Bitchless Installation of Windows 10 LTSC

Bitchless Installation of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (top)

"top 10 workarounds microsoft doesn't want you to know"

The following guide was retrieved from a Telegram channel authored by a /g/ user.

- Made with love by @nintendog -

- Introduction - (top)

This guide covers how to install Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC IoT 2021 in a simple fashion.

First, however, it is important to get educated as to what LTSC is and what you would be missing out if you choose to install it, but also what benefits it has. In short, LTSC and LTSC IoT are Windows builds built for IoT devices and mission-critical environments that demand no feature upgrades, no bullshit and high reliability and security. Thus, they have no bloatware and exclude the Microsoft Store and its apps, among other things you can research.

However, most of these things can be added later, and some will be discussed later in this guide.

What LTSC is...

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/ltsc-what-is-it-and-when-should-it-be-used/ba-p/293181

What's new on LTSC (IoT) 2021...

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/ltsc/whats-new-windows-10-2021

LTSC 2021 and LTSC IoT 2021 are both based almost identically on the Windows 10 Enterprise 21H2 build with the only difference being the activation process. In this guide, we are covering how to install LTSC IoT 2021 as it is the easiest to install and has the longest support cycle - until 2032.

Please refer to the links.txt file provided here for additional resources. Generally, the Windows10LTSC subreddit is a good resource.

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way responsible with what happens with your device during and after installation. However, this process has been tested by myself, so it should be reliable.

Continue at your own discretion.

-

This channel previously had directions on how to install LTSC 2019. They are archived and included below in a text file.

https://github.com/kkkgo/LTSC-Add-MicrosoftStore
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10LTSC/comments/qw1qrs/ltsc_2021_vs_iot_ltsc_2021_tips_on_installations/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10LTSC/comments/qvf2ej/ltsc_2021_iso/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10LTSC/comments/qw8tqx/windows_10_enterprise_ltsc_2021_sha256/

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

- Methodology - (top)

Hardware requirements:

• At least 2 USB flash drives. One with files, utilities, installers, etc., and the other with the ISO. (Or one with both possibly, I just haven't tested that with Ventoy.)
• Your computer, duh.

1. Please download the LTSC IoT Utilities folder below from Google Drive which is compiled by me and has all the utilities you'll need onto one of your USB flash drives. To find the appropriate ISO for your region, please visit... https://pastebin.com/raw/MDQS8Gve

All the LTSC utilities, files you'll need...

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HrKnxpwX0ZMd7We3F2D8PD6_9ZvNntDi?usp=sharing

ISO links all the way at the bottom of this guide.

2. Back up all your existing files and anything else important you may have in your machine especially if you are wiping your SSD to install this. Do not continue until you've done this.

3. Take screenshots of all the programs you have on your computer, and, optionally, download installers ahead of time. Include these in one of your USB flash drives.

4. Flash the 2021 LTSC IoT ISO onto one of your flash drives. You can use Ventoy for this, as Rufus has caused issues for me recently. Ventoy just werked for me. Ventoy allows you to slipstream several ISOs into one USB flash drive and is generally more convenient. Simply drag the ISO into your flash drive after installing Ventoy onto it. https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

Note: Some users have told me of some reliability issues with Ventoy with some hardware. You should, then, use Rufus if you wish. As stated, Ventoy just werked for me however. https://rufus.ie/en/

If Rufus is causing issues, then try... https://m.majorgeeks.com/files/details/winsetupfromusb.html

These utilities are all included in the folder.

5. Disable Secure Boot on your BIOS and enable both Legacy and UEFI booting from media. You can re-enable UEFI only and Secure Boot after Windows is installed.

6. Boot from the USB. Select the ISO. Install Windows. They may ask for a Product Key, just select 'I don't have one.'

7. Complete Windows Setup. You can be connected to the internet for this, it's fine. We will activate in the next step.

8. Use the HWID_Activation.bat script inside the MAS folder to activate LTSC IoT 2021. I've included one that is modified to Just Work for LTSC IoT 2021. If you'd rather use the original, modify the HWID_Activation.bat file yourself of the original MAS folder using the instructions text file on the folder you downloaded.

LTSC IoT 2021 should be permanently activated. This also stores the key into your BIOS and if you link to a Microsoft Account it links it online. Thus, it is unlikely you'll need to activate LTSC IoT 2021 again on the same machine.

Don't forget to reenable UEFI only and Secure Boot at this stage!

- Little Things - (top)

1. Run the "Win-10-LTSC-21H2-Clip-and-Snip-fix-main" script to fix the Snipping tool shortcut Win+Shift+S. It may or may not be broken for you, but if it is, use this tool. Included in the folder.

2. Run the "LTSC-Add-MicrosoftStore-2019" script to add the Microsoft Store to LTSC IoT 2021. This is built for LTSC 2019, but it works fine for IoT 2021. If you get an error while installing and the script is still running, wait. Let it do its thing and everything will be fixed once you launch the Microsoft Store and install updates.

3. Restore clipboard history using: https://archive.org/download/microsoft.vclibs.140.00-14.0.29231.0-8wekyb3d8bbwe.appx

4. You can switch from regular LTSC to LTSC IoT using this command in PS or CMD and using https://github.com/luzeadev/winactivate:

Reminder: LTSC has 5 years of support (until 2027) while LTSC IoT has 10 years (until 2032).

- Other Notes - (top)

If you have questions, DM me, but follow the guide and do research yourself first. The guide should be enough.

- References -

Big thanks to @HotMegumin for some resources!

- Downloads - (top)

Google was being dumb so I cannot self-host the ISO anymore. Here are some alternatives to download...

Option 1 (direct, easiest): https://opendirectory.luzea.de/my-visual-studio/8166-windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021/

Option 2 (torrent):


Also, recheck the guide as it has been updated with additional tools.

If you'd rather use regular LTSC (which makes no sense since it's just 5 years of support), here is the ISO: https://opendirectory.luzea.de/my-visual-studio/8165-windows-10-enterprise-ltsc-2021/

Guide Version: 1.5.3

---

Installing Windows 10 enterprise LTSC 2019 (outdated) (top)

archive of installing windows 10 enterprise ltsc 2019

— made with love by @nintendog —

windows 10 enterprise ltsc 2019 is based on windows sac 1809 released in 2018. it doesn't have any of the features of newer windows releases as it focuses on stability, lightness and performance. read more in step -1.

beta tested by yours truly.

disclaimer: this tutorial is reliable and no other tutorials are needed. but be ready to troubleshoot just in case. worst case, you can restore back to windows 10 20h2 using rufus. create bootable iso on optional step 2.1. fresh windows installs are nice anyway.

hardware required:
- 2 usb flash drives (3.0, 8gb+ preferred)
- desktop or laptop (duh)

time required:
- 30 minutes to install ltsc
- 1 hour (+) to get your setup fully going

annoyances:
-some, but just at the beginning. it pays off in the end.

step -1. educate yourself to what ltsc is. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/ltsc-what-is-it-and-when-should-it-be-used/ba-p/293181 its nice. it is not just for single use devices.

step 0: download preliminaries, one of your flash drives should have the following INSTALLERS/INSTALL FILES:
• 7zip https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
• kms38 activator (safe) https://www.saidit.net/s/sjain_guides/comments/9p3/hwidkms38genmk6_download_and_usage_guide/
• google chrome https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html or its equivalent
• OPTIONAL: restore win 7 photo viewer reg edit file https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/14312-restore-windows-photo-viewer-windows-10-a.html#option2
• OPTIONAL: add microsoft store addon (download zip of entire release) https://github.com/kkkgo/LTSC-Add-MicrosoftStore

step 0.1: take screenshots of your current installed programs. go to programs and settings and take prnt scrs of the programs. save to flash drive as images using paint. or you can take pics with your phone, this will save a LOT of time.

step 1: download ltsc from here (its totally safe): http://nikuwstash.pl/files/pl_windows_10_enterprise_ltsc_2019_x64_dvd_95779877.iso

step 2: use rufus to create a bootable iso of ltsc to your second flash drive. use default settings, do not modify anything. of course, all data will be deleted on the drive, yada yada yada... https://rufus.ie/

—

OPTIONAL STEP 2.1: if you are extremely paranoid and only have one computer to work with, create another bootable iso in a third flash drive based on windows 10 sac 20h2. use this tool to download the iso: https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

the process is EXACTLY the same (creating the bootable flash drive) as it is for ltsc

step 3: boot into the flash drive. install ltsc. delete ALL windows partitions if it says 'cannot install windows here'. should be ez pz and quick (for dummies: get to bios boot menu and boot from flash drive, you may need to boot as uefi and if only legacy booting is enabled, change to uefi in bios settings)

step 4: go through ltsc setup. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to stay offline. create admin account, turn off all those shit botnet settings... etc

step 5: at the desktop, lets activate windows. insert your first flashdrive with preliminaries. install 7zip. install chrome (or equivalent).

***NOW HOLD UP, disable windows defender. go to settings, search windows defender and turn off virus protection. (this sounds sketchy but its not, dont worry)

now, unzip the "thk" zip with password 123. open AS ADMIN the kms exe.

step 6: at the kms activation program, select KMS38 in dropdown of top right. press start. if process is successful, continue. otherwise, dm me.

step 7: ensure windows activation in activation pane of windows settings. if its activated, continue. otherwise, dm me.

step 8: you're (almost) done! connect to the internet now, and install all available windows updates and drivers. manually select 'check for update' until no updates appear. this should take at most 15 mins, as ltsc has no bloat updates!!

step 9: ensure stability. mess around with settings and tweak windows as you please.

step 10: use chrome or your fav browser to go to ninite.com and install basic programs. from there, install other programs you want. and you are done!!! refer to those pics you took of programs you had!


oh also, don't forget to reenable windows defender lmfao


OPTIONAL STEPS BELOW

optional step 11: install windows store. in flash drive with preliminaries, unzip the folder you acquired in step 0. run the script as admin and you should be done.

optional step 12: have a photo viewer by restoring win 7 photo viewer. locate reg file from your flash drive, and install as admin. (safe) and you should be done!

alternative to download ltsc from a torrent manager: magnet:?xt=urn:btih:6faec726c7bbb9248b3a3ed8d77bd1a7c4598f05&dn=en%5Fwindows%5F10%5Fenterprise%5Fltsc%5F2019%5Fx64%5Fdvd%5F74865958.iso&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A80%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.pirateparty.gr%3A6969%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.internetwarriors.net%3A1337%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.opentrackr.org%3A1337%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.torrent.eu.org%3A451&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.port443.xyz%3A6969%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Fexodus.desync.com%3A6969%2Fannounce&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3A6969%2Fannounce