WIMWITCH - How to NOT upgrade WIM to 21H1 (only 20H2)

[MYK-IT]

Hopefully I am just missing something simple / obvious, but been using the Windows Media Creation Tool to obtain Windows 10 ISO, (which is 2004 / 10.0.19041.xxx). Up until a few weeks ago, I could use WIMWITCH to extract Windows 10 Education (and handle the .esd file) to create a fully patched (with selected applications removed) version of Window 10 Education 20H2 (10.0.19042.xxx).

 

But now that 21H1 is available, after following same process, the resulting WIM is Windows 10 Education 21H1 (10.0.19043.xxx) - but I want to remain with 20H2.

 

I thought it would just be a case of omitting the feature update but cannot see which one it is - or how to stay on (e.g. up to) 20H2 only.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

[MYK-IT]

Not sure if issue with version 3.1.1 of WIMWITCH (?) but tried without injecting / applying any updates whatsoever, just selected the Education index (4) from the WIM file but the final WIM comes out as 10.0.19043.xxx (e.g. 21H1!). And going by the logs, I cannot see any updates being injected... #bamboozled

 

Also tried deploying it, just in case a 'bug' but computer states 21H1 when completed.

Edited June 21, 2021 by MYK-IT

[3s-gtech]

Is the Media Creation Tool 100% definitely giving you 2004?

[slugshead]

20h2 has a longer lifespan than 21h1. Stick with 20h2

[MYK-IT]

Is the Media Creation Tool 100% definitely giving you 2004?

 

Hi @3s-gtech,

 

Yes the Windows Media Tool is giving me a v10.0.19041.631 (aka 2004) ISO. Although the Media Creation Tool.exe had a 21h1 suffix, after checking and comparing with the ISO created a few months back (with MCT20h2.exe), I confirmed it was exactly the same ISO.

 

Ran various runs of WIMWITCH (3.1.1) last night, even with no Windows updates applied at all, just extracting W10 EDU image and removing some app packages but the resulting WIM was v10.0.19043.928 (aka 21H1). I reverted back to using WIMWITCH 3.0.0, using same ISO with Windows updates applied and removal of some app packages etc, and the final W10 EDU WIM was v10.0.19042.928! (Great 20H2 though still quite a few updates behind, circa Nov '20).

 

So this morning, I have resorted to using manually using the DISM command, downloading and applying the latest Windows CU / updates myself to the WIM Image and voila... I now have a W10 EDU v10.0.19042.1081 WIM file!

 

Thanks,

[MYK-IT]

20h2 has a longer lifespan than 21h1. Stick with 20h2

 

Hi @slughead

 

Yes, that is my plan wanting to stick with 20H2 for the longer lifespan... hopefully I've resolved it now

 

Thanks,

[bald_pig]

20h2 has a longer lifespan than 21h1. Stick with 20h2

 

...That's literally what OP is trying to do.