14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that it’s removing the download links for Windows 10 preview builds and making the new operating system unavailable via Windows Update temporarily in order to prepare the upgrade process to the RTM version projected to launch on July 29.
This step is necessary because the company needs to test the distribution channel for the RTM build, which will ship for insiders and Windows 7/8.1 users via Windows Update.
Gabe Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, said in a statement today that Windows 10 preview builds would be restored once this testing comes to an end.
“We’re suspending the availability of Windows 10 builds briefly while we prepare for that, and the next build that we flight to you will be delivered using the production channels. Starting tomorrow, we will also not be delivering any additional ISOs at this point as we really need Insiders to be using, stressing, and validating our distribution and upgrade processes,” he explained.
Builds 10162 and 10166 no longer available
Both Windows 10 build 10162 and 10166 will thus become unavailable via Windows Update, so if you want to upgrade from any other build to one of these two versions, you’ll get a message saying that your current Windows 10 installation is up to date, even though new builds have already been released.
At the same time, ISOs for build 10162 will be taken down and prerelease keys will no longer work to activate builds, but once again, this decision is just temporary, until the RTM testing comes to an end.
Windows 10 is expected to reach RTM tomorrow, after a short delay from last week, and will see daylight on July 29. Windows insiders will be automatically updated to RTM during the same day, while those running Windows 7 or 8.1 on their PCs will receive the new OS version in waves, as the company determines the compatibility level of their computers.