Windows 10 support officially ends in just a few days, and Microsoft is preparing to ramp up Windows 11 upgrade offers across more PCs. The company is eager for users to transition to its latest operating system, and has been running a steady stream of promotional campaigns to highlight the benefits of upgrading.
Earlier this year, Microsoft shared detailed pointers showcasing Windows 11’s advantages — from enhanced security with TPM support to improved performance and gaming features. The company also addressed lingering myths and misconceptions, reinforcing that Windows 11 offers both familiarity and meaningful upgrades.
One recent ad campaign titled “Start Fresh Without Starting Over with Windows 11” emphasized that users can expect a comfortable, familiar experience even as they move to a more modern and capable OS. This aligns with Microsoft’s larger strategy to nudge users toward connected experiences — including its growing insistence on signing in with a Microsoft Account during setup. Bypass options for this requirement are rapidly disappearing, leaving just one official method still available.
Ironically, as Microsoft pushes these upgrades, the company has run into an embarrassing technical hiccup. Its official Media Creation Tool (MCT), used to create bootable installation media for Windows, is currently malfunctioning on Windows 10 systems. Microsoft confirmed that the latest version of the tool — version 26100.6584, released on September 29, 2025 — “might not work as expected” and may close unexpectedly without displaying any error message.
This particular version of MCT was released around the rollout of Windows 11 version 25H2. Microsoft says it is investigating the problem and is “working on a resolution… to be released in a future update to the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool.”
Until that fix arrives, affected users looking to create installation media for Windows 11 will have to rely on third-party utilities such as Rufus.
