Posted on 10/09/2018 10:23:42 AM PDT by dayglored
Day four exceeds all expectations as Microsoft steps back from brink
Microsoft has taken the unprecedented step of pulling a Windows 10 release a mere four days after its arrival amid a clamour of users complaining about files not being where they had left them.
Windows Insider supremo Dona Sarkar took to Twitter to announce that Windows fans would no longer be able to get their hands on the afflicted build. Redmond said the automatic rollout would also be paused until it works out just what in blue blazes is going on.
#WindowsInsiders If you've run into the "missing files after update" issue for 1809/October 2018 Fall update, please call our support line. They have the tools to get you back to a good state. This build is no longer available to download manually: https://t.co/Ce9WVILknp pic.twitter.com/fvisQi1c8g — Dona Sarkar (@donasarkar) October 6, 2018
Microsoft's advice to those who have downloaded the build is: for goodness' sake, don't install the thing. However, if you have gone ahead and allowed the update to do its stuff and been hit by the missing files issue, leave your PC alone and give Microsoft a telephone call for help.
The update made an appearance on 2 October, having gone directly into the hands of users rather than spending some time in the Windows Insider Release Preview ring first. If you have installed it, and everything is hunky dory (as it is for us), then there is no need to worry.
In her tweet, Sarkar said the person at the other end of the phone will have "the tools to get you back to a good state". Presumably either a file recovery application or a handy install of Linux. At this point we don't know. We contacted our local Microsoft support office and found it was closed. Because, hey, who installs this stuff outside of office hours, right?
Users in Canada have reported being instructed to take their afflicted PCs to a Microsoft store in the hope that some of their files can be restored. How that will work in regions that lack a Microsoft retail presence is unclear. Perhaps Honest Bob's Backstreet Windows Wrangler?
Called your support line for Canada. His best solution was "Take it to my nearest Microsoft Store". I'm in Ottawa Ontario. Nearest store in Canada is Toronto. I do not drive. There has GOT to be a better solution than that. As an Insider, it pains me. Beyond belief. — Abby Jane Hicks (@AbbyJaneHicks64) October 6, 2018
It is not a good look for the Windows Insider programme. Its more light-hearted tone has come in for some flack over the last year or so. One Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for the programme, Kari Finn, went public after being defrocked following criticism of the way things were going.
In his July post, Finn reckoned the programme had "turned into a playground", commenting that: "Developing Windows and getting serious feedback is hidden under a coat of ninja cat and taco hat jokes."
Finn, who described himself to The Register as a "Microsoft and Windows 10 fan boy" expressed concern that feedback was going unanswered and "professionalism is now forgotten".
Preaching to converted. I lost believe in insider programme a year ago. Too much "fun" and ninja cat and not enough hard graft and data. — Stephen (@StephenCWLL) October 6, 2018
Some would say those concerns have come home to roost as the current woes had been reported in the Windows Insider hub, and yet the release proceeded regardless.
The Reg has dropped Microsoft a line to find out what the recovery process is going to be and where Windows 10 goes from here. If you've had to pick up the phone to one of Redmond's support team, let us know how you got on in the comments below. ®
My theory on that is that something in the Windows 10 architecture doesn't allow the partial/incremental updates that we (*cough*) enjoyed with earlier versions of the OS.
I would not be surprised if they did something in how Win10 works, such that they HAVE to release these huge "replacements" instead of "patches". But that's speculation on my part.
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The files are probably still there, but the directory structure is wrong.
So skipping a key real-world testing point led to a bad result. I guess no one at Microsoft was smart enough to figure out that risk.
I wonder if this is related to the Cisco fiasco a couple of weeks ago.
That's pretty scary, but I don't see offhand how that could be caused by a Windows 10 update. Maybe something changed in their cloud ("online") storage as well, though. Please post back an update to this comment when you have it figured out -- that's one I'd want to watch!
Maybe. But from https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/05/windows_10_wipes_files/:
The problem appears to be that data stored in a user profile directory can be deleted. Permanently. Thus users who have cheerfully performed the update found themselves with a lot more disk space but none of their precious files. One Redditor reckoned that all files in their <user>\Documents folder had gone but, on the plus side, there was now an extra 60GB of disk space. Yay Windows.
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Sure glad that nothing we have is on win 10!
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> Interesting, I haven't seen that yet. Gotta link?
Found one on BetaNews, but it's not the file-deletion problem, it's a network connection issue:
Windows 10 October 2018 Update breaks Microsoft Edge and Windows Store apps for some users
"Microsoft is aware of an issue after installing the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) that prevents Microsoft Store apps from connecting to the Internet on devices that have disabled IPv6."They also have a mention that the missing files are deleted, but not overwritten (unless you've been using the computer since the update), so a deleted-file recovery tool might be able to get them back, assuming you don't install the tool on the same disk, of course... yikes.Although the company is working on a proper solution, for now you can get around the issue by simply enabling IPv6.
May be re-associated to Edga instead of Reader.
You can change it back easily if so.
They’ve been pushing using Edge for PDFs for a while.
They love Edgs, I expect IE will be gone soon.
And Onedrive is a network connection issue. Onedrive seems to be the culprit in this.
I’ve paused my updates for the time being.
Maybe, they hired the Apple Quality Assurance folks.
How do you pause Windows 10 updates?
Windows is getting more lame with each update.
“Don’t the software people check out updates before sending them out?”
The customers serve that function. Sad.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028233/windows-10-schedule-a-restart-or-pause-updates
Windows 10 automatically downloads and installs updates to make sure your device is up to date. To finish installing the update, your device will need to restart. If you’re asked to restart your device while you’re busy using it, you can schedule the restart for a more convenient time:
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update .
Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that’s convenient for you. Note: You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you’re not using your PC. Learn about active hours for Windows 10
If you’re using Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, you can choose to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed:
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update . Under Update settings, select Advanced options.
Turn on Pause updates. Note: After a certain amount of time, or after canceling a pause, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.
There is also a registry change you can make.
IMO, only this would be sufficient:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
Key: NoAutoUpdate
Type: DWORD
Value: 1
To enable updates again, remove AU registry key or delete NoAutoUpdate DWORD.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Microsoft MVP (Windows and Devices for IT)
Windows Insider MVP
Windows Help & Support [www.kapilarya.com]
Thank you Okie ...
It destroys documents?
Was Hillary running this?
What did people EXPECT, when they went to the ‘cloud’?
In less than 10 words, can anyone explain the reason why Windows has gone from reliable and affordable with almost zero updates required - to a steaming pile of pig poo that is so unreliable and a major hassle that lots of people are turning elsewhere?
I mean, what happened?? Why?? It was an excellent product. Why can’t they repeat Vista or the like? What are they doing?
My daughter’s workplace bought new laptops for everybody, and gave her the opportunity to buy her old one for twenty-five bucks. She did so and gave it to me as a backup.
The Windows license belongs to her employer so before she got it their IT staff wiped it and installed Linux. Screaming fast, and does pretty much everything my Windows machine does with the apps they installed.
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