Today we are resuming the rollout of the latest Windows 10 feature update—Windows 10, version 1809—via the Software Download Center (via Update Assistant or the Media Creation Tool), Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and Windows Update for Business. Windows 10, version 1809 is also now available on the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC); however, it may take a few hours to be visible for all editions in all languages. Windows 10, version 1809 will be available for Visual Studio Subscriptions (formerly MSDN Subscriptions) by the end of this week.
As noted in John Cable’s blog post, we have changed the “born on” date accordingly and today marks the start of the 30-month support lifecycle for the Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 10, version 1809; and the 18-month support lifecycle for Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Pro for Workstation. For more details on currently supported versions and support end dates, see the Windows 10 lifecycle fact sheet and the Windows 10 release information page.
In addition to the new capabilities for IT pros, new versions of the tools you use to manage and deploy updates and devices are also now available. These include:
- Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) for Windows 10, version 1809 – Tools to help you customize Windows images for large-scale deployments and test the quality and performance of your systems, added components, and applications running on those systems.
- Windows PE add-on for the Windows ADK – Starting with Windows 10, version 1809, Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE) is released separately from the ADK. To add Windows PE to your ADK installation, download the Windows PE add-on and run the included installer after installing the ADK. This change enables post-RTM updates to the tools in the ADK. After running the installer for the Windows PE add-on, the WinPE files will be in the same location as they were in previous installations of the ADK.
- Security baseline for Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 – Importable Group Policy Objects (GPOs), a PowerShell script for applying the GPOs to local policy, custom ADMX files for Group Policy settings, and documentation in spreadsheet form and as a Policy Analyzer file (MSFT-Win10-v1809-RS5-WS2019-DRAFT.PolicyRules).
- Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation – Free 90-day evaluation designed to help you test Windows 10 Enterprise (or Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019) in your environment. Available in 10 languages as 32-bit or 64-bit ISOs.
- Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) – Starting with Windows 10, version 1809, RSAT is included as a set of "Features on Demand" in Windows 10 itself. Go to "Manage optional features" in Settings and click "Add a feature" to see the list of available RSAT tools.
- Group Policy Settings Reference – Policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the Administrative template files delivered with Windows 10, version 1809.
- Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 10, version 1809 – Administrative template files to help you manage registry-based policy settings by populating policy settings in the UI of your favorite Group Policy management tool.
What about LTSC?
If your organization is currently utilizing the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019 is also now available on the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC).
What about partner availability?
Windows 10 Enterprise, version 1809 will be available on the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) on November 14th, with all other editions (including Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019) following on November 20th. Windows 10 Pro, version 1809 will be available to those with Microsoft Action Pack Subscriptions (MAPS) today, with all other editions following on November 20th.
What about Windows Server 2019?
Today we are also resuming availability of Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809, globally to all Volume License customers. Please see the Windows Server Blog for more details.
When will I see Windows 10, version 1809 in Upgrade Readiness?
Windows 10 is now available as a “Target version to be evaluated” drop-down in Windows Analytics Upgrade Readiness, enabling you to obtain guidance and insights into application and driver compatibility issues, with suggested fixes, that may affect your migration to Windows 10, version 1809 from Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or a previous version of Windows 10.
Where can I learn more?
To ensure that you have the ability to experience the latest features and capabilities for yourself and your organization, our webcast on “What’s new in Windows 10, version 1809 for IT pros” has been rescheduled for 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, November 28th. During this one-hour webcast, my colleague Nic Fillingham and I will walk you through the changes in this feature update, the logic behind them, and, most importantly, how to use these improvements to speed up your deployments and more easily manage your devices. Register today to secure your spot.
We’ll then follow up with a Windows 10 IT Pro AMA on Tech Community from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, December 13th. This event will be your opportunity to ask questions and get answers from members of the product and engineering teams for Windows, Windows Defender ATP, Microsoft Intune, and System Center Configuration Manager. Out of respect for our international IT pro community, we’ll open the Windows 10 AMA space in advance so that everyone has a chance to participate. All you have to do is be a member of the Microsoft Tech Community. I hope you will be able to join us.
Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows 10 Tech Community.
Looking for support? Visit the Windows 10 IT pro forums.