MCT.bat doesn't work with Windows 1803 but I may have start of a workaround to get installer from Microsoft anyway

[ssybesma]

Hello @AveYo,

Just want to create Windows 1803 ISO.

Copied batch file text into notepad and named as MediaCreationTool.bat and ran as admin.
Selected 1803 then Make ISO.

After 10 mins no progress beyond the URL for the 1803 version of MediaCreationTool.exe
Nothing downloading yet.

URL is: https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/MediaCreationTool1803.exe

Going to that URL in browser gives message: "GatewayExceptionResponse".
Dead end.

I went to that URL on Archive.org and was able to download from February 2022 but when I run it it says I have to obtain the latest version of the MCT.
Another dead end.

Does your entire batch file just not work anymore? You put a ton of work into this.

[ssybesma]

Somehow, all the work you did has to be salvaged. You did too much great work for this to go to waste.

Possible start of a workaround:

I modified the URL in the batch file to point to Archive.org to download the MediaCreationTool1803.exe file but it doesn't seem to download it. Instead it proceeds and then fails to download a CAB file (download URL is shown in the batch file and below).

Next I downloaded the CAB file in a browser (did not have to use Archive.org):
https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/C/B/5CB83D2A-2D7E-4129-9AFE-353F8459AA8B/products_20180705.cab

Next I opened the CAB file which had an XML file. I searched for the EN-US version and there were many 64-bit and 32-bit for every distribution of Windows 10. Each one has two URLs for downloading ESD files. I don't know why that is. Is the second one an upgrade version?

I tested one and was able to download the ESD directly from Microsoft (did not have to use Archive.org).

Are these ESD files the installers for Windows 1803?

If these ESD files are all I need, what is next to create the Windows 1803 ISO?

Since Microsoft disabled older versions of Media Creation Tool, is that even needed anymore if we still have access to the ESD files? They seem big enough to contain the installer.

[ssybesma]

I found two apps that can convert ESD files to ISOs:

Dism++ | Graphical Utility (GUI) | Offers a direct "Esd —> ISO" menu option; user-friendly for non-technical users.

ESD Decrypter (ESD ToolKit) | Command-line (PowerShell) | A script-based tool that can create full ISOs with standard install.esd files.