Reference my recent Windows 10 May 2020 Update – ‘a Linux Developer’s Dream!’ post I now have my favorite two OSes installed and/or updated to their new versions – Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Windows 10 version 2004. Well, I have two Windows 10 Home licenses (one a full license) and four Windows 10 Pro OEM licenses on my six computers, so some of them will be getting their version 2004 update over the next week or whenever I feel like it. Update: looks like I’ll have 4 done before publishing this…my Bonus data period is between 2:00 AM to 8:00 AM for my ISP so that’s when I do big downloads. Windows 10 is the best OS in the history of OSes, so don’t waste your time trying to install it into a ‘Go-Kart’ – i.e. stick a Briggs & Stratton or a Linux Distro into that ‘Thang! Seriously, I see Linux users complaining about how slow their Windows 10 is on their 10-20 year old computers!?!

I also don’t recommend trying to install *any* Windows OS onto a Lenovo computer or even buying a Lenovo with Windows 10 on it already – just stick a Briggs & Stratton or a Linux Distro into those also, if you happen to own one, I guess. Lenovo bought IBM’s personal computer business about 15 years ago and started hiding ‘Spy Chips’ in their computers ever since.

I’ve had a couple of Lenovo’s … second one I returned immediately, and the first one I tried to save. Bought that first one in early 2007 and Vista was problematic from the start – probably didn’t like the ‘Spy Chip’ nor all the bloat that Lenovo had installed with it. Reformatted the HDD and did a clean install – worked much better after that, but the inferior Lenovo hardware didn’t last as long as the eMachine and Compaq I had also purchased at the same time…just recently threw that old Compaq away. Don’t even bother trying to upgrade your WIN 7 Lenovo…or even doing a clean install on it – I’ll get into doing clean installs later in this post, but not on Lenovo’s!

I was going to make more than one post on the ‘Windows 10 May 2020 Update’ topic, but will just squeeze it all into this one. Something like a – ‘Start Here’ followed by MediaCreationTool and/or USB drive and/or ISO file…or just different parts, maybe:

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Part 1:

Start here … Download Windows 10 page which gives you the best starting point for several options:

That page lets you “Update Now” and/or create some installation media with the MediaCreationTool2004. I am going to start with the downloading of the tool first – “Download tool now” selection. I like to have the newest version on USB for doing new or clean installs if needed, and also have the newest version’s ISO File saved (I like over-kill, but one of these following three choices is fine). With the MediaCreationTool2004 downloaded, open it and it’ll start:

‘Getting a few things ready’ & next (when done) … then it gives you the notification & License stuff & you accept that:

…then a choice to “Upgrade the PC now” or “Create installation media” – I will get to the Upgrade now later, but first I want to Create installation media:

…next is the Select language and stuff, and I usually uncheck the “Use the recommended options for this PC” – really don’t know why, but that’s the way I do it since I have more than one computer.

…next is Choose which media (USB Flash drive or ISO file) – I go with USB flash drive first:

I let the MediaCreationTool create me a USB flash drive first…later on I have it download the ISO File for me. I now have two methods of installing: 1) a newly created WIN10 USB installation drive, & 2) an ISO File to create a new USB drive if something goes wrong with the first. These can be used to clean install (say you upgraded from WIN7) or install WIN10 to a new computer. BTW, see my ‘WIN 7 series: For Windows 7 users’ page if you are going to upgrade from WIN7 to WIN10…after upgrading you’ll have WIN10 on the old WIN7 computer, and I recommend doing a clean install of WIN10 then…lots of clutter on that old WIN7 HDD, and it’s time to get a clean SSD with WIN10 into that machine (note: the upgrade has to be registered first on that machine, then clean installs can be done without having to register again).

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Part 2:

OK … say you don’t want to bother upgrading your WIN7 to WIN10, and your machine is not over 10 years old (and it’s not a Lenovo!!! Lenovo’s are meant to use ‘Spy Chips’ and *not* any Microsoft OS!) or maybe you’re going to build a new computer. First, you’re going to need a WIN10 USB installation drive, and then you buy a $16.77 Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM CD KEY GLOBAL at URcdkey. I have 4 of those installed on 4 different computers, including my main computer that I’m using now for this post, ‘Antec Jr.’ I do the new installs without using the internet, which avoids a lot of Microsoft stuff I don’t want, and I think it makes the final Windows 10 Activation easier. You can add all that stuff later if you want. I also have a Windows 10 Home OEM Key from KINGUIN – see my ‘Upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 now!’ post, but it was about $35 and I like URcdkey better.

They’re all legal, official and Microsoft Activated. I have more info on this method scattered around the blog, but it’s really just a basic install. I did test installs yesterday using both the MediaCreationTool USB drive, and also with a USB created with Rufus. Used a 120GB SSD…you have to “delete” that drive and let Microsoft choose how to do the format on the new drive being created. The one test I timed took 7 minutes and 10 seconds for everything…this version 2004 is a fast installation.

Like I said, choose “No internet” connection and continue with limited setup…you can add stuff later if you wish. They are offering “Advanced Security & Privacy” + “Free access to Office online, Outlook, Skype & more” + “Unlock best Windows 10 features” if you will connect to internet, but just say no to internet, IMHO.

They want you name next, and then a password…I leave password blank since not using one, and proceed.

Next they have about 7 “Privacy Settings” and I say no to all…one goes to “Basic” as default when selecting no.

“Do more Across Devices with activity history” – I select no.

“Let Cortana help” – I select not now (FUK Cortana!) That’s about all the input needed, and it finishes soon afterwards. Both tests did great.

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Part 3:

Go to Part 1 above: and take another look at the Download Windows 10 2004.png … we’re going to use the “Update now” choice this time and you’ll get a popup:

After download, it should be in download folder:

Open it and follow instructions. This was the slowest method, IMHO. Use it if you’re in a hurry to get the upgrade and/or the auto update method doesn’t show up in your “Update & Security” settings. More on that in next section…

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Part 4:

At some point soon, if you already have WIN10 on your computer, then the “Update & Security” settings should show this:

Windows 10 is so reliable that I rarely do clean installs with it now…just regular “Disk Cleanup” + “Error Checking” + “Optimize and defragment drive” (one of the problems with Linux is that it lacks this defrag step – they try to claim that Linux doesn’t need it, but they are being false or totally wrong). All OS drives get clutter from updates, upgrades, adding new programs, removing old programs, etc … all that junk doesn’t ‘Magically’ disappear, even after waving a Linux ‘Magic Wand’ over it…simple as that. Disks need cleaning, checked and defragged regularly or they will cause problems like slowing down, dying, etc.

Now, see the “Feature update to Windows 10, version 2004” in that above pic? It should show up on your computer also…mine showed up right away on the main computer, so I suspect regular updating works faster. Also, am not sure when or *if* Windows will just automatically update to it; however, they are offering to “Download and install” at your convenience.

After the update is installed, you should see this in Windows settings > System > About:

No problems installing or using the new version 2004 update…on 4 computers (1 was a laptop), and no problems with the 2 USB installation to SSD tests. Great job Microsoft! I can go out and buy a new printer, or new scanner, or new combo printer/scanner with Wi-Fi, new whatever hardware, etc and it will work on any of my WIN10 computers … try that with any Linux Distro other than Ubuntu 20.04 LTS! If that printer or scanner or whatever new hardware says it supports “Linux” then that probably means Ubuntu Linux. Get Windows 10 and use Ubuntu 20.04 LTS as your second OS, which is portable!

Rule of Thumb – if you can’t install Ubuntu on it, then you can’t install any Linux Distro on it.

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