Openai/69111101-3dcc-8001-a1ed-55cf6bd1733d

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gpt-5

User: Is in place upgrade faster than windows updates when going to 25 h2

Is in place upgrade faster than windows updates when going to 25 h2

Assistant: Short answer: yes, an in-place upgrade is usually faster and feels smoother than letting Windows Update take you to 25H…

Short answer: yes, an in-place upgrade is usually faster and feels smoother than letting Windows Update take you to 25H2, especially on older SSDs or systems that get throttled during updates.

Here’s why:

✅ Why in-place upgrade is faster

• The installer writes most files in one big operation, instead of hundreds of smaller incremental updates.
• Less background activity — Windows Update checks, downloads, stages, applies servicing stacks, reboots multiple times.
• Fewer pauses where Windows Update waits for components to finish.
• The .ISO setup uses compressed images, so installation is more predictable.

✅ Windows Update feels slower because

• It applies cumulative updates, enablement packages, drivers, and servicing steps separately.
• It often pauses at 20–30% or 70–90% while migrating user data and system files.
• It can throttle I/O on weaker SSDs (especially SATA or older Intel models).

⏱ Typical times

• In-place upgrade via ISO: ~15–35 minutes
• Windows Update → 25H2: ~30–90 minutes depending on the system and background updates

Bottom line

If you want the quickest and cleanest jump to 25H2, in-place upgrade is generally the better choice.

If you want, I can tell you what to expect performance-wise on your i3-9100 + Intel SSD or your 1135G7 laptop.

User: Is it safer

Is it safer

Assistant: Yes — in most situations an in-place upgrade is actually safer than doing it through Windows Update.

Yes — in most situations an in-place upgrade is actually safer than doing it through Windows Update. Not “safer” like antivirus-safe, but safer in terms of system stability, fewer weird bugs, and fewer failed updates.

Here’s why:

✅ 1. The ISO installer uses a clean, complete image

Windows Update installs tons of small patches and components one by one. If one of them fails, the whole update can get corrupted.

The in-place upgrade uses a single, full system image, which reduces the chance of partial-install issues.

✅ 2. Fewer dependency problems

Windows Update sometimes stops because:

• servicing stack is outdated
• a driver conflicts
• a previous update failed
• system files are corrupted

Setup.exe from the ISO bypasses many of those issues because it replaces everything more directly.

✅ 3. It refreshes system files

An in-place upgrade:

• repairs damaged Windows files
• rebuilds components
• resets update mechanisms

This lowers the chance of future update errors.

✅ 4. Keeps all your apps & data

As long as you choose "Keep personal files and apps", it’s as safe as Windows Update but with extra repair benefits.

⚠️ When it’s not safer

Only in these edge cases:

• A failing SSD
• A power outage during installation
• Bad RAM that corrupts data (rare)

Otherwise, ISO upgrade wins.

If you want, tell me which device you plan to upgrade (1135G7 or the 9100 i3), and I’ll tell you exactly what to expect.