Most recent Media Creation Tools exactly the same?

Check out my screen shot. It looks like the most recent Media Creation Tools are exactly the same.

I don't remember if I've asked before (in the context of 21H1) but are they exactly the same?

If so, how come?

Is the "media" created by the tool different than the "media" created by previous tools?

If so, I assume that changes have been made at Microsoft.

 

I have saved all of them to my harddisk. Up to and including MediaCreationTool2004 (see attached screen shot) they were all different with different sizes and different digital signatures. I conclude that the modus operandi actually has changed from MediaCreationTool20H2 and onwards. It coincides with the change in naming the file or "version".

Up to and including MediaCreationTool2004, there was information in this file telling the creator "something" but I don't know what. This information must be missing from MediaCreationTool20H2 and onwards and its modus operandi has changed.

I hope that someone knows how it works and why the file name has changed but not the size and digital signature ... ... apart from the name, it is exactly the same.

 

Also, up to and including MediaCreationTool2004, it was possible to create that particular version of the installation media (e.g. USB-stick) even after subsequent versions had been released. (You may have good reasons to roll back to a previous version.) From MediaCreationTool20H2 and onwards, I don't think that is possible. You will get the last one, no matter what. (I'm not sure, only speculating since I haven't tried.)

 

Thanks for letting me know. I'll try myself with an older version to confirm, just out of stubbornness.

I'm currently running version 21H2 with various success. Right now, it's running 24/7 because on almost every startup, the screen freezes and I have to shut down on the power button and start again. The second time, it works fine. Can't figure it out but I still blame Microsoft for doing a driver update (graphics) without my consent.

 

I tested and found that you're right. From version 10-0-19041-572 (20H2 and newer) the tool is the same and always creates the most recent version (currently 21H2).

 

Nope, 21H2 with OS build 19044.1466.

Microsoft has let itself loose on my computer (I simply gave up trying to get back in control) and has updated it through Windows Update and all patches have been installed.

I have checked settings that apply to the graphics and the monitor. They are the same as pre-updates.

According to Windows Update, the graphics driver was the most recent but a month ago, I checked at AMD and was recommended a more recent version. I downloaded and installed it. After that, I checked the Device Manager and the driver had been assigned a unique version number by Microsoft. The rethorical question is why it was not offered and installed automatically by Windows Update?

After that update (via AMD), the screen didn't freeze on startup ... ... for a week or so ... ... but now it freezes more often than not. My conclusion is that something has changed, not by me but by "you-know-who".

I have an Image of the system running version 1909, created before Microsoft started messing with the drivers and it worked "one-hundred-persent". I'm considering restoring it disconnected from the internet. Next, preventing Microsoft from installing drivers (through gpedit.msc) and then slapping version 21H2 on top of it. Not until now will I reconnect to the internet and see what happens. I can't get worse ... ... I think!

Anywayandhow, this is a separate thread!

 

I went google on "21H2 with OS Build 22000.434" and found that it is referring to Windows 11, not windows 10.

January 11, 2022—KB5009566 (OS Build 22000.434)

 

MrBluesDJ, thanks for your post. I have all the MCT-versions stored but haven't checked all of them. I wouldn't wish to "go back" further than necessary and it worked fine with version 1909 and possibly with version 2004 (I don't remember). I guess those versions (and earlier) are "out of date" and no longer supported but out of interest - which version did you "successfully" test?

 

retiredlearner, thanks for your post. I believe that's a different problem and it originates in 2015 when still on Windows 7 (according to the user notes), assumably transferring to Windows 10.

As you can see in my attachment, the file version is the same for 20H2, 21H1 and 21H2 but unique for 2004 (and all previous). That's why it was possible to create the corresponding version of the installation media prior to 20H2 but no longer. (Maybe MrBluesDJ has proved me wrong, let's see what happens.)

I have an Image to restore and will hopefully be able to follow this plan from a post above:

 

Thanks, I'll eagerly await the results!

 

Thanks retiredlearner but like I mentioned above, I've got them all!

Collecting now is a waste of space if all but the most recent version don't work.