What Is an ESD File? How to Convert It to an ISO File on Windows
Have you ever wondered how Windows Update files get to your computer? Or how Microsoft sends new features and security fixes? This happens through a special file type called ESD. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be a tech guru to understand what they are.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what ESD and ISO files are, and we’ll show you how to convert an ESD file into an ISO on Windows.
What Are ESD and ISO Files on Windows?
ESD (Electronic Software Download) file format is primarily used to deliver Windows updates and new OS versions. When you receive a Windows update, your system fetches this ESD file from Microsoft’s server.
Once downloaded, your system unpacks it (just like you unpack a ZIP file) and overwrites the updated files on your computer.
On the other hand, an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) file is a commonly used file format for disc images. ISO files are often preferred whencreating Windows backup disksor flashing new Windows on a computer.
Suppose you haven’t received the latest Windows update yet. In this case, you’re able to easily download the respective ESD file, convert it to an ISO, and flash it on your computer. So, now that you understand the terms let’s walk through the methods of converting an ESD file into an ISO file.
Dism++ is a powerful free tool that comes packed with a variety of utilities for your Windows system. It provides tools to manage, clean, and optimize your computer. One thing we liked about Dism++ is its image conversion feature. You can convert different images like WIM, ESD, and ISO easily with it.
Here’s how you can use Dism++ to convert your ESD file to ISO:
Once the conversion is over, open the location or path you selected earlier to check the exported ISO file. Now that you’ve your ISO file ready with you checkhow to flash the ISO file onto a USB drive.
If the DISM++ utility crashes automatically or hangs in between, it means the ESD file you selected is corrupt. In this case, re-download the ESD file and repeat all the steps.
2. ESD ToolKit
ESD ToolKit is another handy utility that you can use to convert ESD files to ISO. But, unlike DISM++, which offers a GUI (visual interface), ESD ToolKit works on the Command Prompt.
Follow the steps below to convert ESD to an ISO file using ESD Toolkit:
Once the process ends, reopen the folder where you’ve extracted ESD ToolKit. You’ll find the extracted ISO file in that folder only. Now, you may want to knowhow to edit ISO files on Windowsfor better control of the exported ISO file.
While the ESD ToolKit should do the job for you, in some cases, it may get stuck in the middle of the conversion. Don’t worry; there’s another tool called NTLite with some additional functionalities.
NTLite is the most feature-rich tool out of all the previous utilities mentioned above. It offers you many options to modify any Windows image as you like. Simply put, you can modify, remove, and add different components and features to a custom ISO file and then flash it on any computer.
Besides customizing Windows images, it lets you generate an ISO image from your ESD file.
Unfortunately, NTLite cannot help you convert an encrypted ESD file. So, if you have one, you must first convert it to WIM format and then to ISO.
Below are the steps to convert an ESD file into an ISO file using NTLite:
After the conversion, confirm that the ISO file works as expected.
If you’re interested in using the full functionality of NTLite, checkhow to customize Windows using NTLitefor help. You will learn more about all the NTLite features and how they can help you tailor the ISO file to your liking.
What to Do if an ESD File Fails to Convert to an ISO
If you follow all the steps correctly, ESD to ISO conversion should not fail. But, no need to worry if you still encounter error messages during the process. Below are some troubleshooting measures to take:
Convert ESD Into ISO in No Time
Dealing with ESD files and converting them to ISO is complex, especially with the Command Prompt. However, it’s a one-time process once you get the hang of using these third-party tools.
Besides, it’s possible to do so many things with an ISO file. For example, you can create a bootable pen drive, develop your Windows version, flash Windows Insider builds, and more.
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