Do major releases remove any changes to Windows 10?

[Javik]

I am trying to decide if I should basically defer all automatic version upgrades so that they don't just automatically occur when Microsoft issues them.

 

What happens when Windows 10 does a major release upgrade? Do you lose your custom-installed/removed programs and settings, or does it keep them?

 

 

When I set up drive images, I don't use sysprep or WAIK very much, nor do I do scripted program installs. I just do things the way I've always done them, back in the days of Windows 95/98/2000/XP:

- Install a base OS image on a computer that uses KMS client key

- Install all available Windows Updates

- Install Java, Firefox, Chrome, Office, etc etc etc.

- basic Sysprep, generalize

- Make image with WDS Capture

- Enable auto-install for the image, get machine name from WDS during install

- Install images on computers with WDS Discover

 

For windows 10 I am expecting to make a few changes to the above:

- Remove all installed Apps in Start as they are all basically useless, no better than a webpage.

- Remove them also from the first-run install list for new users.

 

 

So the question is, what happens to all the above OS customizations when Windows 10 does a major version upgrade? Does it reinstall all those apps in the Start Menu that I had previously removed?

 

Are such changes to Windows 10 required to be scripted via sysprep.ini, for the changes to be retained across the major version upgrades?

[robk]

According to a training session I have just left, it's basically an in place upgrade so you should not loose any data or programmes. There is a script to remove apps from the start menu and a reg key to turn off consumer apps like candy crush etc I am told. Guess what I need to be testing soon...

[DrCheese]

For windows 10 I am expecting to make a few changes to the above:

- Remove all installed Apps in Start as they are all basically useless, no better than a webpage.

- Remove them also from the first-run install list for new users.

 

Use the LTSB version - Has none of the metro junk. Kick back for a year or so until MS release the next LTSB rather than worry about consumer focused releases the current branch will throw your way

[sted]

and various policies dont necessarily work from one version to the next for instance as a design choice the gpo that disables the store now no longer functions so you would probably need to retest settings etc every time there was a new windows 10 version

[Javik]

What the ****, IT managers will not be able to disable the Store now?? Wow, if that is the case, then Microsoft is trampling decades of policy that IT managers get the sole decision on how their hardware is configured.

 

So we're just going to let anyone install app crap on Windows 10 now? And how are the users who don't have admin rights supposed to even be able to do that at all? By definition "Users" cannot add or remove software.

 

I get the sinking feeling that if user-installed Apps roam with the users, they are going to install into their profile. Goodbye domain file server disk space.

 

Apparently I need to do some testing with that ****ing Store as a limited User to understand how this works.

 

But due to the inclusion of Candy Crush Saga in the exclusively separate Windows 10 Education branch (WTF Microsoft???) I am of the opinion that Microsoft really no longer gives the slightest **** about the "education sector" and now just sees schoolkids as a way to sell crap at them.

 

And **** the whole idea of limiting distractions from schoolwork in an educational environment.

 

I am quite upset about Windows 10 Education. Bunch of ******** at Microsoft right now in charge of it.

[free780]

Basically you can run a powershell script to remove the provisioned apps. They don't roam they are stored in appdata local. The store can be disabled. You can use applocker to disable it. There is a shift to users installing software. SCCM and intune support this model. Its best to remove the provisioned apps when you deploy the image and uninstall onedrive for all users.

[robk]

@Javik I know what you mean about Candy Crush! Apparently there is a reg edit for this. Apparently LTSB is only recommended for applications that need 5 years stability (medical equipment etc) they suggest we would want the newer features sooner than LTSB...

[Javik]

Thank you, I will be looking into Windows 10 LTSB.

 

The choice of whether school IT Managers "want" the features of a new release should be exclusively our decision on our own time and schedule, and not just willy-nilly whenever Microsoft feels like throwing it out to the world globally.

 

I don't need Microsoft suddenly dumping an update on us out of the blue mid-year when classes are in session, and people are relying on the equipment to be stable and working, and Microsoft possibly causing massive disruption and downtime beyond my control.

[free780]

Wsus gives you control over updates. Its a shame so many edu places seem to be going for LTSB. I hope it doesn't become a requirement for some software.

[gaz350b]

As you can't sysprep upgraded machines we'll all be creating new images from scratch every year. I see this as a good thing as it should improve reliability as performance of an image always decreases with more and more updates.

 

Selecting ltsb or education versions wint be a problem as Documenting/automating the process as much as possible will be key.

[DrCheese]

@Javik I know what you mean about Candy Crush! Apparently there is a reg edit for this. Apparently LTSB is only recommended for applications that need 5 years stability (medical equipment etc) they suggest we would want the newer features sooner than LTSB...

 

yes/no - They aim to release a new LTSB build once per year & you won't be forced to upgrade for at least a few years. I have it deployed here now and it's a breeze. I don't really care about the features they add to the consumer builds between LTSB releases as they don't really affect end users enough to justify the hassle

[Domino]

According to a training session I have just left, it's basically an in place upgrade so you should not loose any data or programmes. There is a script to remove apps from the start menu and a reg key to turn off consumer apps like candy crush etc I am told. Guess what I need to be testing soon...

 

Well, what they say and what actually happens are two different things. Based on my experience and also the number of articles like this: Windows 10 Updates Are Deleting Some Apps Without Notifying Users