Running Windows 10? Microsoft is preparing to fire up the update engines (Windows 10 Updates)

The Register ^ | Jan 24, 2022 | Richard Speed

[dayglored]

It's coming. Microsoft is preparing to start shoveling the latest version of Windows 10 down the throats of refuseniks still clinging to older incarnations.

The Windows Update team gave the heads-up through its Twitter orifice last week. Windows 10 2004 was already on its last gasp, have had support terminated in December. 20H2, on the other hand, should be good to go until May this year.

We started the first phase in the Windows 10, version 21H2 rollout for machine learning (ML) training. We are targeting devices on Windows 10, version 20H2 that are approaching end of servicing to update automatically to version 21H2. https://t.co/l7RbiFyq3O — Windows Update (@WindowsUpdate) January 20, 2022

However, while it is hard for any lingering Windows 10 2004 user to avoid 21H2 via Windows Update, 20H2 (which debuted in the latter part of 2020) is also in the crosshairs. Microsoft has warned it was "targeting devices on Windows 10, version 20H2 that are approaching end of servicing to update automatically to Windows 10, version 21H2" via the first phase in its rollout for machine learning (ML) training.

It intends to carry on that training "and deliver a smooth update experience." Of course, the update is, at first glance, pretty minor (as Microsoft focuses its energies on Making All The Things Rounded in Windows 11.) However, a bit ominously, the company also said "the update will install like a monthly update."

These are words to strike fear into the hearts of many a user left singed following the most recent monthly Patch Tuesday emission.

The latest set of statistics from advertising platform AdDuplex put 31.8 per cent of PC running Windows 10 20H2 and 11 per cent on Windows 10 2004. Those figures will have dropped in the weeks since, particularly with 2004's end of support and the undoubted bleating from the operating system about getting an update.

With many customers still unable to meet Microsoft's infamous hardware requirements for Windows 11, Microsoft seems set on nudging holdouts toward the light of 21H2 – whether customers like it or not. ®

[dayglored]

BOHICA!!

[dayglored]

Windows 10 Update... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

[dayglored]

All seriousness aside, Folks, Windows 10 Updates are a Fact-o'-Life and the choice is to take 'em or keep using something that's not nearly as secure (Win7, even WinXP).

Just wait until Windows 11 Updates become a thing.

Meanwhile, techniques for avoiding the forced Win10 Updates are making the rounds....

[z3n]

21H2

Isn’t this the monkey virus that escaped in PA?

[Myrddin]

My company IT has an "image control" group that controls what goes into the base image on company equipment, then also controls exactly which updates get applied. We have 42,000 employees, so config management is critical. We also have corporate commitments to meet NIST security postures to be able to bid on government work. It won't be coming in uncontrolled on the company Windows 10, but I do have 3 personally owned Windows 10 boxes that will be in the crosshairs. They are all 21H2 already.

[Carriage Hill]

No thankyouverymuch.
I’ll stay with my HP’s 2009 Win-7 Pro x64, well-protected and doing just fine and dandy.

[Billthedrill]

Not to worry. I have a very recent image-level backup, and so long as I can restore that and never, never go on the Internet again I’ll be fine...

[C210N]

sticking with w7.

older pc’s can’t handle the OS footprint and cpu requirements of w10.

[SgtHooper]

My machine is too old for Win 11. May be good for me that I stay in the Win 10 world (for awhile).

[plain talk]

I didn’t even know what version my PC was running as the update apparently was painless. I am on 21H2 updated in Dec.

[Organic Panic]

Thanks Billy. The last forced update shut my shop down for two weeks while I restored my computers. No thanks.

[dennisw]

I put Win 11 on all my machines. I slap it on in a clean installation. Onto a boot NVMe or SSD drive. Then I usually have a 1TB spinning drive for storage.

[mountainlion]

Windows 8 killed windows for me. Look at what bill gates is doing to us now. Apple is not perfect but I am a fan now.

[raccoonradio]

Have HP desktop and laptop each with W10.
Was able to successfully upgrade laptop to W11 but not the desktop. “Processor speed not fast enough”

[Brian Griffin]

Windows - all the better for Big Brother to peak into.

[Brian Griffin]

In computer geek hell the computers will be updated as Microsoft wants.

[dennisw]

Stop stupid bragging about using Windows 7 you FR cheap bastards! >>>>> Here is your Win 10 deal of the year>>>> Easy updating to Win 11 too!
https://vipoutlet.com/product/hp-m01-f1033wb-23-8-fhd-i3-10100-3-6ghz-8gb-ram-1tb-hdd-win-10-home-black/

I bought one of these.

[SuperLuminal]

" I am on 21H2 updated in Dec."

Me too.. No problem...

[RayChuang88]

I have Windows 10 21H2 on my system. No issues so far! We should see the first betas for Windows 10 22H1 coming in a few weeks.

[stylin19a]

** Just wait until Windows 11 Updates become a thing. **

I’ve already has a spit load of cumulative updates to widows 11 since October.