Now I may be wrong, but the way I see it, MS release TH2 and these updated versions as previews to a Service Pack for Windows 10 RTM. What I do not understand is why they aren't releasing updates that would bring 10240 RTM version to those later TH2 builds? Is it because they are BETA builds? Is there any way to UPGRADE to those new builds from 10240 ROM build without having to perform a fresh install? I hope eventually it needs to be done - it makes no sense to release a brand new version of Windows 10.1 (or whichever version) that requires people to do a fresh install.
Those are insider builds, and MS has not decided to add them to RTM yet, when they get to a build that they find works, 10240 will get an update, and you don't clean install, they can be upgraded. But if you're not an insider you shouldn't be upgrading or installing them because you'll have to go back to 10240 unless they add the upgrade to the MS GA download in which case you'll probably need to install that again. There's no such thing as a service pack anymore.
Just update like you updated Windows 8/7 to 10. Don't forget to uninstall your antivirus/anti-malware before. They do release what you talk about thru the cummulative updates, which are mostly security fixes but still. If they don't do it, it's because it would be a complete waste of time to port back some of the core features of the OS from higher/more recent a build to an older one. It's an Operating system you're talking about not a 10MB software.
If you are an insider, download the new build thru windows update as usual. Or, grab the esd and make an iso from it. Mount the iso and run setup. It's an upgrade not a fresh install so you have the option of losing nothing.
There's absolutely no reason to uninstall a antivirus, probably don't even need to disable it, but you can disable it. Not sure why people even bother to run 240 if they are going to want to try all the insider previews, or they should just dual boot and be able to upgrade each new preview as it comes out. All you would need to do to check AV is to scan the ISO and see if the AV flags it, if not then there's no reason to even disable it. Chris, sorry, hope this doesn't sound rude, just pointing it out.
Ah, so you are saying if you update to Insider Preview then when the REAL update comes out, you won't be able to get it unless you do a fresh Windows 10 install. That makes sense. I care about PERFORMANCE, especially in games. Do Preview builds 10547/10550 improve Windows 10 performance in any way?
It's the same, as if a insider DL's a leaked build, they won't get the update to a newer build. I had activation problems going from leaked previews to GA 240 and had to reinstall original. I have spent most of the time working on bugs, like the hide desktop icons so haven't really done any performance testing other then testing RAID and the different EFI Sata drivers and RST drivers, and some games. Games like batman knight, GTA 4, Far cry 4, Crysis 3, Witcher 3, are really close for FPS as 8.1. As for RAID, I don't see any performance as it's more the EFI sata and RST sata drivers.