It’s a Great Time to Download and Save a Copy of Windows 10 Version 1809
Microsoft will be releasing Windows 10 version 1903 sometime in late May. So right now is a great time to download and stash a copy of the now-well-tested and pretty well debugged Windows 10 Version 1809. If you delay too long and wait until after Windows 10 version 1903 is released, Windows 10 version 1809 will no longer be available and you’ll no longer to get your hands on it.
Even if you never need it, it’s good to have a copy of a known stable version of Windows 10 on hand. You can download the Windows 10 ISO file and save it. Or use it to create an installation DVD or USB flash drive and hang on to it. It’s free to download so even if you never use it, it’s good to keep it just in case.
And don’t forget you can also use the installation media (DVD or USB) to boot your computer if it won’t normally, and access the Advanced Boot Menu from which you’ll be able to use the troubleshooting tools, the command prompt, safe mode, and other tools you can use to repair your PC. It’s free, easy to make, and it’s like having a little free insurance.
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
2. Click on ” Download tool now”. You’ll get a window asking if you want to run or save the MediaCreationTool1809.exe. file.
3. After the “tool” is downloaded click on MediaCreationTool1809.exe
4. Click Accept.
5. Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.”
6. Leave the recommended options for your PC checked, unless you have some amazingly good reason not to.
7. Click the ISO file radio button and click Next.
8. Choose a location for the downloaded files and click Save. We suggest you save it to an external hard drive or an 8GB or larger flash drive. That way you’ll have it if you need it.
Hang on there! If you don’t have a fast connection this part could take hours. If you have a fast connection, it will only take a few minutes. You don’t have to have to hover over your PC staring at your screen waiting. Just take off, grab some coffee, a beer or go mow your lawn. It will be done when it’s done.
9.. When Windows is finished downloading and verifying the file integrity. It will offer to Burn the ISO file to a DVD. But for now, just click “Finish”.
10. Check the location you chose for the download and make sure you see your Widnows10-v1809.iso file (or whatever you named it).
11. You don’t need to do anything else right now but you’ll want to make the installation DVD (or flash drive) soon and, after you do, keep it in a safe place. You can use the ISO file at any time to create an installation DVD or even a Windows 10 installation flash drive. You’ll need a program like UNetbootin if you decide on making the flash drive.
How to create a DVD from an ISO file
We can’t generalize because some of you have DVD burning software installed… and if you do you can burn a DVD by following instructions for your CD/DVD burning software.
If you don’t have CD/DVD burning software, Windows 7, Windows 8x and all versions of Windows 10 can burn a CD or DVD from an ISO file without installing any 3rd-party software. All you need to do to use the Windows 10 ISO file to create a Windows 10 installation disk is:
- Put a blank, writable DVD in your CD/DVD drive
- Double-click the ISO file
- Follow the on-screen prompts.
That’s it.
TC and Darcy: Thank you so much for this information and the instructions. I will definitely do this. Jennifer
My computers never received the 1809 update. Should I still download a copy of it? My computers still have 1803.
70% of Windows 10 computers never got the 1809 update. The article we wrote was not intended to make 1809 sound likes it’s the best thing since sliced bread… the article was intended to give users an option to download and save a well-tested and patched version of Windows 10 against the advent of Windows 10 version 1903. Heaven knows version 1809 was a debacle-and-a-half when it was released on October 5, 2019. Microsoft pulled it after five days because when some users installed it, it wiped out their pictures and other personal files. Microsoft finally fixed it and re-released it on November 13, 2019.
The only reason why we say to download version 1809 and hang on to it is insurance against the next version of Windows 10. Version 1809 is the only version available for download as of today.
I have not yet updated to Windows 10 from Seven. There seemed to be so many problems with the updates until Windows Version 1809. If I downloaded and saved this version until I decide to update from Seven to 10 will this work in the future for me to install since it was one of the best versions. Do owners who have Windows 10 and have installed all updates, can they stay with this version and never update since it was one of the best ones. Thank you hope to hear from you.
Hi Cheri, once the new version of Windows 10 is released you can’t download an older version. Installing the Windows 10 update from a DVD is significantly different than using the update assistant to upgrade. Windows 10 1809 was no peach when it was first released. It lasted 5 days before Microsoft pulled it after thousands of user reported it was deleting personal files. The fixed the errors and re-released it on November 13. I would recommend you wait until Windows 10 version 1903 has been downloaded generally and the bugs worked out and flaws fixed. This normally happens within 2 months of a version release. So if you update your PC in July, August or September you’ll be just fine with 1903 as all its flaws and faux pas will be remedied by then. Don’t wait until November though, because by then you’ll be dealing with the next new version of Windows 10 Version 1909. And you’ll be cutting it close waiting until that one is fixed up.
Thank you Very informative.
I never received the Windows 10 1809 version. Should I go ahead and upgrade to that version?
I recommended this download to a friend. He successfully downloaded but now all files, bookmarks and everything he had before appears to be missing. Does anyone have any idea what went wrong?
Downloading a file and saving it cannot make other files disappear. Windows 10 ISO file has nothing to do with bookmarks. Even if your friend installed and upgraded to Windows 10 – which was never the intent of the article – all his/her files would not have disappeared. So I cannot even venture a guess what he or she did. Whatever it was it had nothing to do with the article we wrote here.
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