on the start menu. What do you think comes next?

Don't you guys think Windows will eventually become free and the users will become the product just like what we are seeing from google, facebook, etc?

It might be a stretch but I would not be surprised if in july they completely remove the product key check and focus on revenues from bing search results (ala google) and windows store (ala Apple). I think the sub-500$ PC era might have put too much strain on the price the OEMs are willing to pay for the COA sticker so they seem to be looking elsewhere for revenues. For all we know they might even put some adsense on the start menu instead of just advertising apps from the store, how can the end user possibly stop this? The windows updates are now all done automatically on reboot. Ooops.

We might make some money in the future by offering customers to removes ads on windows itself