Microsoft yanks latest Windows 10 release from its download server

[MadScientist]

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-yanks-latest-windows-10-release-from-its-download-server/

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
"These downloads cannot be used to update Windows 10 PCs to the November update (Version 1511)."

My wife's laptop (no SD card) got stuck at 44% download during the V.1511 upgrade and I had to use the MCT to finish it. Also snagged a V.1511 iso copy. Not possible now.

I had downloaded an iso file, Win10_1511_English_x64.iso, from the Tech Bench last week. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench The hash was posted by Elixer in this thread as 875ec108288b9f581e5d8099cf0edb79f0f3e483. http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=37830376&postcount=33

I downloaded another iso copy from the Tech Bench today. The file though was labeled Win10_English_x64.iso. The hash is 60cce9e9c6557335b4f7b18d02cfe2b438a8b3e2. The same hash as the pre-update Windows 10 Multiple Editions x64 English version. https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/8152e592-893e-47fe-a2e0-a796de297de5/sha1-hash-value-for-windows-10-pro-64-bit-not-listed-on-msdn-subscription-site?forum=win10itprogeneral

The Zdnet article does state though that, "The ISO files for version 1511 are still available for MSDN subscribers."

Edit: Didn't see this on the very bottom of the Zdnet article under Update. Here's an unpublished link to Microsoft's servers that will get you the 10.0.10586.0 version of the Media Creation Tool. Hurry and get it before Microsoft takes it down. http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/C/4/1C41BC6B-F8AB-403B-B04E-C96ED6047488/MediaCreationTool.exe

 

[chin311]

I've read about a lot of machines failing @ 44%. I have Windows 10 on my work laptop and it loaded the update to 1511 just fine, but obviously there are some major issues!

 

[Puffnstuff]

I wonder why they did that? When I check the properties on the last integrated media creation tool I dl'd to do the 1511 update it also points to the original release version. I just compared the file sizes between the original and 1511 iso's and the latter is around 700kb larger. My tablet failed the upgrade at around 44% using WU which is why I used the media creation tool to update it to 1511.

 

[MadScientist]

I tried several suggested fixes to get past 44% but none worked. There was plenty of space on her hard drive for the update and no SD card. Only using the Media Creation Tool worked, but that's not possible now.

 

[jkauff]

Microsoft's plan to make Win 10 a "universal Windows" was a good one, but the execution of the plan has been typically trouble-plagued. Still the same old MS, in many ways, where we had to wait for a couple of service packs to get a solid version.

Win 8.1, for example, is completely reliable for me. I tried Win 10, but I won't go back to it anytime soon.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Weird. I've done a few, without issue. One I even did a direct Windows 8.1 > Windows 10 build 1511 no problem.

 

[TeknoBug]

1511 downloaded and updated no problems on my NUC but didn't get it on main PC.

 

[tidy]

.

 

[postmortemIA]

So in future if I do clean install it will be like doing Windows 7 SP1 today? Go through 200+ updates

 

[biostud]

I've experience problems with stuttering in streaming video.

 

[TheVrolok]

I clean installed 1511 from the ISO and it seems to be working OK.

I don't know what I'm doing on this OS though. It offers me no value over 7, and when I see crap like this going on (updates getting pulled with zero explanation from MS), it makes me think I should avoid it like the plague.

I sorta feel the same way. I'm not a social media guy, I'm not a tablet guy.. I don't really use many of the overt Win10 features, but I suppose some of the under the hood updates are worth it?

 

[Puffnstuff]

I've experience problems with stuttering in streaming video.

I have the same issue with IE and abc news, however if I view the same stream with another browser (FF or chrome) it streams just fine. At least this update allows my vitalsource bookshelf software to update to the latest version. The original version of 10 caused it to malfunction on all of my pc's and now they all run the latest just fine.

 

[JackMDS]

Some think that this is the reason.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmg...-windows-adk-for-windows-10-version-1511.aspx

 

[SparkyJJO]

So in future if I do clean install it will be like doing Windows 7 SP1 today? Go through 200+ updates

Not entirely. You can fresh load 1511 so if they continue the trend of updating the installer image as major updates are done then that should help a lot.

Well, once 1511 (or its replacement) is re-released. Like I said I've had no problems with it but I guess some have, enough that they yanked it temporarily.

 

[MadScientist]

You can still download the English 1511 iso from the German Tech Bench. Use Google translate. https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/software-download/techbench
The hash for the Win10_1511_English_x64.iso is the same as the hash posted by Elixer on 11/12, 875ec108288b9f581e5d8099cf0edb79f0f3e483

 

[Nohr]

I successfully got 1511 with ZDNet's update link/OP's edit. I didn't realize MS had revoked the update and I really needed the bios key activation feature so this saved my bacon. Thanks for the info!

 

[OlyAR15]

Looks like it's back.

http://arstechnica.com/information-...for-forgetting-privacy-settings-its-now-back/

 

[Puffnstuff]

It also appears that MS has just released another cumulative update for 1511 kb3120677.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Looks like it's back.

http://arstechnica.com/information-...for-forgetting-privacy-settings-its-now-back/

Is the one that's "back" changed in any way from the one that was "pulled"? I mean, is the ISO MD5 different? Do we need to go back in and download new copies, of the updated update?

 

[MadScientist]

Is the one that's "back" changed in any way from the one that was "pulled"? I mean, is the ISO MD5 different? Do we need to go back in and download new copies, of the updated update?

I just finished downloading the Win10_1511_English_x64.iso (it's up again) from the US Tech Bench site. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench

The hash, 875ec108288b9f581e5d8099cf0edb79f0f3e483, matched the hash from the copy I downloaded before, 875ec108288b9f581e5d8099cf0edb79f0f3e483.

Not sure if that answered your question. Maybe they decided to fix it with the new Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems (KB3120677).

 

[Mem]

Info about it here http://www.neowin.net/news/microsof...ember-update-media-explains-why-it-was-pulled

Recently we learned of an issue that could have impacted an extremely small number of people who had already installed Windows 10 and applied the November update. Once these customers installed the November update, a few of their settings preferences may have inadvertently not been retained. For these customers, we will restore their settings over the coming days and we apologize for the inconvenience. We worked to resolve the issue as quickly as possible - it will not impact future installs of the November update, which is available today.
​

Thus, it seems that the update is once again available via the Media Creation Tool. For those customers who downloaded the update files before the problem was discovered, Microsoft has promised to reset their settings in the coming days.
The bug in question related to the following four settings, which, if turned off by the user, were set to their default 'on' setting after applying the update:

• Let apps use my advertising ID
• Turn on SmartScreen Filter for web content
• Let apps run in the background
• Sync with devices

While Microsoft's decision to pull the whole update due to a small bug affecting only a handful of people, and the resulting miscommunication in earlier statements issued by the company, do seem bizarre, Windows 10 has been under fire recently, due to privacy concerns. It stands to reason, therefore, that the company shut down the update in order to minimize any further damage.

 

[Mushkins]

Is the one that's "back" changed in any way from the one that was "pulled"? I mean, is the ISO MD5 different? Do we need to go back in and download new copies, of the updated update?

Assuming the bug that was disclosed is the *only* thing that was an issue, there's no reason to redownload media.

The bug only affected upgrades from Win 10 to the Fall Update, it was resetting certain user settings to the defaults. If you're doing a fresh install from media created by the creation tool you aren't doing an upgrade by definition, so those settings are already at the default anyway. Even if the code contains the bug there's no actual impact by continuing to use the old media.

If there was anything else involved, I'm sure there will also be a windows update patch to fix that issue for systems that already have installed the Fall Update, so you're not missing out if you don't do another install with the new media.

I wouldn't worry about remaking media honestly.

 

[vailr]

The updated .iso file is different from the one released 14 days ago.
Old build #10586.3
New build #10586.14
Hash calcs for the updated (just downloaded) Windows.iso file:
md5: cecfe504f7cebfa0f1d53f1ecaaa87d9
sha1: e021d0279472be5d376e8db76810637f51e8226e.
If using a Rufus created USB thumb drive or burned DVD, in order to be able to use that as a single source for both fresh installing and "in place" upgrade installing, then yes, a fresh download from MS would seem to be a good idea.
Note: there's no version information provided via right click/properties/details for the Windows.iso file.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Thanks for the heads up on the revised iso. I'm in the process of downloading it now just in case I should need to do a clean install later on.