Microsoft’s official Media Creation Tool (MCT) is a go-to if you need to grab an ISO of Windows 10 or 11 for a fresh install, test, or backup. With this program, you can get the most recent build of Windows 10 or 11 and install it on a USB flash drive, DVD, or virtual hard disk.
The MCT has some drawbacks that may limit your options or preferences. Windows Home, Pro, and Home Single Language are the only editions available, and you can only download the same architecture as the one you are running (x86, x64, or ARM64). There is no way to get a hold of Enterprise, Education, or Professional for workstations, among other architectures and editions.
Thankfully, there is another tool called oofhours Media Tool (OMT), which will allow you to download any Windows 10 or 11 ISO you want. Michael Niehaus, a Windows deployment expert and Microsoft veteran, created the oofhours Media Tool (OMT).
Contents
What is Oofhours Media Tool (OMT)?
This is a straightforward alternative to Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool for downloading Windows 10 and 11 ISOs. Michael Niehaus made it, and it’s named after his own website, oofhours.com.
OMT lets you choose between Windows 10 and Windows 11, any architecture (x86, x64, or ARM64), any language, and any edition. Even older or no longer supported editions, like Cloud or Ultimate, are available for download. To ensure you are always using the most recent version of an image, OMT displays the build number and release date alongside the image.
OMT cannot copy downloaded images to USB drives, unlike the official Media Creation Tool application.
Mounting the ISO and copying its contents to a USB drive formatted with FAT32 will solve the problem. Use alternate software instead, such as the updated version of Rufus.
Download OMT from here (direct link).
How to use Oofhours Media Tool (OMT)?
OMT is simple to use. Simply download it from
Extract the zip file and run “MediaToolApp.exe”. Then, follow the steps below:
- From the drop-down, select Windows 10 or 11.
- From the menu, choose the desired architecture.
- Choose your language of preference.
- From the options, choose the desired edition.
- Select a destination to store the ISO file and click the Generate ISO button.
With BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service), a dependable and efficient method for transferring extensive files over the internet, OMT will immediately begin downloading the ESD file. This could take some time, depending on the speed of your internet connection and the size of the file.
After downloading the ESD file, OMT will extract the required images using the Expand-WindowsImage and Export-WindowsImage PowerShell cmdlets, which are part of the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. The time required for this one will vary based on your system and the size of the images.
In the end, OMT will use the OSCDIMG.EXE tool from the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) to capture the ISO image. This is a quick procedure that results in a finished ISO file that contains everything you need to set up Windows 10 or 11.
We can then use this ISO file with Rufus or the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool to make a bootable USB drive, or with ImgBurn or CD-BurnerXP to create a DVD. You can also use it with virtual machines like Hyper-V or VirtualBox, or mount it virtually with programs like Virtual CloneDrive or Daemon Tools Lite.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a simple and limitless way to download Windows 10 or 11 ISOs, OMT is a fantastic alternative to MCT. It’s also helpful for power users who want to try out alternative Windows builds, languages, and architectures.
OMT is free and secure to use because it only downloads files from Microsoft’s servers and does not alter them.
Discover more from Techno360
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.