How to Create a Windows 10 Build 9860 ISO

Microsoft rolled out the new Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9860 this week, but as compared to the original testing version of the new OS, this fresh release is only available via the built-in update system and no dedicated ISOs are provided for download.

This means that those who want to install a fresh copy of the operating system have basically no other choice but to get the original build 9841 and deploy the update, as Microsoft wants to use the very same system for all future OS updates.

And still, there are several ways to build your very own ISO with Windows 10 Technical Preview 9860, but most come down to several steps and third-party software that require extra work to achieve this goal.

Unless you’ve already downloaded Windows 10 TP build 9860 on another computer or in a virtual machine and you can use the deployed files to build your own ISO. All you need is a special PowerShell script, which was first put together by Deployment Research to perform the whole thing.

ESD files coming to the rescue

Instead of launching dedicated ISOs for users who want to install the new OS build, Microsoft ships all improvements as part of an ESD file, which stands for Electronic Software Distribution.

This way, the ESD file is deployed to your computer once you start the download of the new build in PC settings and the built-in Windows update system automatically extracts all needed items and then starts the main installation system.

The whole purpose of the script that you’ll find after the jump is to convert the ESD file to ISO and thus make it possible for those who’d want to install the OS from scratch to do it easily.

First things first

The code you can find below needs to be pasted in a Windows PowerShell window launched with full administrative privileges. You need to be logged in Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9860 to build the ISO, so the main drive should be the standard “C:\” in order to find the required files.

If you are using a dual-boot configuration and you’re currently logged on a different installation, make sure you replace the “C:\” tag in the script with the drive letter where Windows 10 TP build 9860 is installed.

Keep in mind that you need around 3 GB of space on your main drive for the ISO and the whole process takes a while, so do not close it before it’s completed. Simply copy the code below and paste it by right-clicking in the Windows PowerShell window to start the process. Once it’s ready, you can find the new ISO on the main drive in the “ISO” folder.