How do I update Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019?

Question

Our company builds industrial equipment and we have been buying industrial fanless PCs that run our user interface software. The PCs where purchased with the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2019 LTSC OS pre-installed. Recently we have added support to our user interface to use an Xbox One controller to move some of the axis on our equipment, all works great on my development machine, which is a Windows 10 Pro 20H2 OS, however when deploying to our field PC the Xbox controller pairs on the PC but fails to function. After countless hours of debug, I believe the issue is related to the OS build of the Windows IoT 2019 not supporting features needed for this controller. So I must update our PCs to Windows 10 Enterprise IoT 2021 LTSC. Sounded simple enough, however Microsoft seems to have made this so complicated that no one I have talked to at the PC manufacturer or at CDW can tell me how to accomplish this. As a note, we went with the LTSC license just so we could control turning off Windows Update, which seem silly that that can't be done otherwise?

So in a nutshell my question is simple: How do I update my already purchased PCs to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2021 LTSC? also shouldn't the PC manufacturer be using the 2021 and no longer selling the out of support 2019 version? Also in my opinion if Microsoft is updating an OS build, it should be available across the board for all sub flavors of the OS version.

Answer 1

Hi

To update Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2019 LTSC to Windows 10 Enterprise IoT 2021 LTSC it's a paid upgrade sadly.

You need to contact your terminal manufacturer, as it's them that can sell you the upgrade. The way it work it's the OEM that will allow your BIOS key of Windows 10 for the new version when it's sold.

If you got the license via an agreement to build your terminal then it mean you have sadly to repurchase the new version with new keys. I don't know if the revendor can give a rebate in such case.

Please check too for the XBox feature if it need the Windows Store's feature as it's a feature removed from LTSC version. If so I'am not sure the 2021 upgrade would work as it got the same limitation.

In example if it's HP terminal, you can use the HP update manager to get the newer 2021 ISO, it's just you wont be able to activate as said your key won't be allowed to use it, but it might give you time to test the feature you want.

In all case I suggest to test to be sure it would work on the new version.

To state it, the update the process is a reinstall over.

Answer 2

Hi. Thank you for your question and reaching out. I’d be more than happy to help you with your query.

You must first download the most recent version of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 from the Microsoft website. You can use the Windows Update application to install the updates after the download is finished. In order to confirm that the update procedure was effective and that there were no mistakes, it is also advised to review the Windows Event Viewer logs. Additionally, it's critical to routinely check for updates and install any that are available in order to maintain the operating system current.

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