An update is a free program that fixes issues with the software or adds more hardware support while Upgrades add additional features to your software product and are NOT free.

Since Microsoft launched Windows 10 and particularly ‘upgrade 1151’ released in November 2015, there have been some issues with our imaging solutions that have arisen. This article will primarily focus on Windows 10. However, it’s good to keep in mind thatMicrosoft does NOT let you sysprep an OS that has been upgraded. To better explain the difference between and upgrade and update, it is explained for you here:

• Updates (Patches)
  In software terms, a patch (or update) is meant to address two issues -- (1) to correct bugs (or problems) within the software that makes it perform less than optimal and (2) to add new compatible hardware support.

It is important to keep in mind that there is a constant development of hardware since the initial launch of the product in question. Hardware and software evolve, thus causing us to come up with patches to work or support of our software and hardware.

• Upgrades
  Upgrades are different in the sense that they do not address the two issues, but rather make an OEM version (refers to our software that came bundled with some hardware you purchased) or Standard version and advances it to the next version. Basically adding more features to your program.

While working with Dell ImageAsssit, it’s highly recommended that a Maintenance Image be created. Users save time with a “Maintenance Image”. Before running the ImageAssist tool, make sure to capture an image and re-use it as a starting point for your next build. (ImageAssistprovides tools for capturing & restoring an image). For further details, please refer to the links below:

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/f/4916/t/19597606

However, we have noticed users are capturing the Windows 10 Maintenance Image with the 1151 Upgrade already installed. As mentioned before, Windows will not allow sysprep to work if the OS has been upgraded. If the need for a Windows 10 Upgraded Maintenance Image is required, then it will need to be built from scratch using OEM media. This option will require the download of the media creation tool by Microsoft. It’s important to note that for the Enterprise version of Windows 10, a VLK (volume license key) disc is required and is not provided by Dell. For more information on updating Windows 10 while using Dell ImageAssist, please refer to the following links:

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/f/4916/t/19650363

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/enterprise-client/f/4916/t/19661709