Feature Enhancement: Replace LTSC evaluation with a non evaluation version of LTSC

[libalpm64]

Feature Description

Windows 10 LTSC 2021 offers an non-evaluation version. To avoid reactivation every 90 days, please use a version other than the evaluation version.

Use-Case

No more troublesome 90-day reactivations—you won't need to reactivate ever.

Proposed Implementation

Change the ISO to a non-evaluation edition of IOT LTSC.

Notice

• [x] I have checked the issue tracker and verified that this Feature Request has not been proposed before.
• [ ] I would like to help out implementing this feature

[RecentRunner]

This looks like an upstream bug in the Windows Docker backend used by WinBoat. Reviewing their code, I noticed they’re using the evaluation edition too. While I suppose this could be fixed on WinBoat's side I think it would be better to inform upstream about this

[rreyn331]

This is part of why I requested the feature of using your own custom iso file which has been implemented. I think it doesn't use full version because the full version of ltsc is not freely available to download.

[libalpm64]

This is part of why I requested the feature of using your own custom iso file which has been implemented. I think it doesn't use full version because the full version of ltsc is not freely available to download.

This is likely the case; Microsoft tends not to publish them. The only real approach to doing this is to host the ISO and then have the client do a local hash validation.

"Microsoft provides Evaluation ISO public links for Windows LTSC releases, but as the name states, those ISOs are for evaluation purposes and cannot be activated for more than 90 days.... "

(According to Massgrave: https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links)

[gaboUTN34]

Massgrave offers the page to download the non-evaluation LTSC ISO:

https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

I myself did that and installed on WinBoat using the custom ISO option with no problems at all.

Maybe WinBoat can implement downloading those directly from initial setup instead of the evaluation ones from Microsoft.

[libalpm64]

Massgrave offers the page to download the non-evaluation LTSC ISO:

https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

I myself did that and installed on WinBoat using the custom ISO option with no problems at all.

Maybe WinBoat can implement downloading those directly from initial setup instead of the evaluation ones from Microsoft.

Here's my main two issues with this.

~~1) Massgrave non-evaluations are an unofficial ISO; it requires patching the real ISO.~~

2) There is no public download on Microsoft's website, so even if it was a leaked build (*or downloaded legitimately from the enterprise portal), there's no way the HASH can be validated as coming legitimately from Microsoft.

This model is already assuming you trust Massgrave. One possible method is to obtain the official ISO and apply patches to it using WinBoat.

[gaboUTN34]

Here's my main two issues with this.

1. Massgrave non-evaluations are an unofficial ISO; it requires patching the real ISO.
2. There is no public download on Microsoft's website, so even if it was a leaked build, there's no way the HASH can be validated as coming legitimately from Microsoft.

This model is already assuming you trust Massgrave. One possible method is to obtain the official ISO and apply patches to it using WinBoat.

Short answer: they are the same isos, don't worry.

Long answer:

I get you on your second issue. LTSC can be only downloaded from Visual Studio Subscriptions with an enterprise account (I have one and that's why I can tell you this).

For the first... I don't really understand what you mean with unofficial? They are not pre-activated nor even modified. I did not have to patch anything on install... hashes of the file can be checked over on:

https://files.rg-adguard.net/search

For me, the sha256 matches with the one provided on that website (check by running sha256sum on the iso from massgrave and checking if the hash of the file over there). The hash also matches with the one provided on Microsoft's VS subscriptions platform:

Even if distrusting massgrave as I don't use Windows at all (except for some old little programs that don't run on linux), but if privacy or another things are a concern if using those isos, then what's the point of using Windows in WinBoat at all? Windows and Microsoft don't respect privacy already.

Leaving those aside, I think the major problem is that if WinBoat provides non-eval versions of LTSC to download (given they have access to the MVS), Microsoft could take legal action, and of course that's bad, because this is an awesome project.

[libalpm64]

Yeah, thanks for the clarification. I want to note that I pointed out 2 possibilities, not that both are true. This isn't about trusting Massgrave; it's to avoid future problems. There could be people who distrust Massgrave for whatever reason. And yeah, you are right. If they provide non-eval editions of LTSC, it is probable that WinBoat would get a DMCA takedown notice. Though I presume it would only happen if you use the ones downloaded from the Enterprise portal, not if you apply the patches, but there's always a risk.