14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released the latest Windows 10 ISOs in late July, when the company rolled out the RTM version, and despite the fact that the Insider program continues, new builds are only available via Windows Update.
The builds that Microsoft shipped after RTM are only provided to Windows insiders enrolled in the fast ring, so those who are still part of the slow channel are still on 10240. Usually, Microsoft provides new ISOs when builds reach the slow ring, so it’s easy to see why no ISOs have been released lately.
But according to Gabe Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, updated ISOs for Windows 10 will be released soon, as the company goes on with its bug fixing efforts to push OS builds to the slow ring.
“We'll do ISOs with Slow ring builds again. Can clean install as long as the system had a Win10 activation,” Aul says.
Full activation needed
As Aul explains, users who want to clean-install with a new ISO need to activate their computers first on builds 10240 and only then proceed. Otherwise, the new OS install won’t be able to activate.
The Windows Insider program continues for PC users, but it’s mandatory for everyone to first install and activate build 10240 to be able to remain part of the effort and receive new updates. Otherwise, every single new Windows 10 preview build is set to expire in 30 days after you install it.
The same behavior is actually applied in the case of those who don’t want to remain part of the Windows Insider program, with Microsoft requiring a full upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 to Windows 10 in order to activate and only then perform a clean install.
Unfortunately, this approach doesn’t work exactly as expected, and in many cases systems failed to re-activate, but contacting Microsoft support should help you with that.
@iHeartInfoTech Yes, we'll do ISOs with Slow ring builds again. Can clean install as long as the system had a Win10 activation.
— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) September 15, 2015