Windows 10 enterprise 2019 ltsc: news and experience

Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC is the new version of the well-known business variant of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system. It's been a long time since the blue giant hasn't updated its corporate version, specifically since 2016, so we decided to make this little article to see what news it brings and if it really changes compared to the original Windows 10.

Index of contents

We have accessed an evaluation version thanks to the 90-day version provided by Windows of this distribution to see if the change is really noticeable or not with respect to Windows 10 Pro, remember that in the testing phase it started being called LTSB, for later it happens definitely to LTSC. Let's go there.

Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC (long-term maintenance)

Just knowing the term Enterprise, we can already guess that this version of Windows 10 is intended for use by companies and IT professionals. This our distribution is based on the version of Windows 10 Pro 1809, that is, the semi-annual update package of last October 2018.

For this reason, many of its innovations are also implemented in Windows 10 Pro 1809, such as the new search tool or the shared clipboard and the best security and management in the cloud.

Microsoft provides the user with the well-known semi-annual update channel (SAC) for the normal version of Windows 10, so to speak, we all know this. And we also know that in this new April update there have been enough problems in the update process, with loss of personal data, etc.

Precisely for this reason, Windows offers this Enterprise version in LTSC mode, called a long-term service channel. That is definitely a version of Windows oriented to have no long-term changes, synonymous with that we will not have those semi-annual updates of the normal package. It is very important for a company, since the security of the data and stable operation of the system is essential.

We finish the small introduction section with the fact that Windows LTSC will have security updates and bug fixes in a total of 10 years.

A cleaner application system

Just by installing it and seeing its interface first, we will appreciate some significant changes.

For starters, we don't have the Cortana wizard installed, you know, the one that talks to you for the first and last time when you install Windows, since we later forgot about it. For practical purposes Cortana is fully integrated into the system as a search and task management assistant, and in this case Microsoft has decided to give it a complete snip.

And if we investigate a little more, the Windows Store has also been eliminated, all this complete application together with all the applications that come already integrated in Windows 10 natively. Another item that has been removed is Microsoft Edge, Microsoft's newest new web browser has also been removed. Although we should not worry, because Internet Explorer 11 still remains integrated and functional.

The next item removed was the Photos software, which came to replace the traditional Microsoft image viewer. Along with this, the Music application that is similar to Photos has been removed. In your case, we will have to open the images with Paint and play the music with Windows Media Player. Finally, the application of Mail, Skype, 3D Viewer, OneDrive and the rest of small applications that overload the system are eliminated.

Well, all these cuts have triggered that the space occupied after a clean installation has been 22 GB, while a normal Windows allocates between 30 and 35 GB. At least we gain something, so, in this first section, we do have a much cleaner system and this will improve the safe regiment.

Security, notifications and diagnostic data

Another element that has changed a lot in this version is the notification system. It is also much more basic and will not continually remind us of the installation of these applications or other advertising factors that do exist in Windows 10.

Directly from the above, the fact that in this version we can deactivate the sending of diagnostic data to Microsoft and the personalized experiences are directly eliminated. This comes hand in hand with the fact that more functions have been included in Windows Defender to create a more secure operating system.

Better security has been included as we say in Windows Defender, which allows us a more extensive protection and simply having the same interface. So everything is done internally.

Among the new features is protection against ransomware, and greater control over the list of applications that we want to block to access certain document or system folders. We will find all this in the security section of Windows Defender, as seen in the images.

Also in the firewall , Linux processes have been added as admissible, for example, for the use of SSH. There are many other small added security functions, but we believe that it is not necessary to go over them, let's keep in mind that Windows defending is now stronger against threats and allows more interaction with the professional user.

Another interesting security element that is already added in Windows 10 1809 is the encryption of files using BitLoker. What's new is that the authentication process to integrate BitLoker with Active Directory is now easier and you don't have to pass an HSTI hardware security test. It is the same as saying that we can use this integration in an organization where there are computers with old hardware.

Authentication and administration from the cloud

Some of these functions, such as the integration of Windows Hello with Microsft Azure, are already integrated in Windows 10 1809, but now the process has been simplified and more oriented towards organizations. For example, FIDO 2.0 authentication, multi- factor unlocking using biometric elements and even bluetooth.

Similarly, management from the cloud is more advanced and also geared towards companies. Another thing that is now possible to do if we are with Microsoft Azure is to authenticate ourselves with the web login. The truth is that this, for practical purposes, does not interest us at all.

MBR2GPT.EXE and DISM applications

This is not really a novelty, since once again, they are functions that it inherits from the last update of Windows 10 Pro, but it is worth commenting on them.

MBR2GPT.EXE is an extremely useful application and we will soon make a small tutorial that comes from 1703. Well, this application that works in command mode, what it does is convert a MBR partition style disk to GPT without losing any data along the way. In this way we can put a hard disk directly in GPT without the need to format it, and thus prepare it for a new generation system.

In the case of DISM, the command mode tool for operating system image management, a few extra functions have been added. They are related to uninstalling the operating system to return to previous versions.

Why is it a system that many gamers use?

Well the good thing about this Windows is the fact that it is a system completely clean of unnecessary applications and that is why it is able to offer better performance. This is very important when playing, especially competitive games, where each FPS counts.

In addition, having the latest updates to Windows 10 pro 1809 will give us better compatibility with games, applications and next- generation hardware. In addition, the need for the system to be updated every semester is eliminated where it is always touched and in the end the PC must be completely formatted.

We will all remember that when the Creators Update appeared, many of the games and users experienced a very noticeable drop in performance, especially in titles like Battlefield or Deus Ex. With this LTSC we will not have this problem at all, when getting rid of those deep updates.

How to get Microsoft Windows Enterprise 2019 LTSC

We have already seen the main news of interest of this clean Windows distribution, now it is worth seeing how we can obtain it, even if it is in a 90-day trial version.

First, then we will discuss the way, let's say official, to obtain this Windows Enterprise 2019 LTSC. To do this, we will need to enter the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center with an organization account to be able to download the Windows ISO without time limitation and with the possibility of registering it.

In fact, we will have to obtain a pack of at least five keys if we want to register the product in the most official or legal way possible.

The second way to do it, and it is the one that we have carried out, is to download this version by going to the complete list of Microsoft products and identifying Windows 10 Enterprise. In the window it will allow us to download a 90-day evaluation version completely free of charge, although without registration capacity per license.

Licenses for Windows Enterprise 2019 LTSC

In the same way, we will need a key or license to activate this Windows Enterprise, if we want to change the background and screen colors (only this changes in the system). The rest will remain the same and work perfectly. In addition, we will get rid, of course, of the annoying watermark.

As with Windows 10 Pro, there are also OEM keys for this system at cheap prices in Chinese online stores , at just 18 euros, and they are very worthwhile. At this link you can buy it.

The other way to do it, as we have already mentioned, is by buying it directly from Microsoft or Microsoft-certified stores for around 300 euros. The decision is yours.

Conclusion and interesting links

So far our review about this great version of the Windows system. It really is ideal for organizations, and why not, for users who want a completely clean and optimized system to get the most out of their gaming PC.

In addition, you see that it is relatively easy to get one of their licenses and also at a cheap price, on our part, and in the time that we have been testing it, it is more than recommended.

Now we leave you with some links of our harvest:

Well, if you want to ask something or point out something that is wrong, you have the comment box below. Are you interested in this Windows LTSC?