Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 Install.esd file

If you were trying to upgrade Windows 10 to a new build or version through the Windows update, you would notice that after downloading the latest update and before upgrading Windows 10, an install.esd file will be visible in the Windows.~BT\Sources folder in C: drive. Apart from using this Install.esd file to upgrade to the latest build you can also create a bootable Windows ISO from the install.esd file. Here in this post, I will show you how to do it.

What is ESD? ESD stands for Electronic Software Delivery, and Microsoft uses the ESD file format to provide files needed for upgrade and installation. Inside the install.esd file resides install.wim file which contains all the files required for complete Windows installation but compressed and encrypted.

As I said, earlier, the Windows 10 install.esd file will be only visible if you have downloaded the latest build update, but haven’t yet updated the PC. If you have already upgraded to the latest build after downloading the update, you won’t find these files and folders anymore.

If you have the Windows 10 install.esd file then you can create a bootable ISO from install.esd file. This way you don’t have to download Windows 10 ISO for the latest build all again. Once the ISO has been created, you can burn it to a DVD disc or create a bootable USB flash drive. So, here is how you can create bootable ISO from Windows 10 install.esd file.

Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 Install.esd file

Note: We will be using an ESDtoISO tool which is the edited version of the ESD Decrypter v.6.7 based on the native Windows Tool DISM to convert the install.esd file to a Windows 10 bootable ISO. The file has been tested and found to be safer to use. All the credits to the original scripter can be found in the ESDtoISO tool read-me.txt file.

Step 1: Download Windows 10 Updates

If you haven’t downloaded the latest available version of the Windows yet, then it’s time to do it.

Click the Start button and open Settings.



Under Settings, select and open Update and Security.



Under Update and Security, click Windows Update.

Click Check for Updates button and the Windows will start looking for any new available update.



If there is any update available, Windows will automatically start the downloading process.
Once you have downloaded the latest Windows 10 build, you should have the Windows 10 install.esd file located in C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources. If you don’t see this folder, make sure you have enabled Show hidden folder option. Once you have downloaded the update, proceed with step 2, create bootable ISO from Windows 10 install.esd file.

Step 2: Download and Setup ESDtoISO File

The next step is to download and setup the ESDtoISO file. Download the ESDtoISO file from the link given below.

• File Name: ESDtoISO
• File Size: 3MB
• Download Link: Download ESDtoISO Tool

The ESDtoISO file is in zip format, so you have to extract it. Right-click on the downloaded file and extract it to any location in your D:/ or any other drive.

Step 3: Create Bootable ISO from Install.esd

Navigate to C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources and find the install.esd file.

Copy the install.esd file to the folder where you have extracted the EDStoISO file.



Right-click on EsdtoISO.cmd and select Run as Administrator. This will initiate the tool, and it will also find your install.esd file automatically.



Inside ESD Decryption Script, you will see two options:

• 1 – Create Full ISO with Standard install.wim
• 2- Create Full ISO with Compressed install.esd

You can choose any of the option to proceed. So, enter 1 if you want to create full SIO with standard install.wim and enter 2 to create full ISO with compressed install.esd. Hit enter to proceed.

The tool will start creating the bootable ISO from Windows 10 install.esd file. If you see any missing key error, ignore them.

The process of creating bootable ISO from Windows 10 install.esd file can take anywhere from 30 minutes to hours depending on your system configuration. So, be patience when the ISO is being created.

After the successful completion, you should have a bootable ISO create from the Windows 10 install.esd file in the same folder.

You can burn the ISO to a DVD disc, or you can create Windows 10 bootable USB flash drive. That’s it for the tutorial. You may leave your comment in the comment section below in case you face any error. You can also Create a System Image Backup in Windows 10 after the clean install.
Credit