Posted on 05/23/2018 3:07:09 PM PDT by dayglored
[Dayglored note: This problem report involves AVAST! antivirus breaking the April Update. AVAST personnel deny the claim...]
Apps fingered in vanishing desktop snafu
Updated The troubled Windows 10 April 2018 update is facing another issue, with some users losing access to their desktop after installing the new code.
The problem, which first appeared in a posting on a Microsoft support forum on 14 May, has gained a bit of traction over the last two days with users taking to social media as they go through the three stages of installing this update: frustration, fury and despair.
The affected users report that after accepting the request to "restart and install" Windows 10 and waiting the requisite hour or so for the update do its stuff, users can find themselves staring at a blank desktop with no icons. An alarming message stating that the Desktop file could not be accessed is then shown.
The error suggests that something fishy has happened at a system file level.
The Register spoke to Computer Cellar, an independent computer repair outfit in Durham, North Carolina, which took to Reddit to point the finger at the Avast antivirus application after spotting what appeared to be a commonality in the wave of complaints. The shop recommended that uninstalling the AV tool would likely be a good idea before letting the April 2018 Update loose on a working copy of Windows 10.
Afflicted users have found that none of the Windows 10 built-in repair options deal with the issue and have had to resort to creating a fresh install of the operating system. Microsoft helpfully provides a tool to do this very thing, although you will need a working PC on hand to make it work – something that might be a problem if your only PC has been borked.
Antivirus tools have long been a bit of a bête noire as far as Windows 10 has been concerned, with Microsoft chastising some vendors for making naughty calls to places where they shouldn't in the Windows kernel. Redmond also attracted the ire of Kaspersky for allegedly removing third-party antivirus software during updates – before the antivirus company backed down in August 2017.
While the issue is relatively widespread, it does not appear to affect a catastrophic number of users. Windows 10 users who have already successfully installed the update are not affected.
The Register asked Microsoft to discuss the matter and was told it is probing the situation. We also requested a comment from Avast. ®
A spokesperson for Avast told El Reg:
"We have tested this and couldn't identify any problems affecting Avast Antivirus consumer users specifically. Online user comments show that many are unfortunately experiencing problems updating to Windows 10 ‘1803’. We cannot rule out that a small number of Avast users may be having difficulties updating, too, but we don't see any indications that this is caused by Avast."
I would think not. It's part of the Windows 10 operating system.
I'm hoping there's a simple fix.
One of the main advantages I find with Linux Mint over Win10 is that Linux still has the classic interface — real buttons, pull-down menus, etc. — instead of the crappy Win10 glitz interface.
I did install 3rd-party Classic Menu, but I read that Win10 will likely kill of that capability soon. MS did have the classic interface through some of the beta versions, but took it out before the major release of Win10. Classic Menu is okay, but limited.
Dumped that virus, aka Windows, a couple of years ago. Don’t miss it one bit.
Every time Microsoft sends out a major update, it screws up the mail app and notification box. Every time!!
MS can’t get their act together or needs to hire employees who know what they’re doing.
Accepted the automatic update on my Dell 3 days ago, cannot boot the computer since. Get an error message that system32/config location is not available on the desktop. And I cannot go back to a previous version.
Need to call Dell for help.
I’m so glad they got rid of Safe Mode - LoL...
Mine just updated and all is ok.
1. Replace the fan, or check the bios for “halt on all errors”, and change it to maybe “keyboard only”.
2. Update problems. Use the Win10 troubleshooter on “update problems”. It’s worked for me in the past. Previously, I went mucking around in “Windows” dir for the subdir with the update download, and deleted the contents. That worked as well. Don’t remember the name, but if you do a search by date after the update fails, it narrows down the obvious name.
I have hated Windows 10 since the Fall Creators Update took more than 12+ hours on one machine and no less than 4 of my fastest machine.
1803 was just a big of a disaster.
I am so tired of MS making these updates so intrusive, so large and so complicated that it basically ties up your machine for the better part of a day.
Dang that security.
Fie on Windows 10.
THANKS YOU!! Everytime I see the word “App” I get the desperate urge to slap some 20-something software coding punk right across the face then, drill-sergeant-like, get within an inch of their face and holle:
“Its called SOFTWARE. It works with our COMPUTERS. Now take your Internet-destroying mobile-friendly idiot-phone “Apps” and shove them up your ***!!!”
*LOL*
Only negative so far on my HP notebook is that the led on the keyboard for speaker mute doesn’t turn on anymore. Speaker mutes/unmutes fine, just lost the visual indicator. Not the end of the world.
“Dumped that virus, aka Windows, a couple of years ago. Don’t miss it one bit.”
—
Had MS stopped at Win 7 and just improved on that OS as the final product it would have been a good thing. But I’m glad I got into Linux some years back! Free OS that doesn’t need constant managing just to make it work - at least with the major Linux distros.
DON’T. USE. THEIR. EMAIL.
I have never used MS mail. I have a small privately run service out of Texas that I got 20 years ago, a yahoo account, and a hotmail account (which I hate, BTW).
I don’t EVER log onto my “Microsoft Account” or my “Google Account” because I don’t want them to spy on me and then start receiving spam ads everytime I go online based on where I’ve surfed.
You have to have those accounts for the various services, but you don’t have to be logged onto them unless there is something specific to them that you need to do. Then - log off.
As far as anti-virus services go, I have always used Norton and have never had any problems with it.
Microsoft updates do mess things up with some of my business software. My main business software provider now has a recording on their 1-800 line reminding you that if the print feature in the software is showing an error message (always happens after a major Microsoft update), please run the software manufacturer’s update - at least they are ready for it ...
WIndows 10 ... the bugs are a feature, not a ‘bug’ ...
“I am so tired of MS making these updates so intrusive, so large and so complicated that it basically ties up your machine for the better part of a day.”
—
If a person must use W10, they can set it not to update until they allow it:
Option 3 works great for those who don’t connect via an Ethernet connection. First thing I do when I get handed a device with W10 in it.
https://www.easeus.com/todo-backup-resource/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-automatically-update.html
“I don’t EVER log onto my “Microsoft Account” or my “Google Account” because I don’t want them to spy on me and then start receiving spam ads everytime I go online based on where I’ve surfed.”
—
Sign in, and when you sign out clear your history and restart your browser, if you’re on a PC-type device. MS/Google is gone and they can’t track you.
You’ll still get ads on pages based on your location, though. Unless you use a proxy.
“a hotmail account”
—
Hotmail is MS, y’know.
Having a Google account annoyed me the most as it related to my Android cell phone. Having Google constantly stalking me totally pissed me off. Dumped Android. I was forced to set up a G-mail account to use the Android, but never used it. Still... it was always there.
I know it’s part of my PC experience, but it doesn’t go where I go, and send me weird questions like “Do you want to post the photo of [blank] you just took?”
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