I recommend that you actively block the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

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Here’s why. InfoWorld Woody on Windows
[See the full post at: I recommend that you actively block the Windows 10 Anniversary Update]

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Wow. I pity the poor average computer user with Windows 10 having to deal with all this nonsense.

There’s no way in the world that I could put up with the constantly ‘mutating monster’ that W10 has become.

Seems that people just get things set up the way they like then along comes another forced update (including drivers in some cases) to mess things up. And, not just messed up with a major update every 6 months but sometimes with the ‘normal’ month to month updates.

MS needs to go back to the old system of a major Service Pack release every year or two with just security updates and minor improvements in between. I won’t be holding my breath though.

Thank goodness I’m sticking with W7 for the foreseeable future.

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Well, after a year of avoiding Win10, I finally caved on July 29th for the free upgrade

I now have a clean install of Win 10 Pro_x64 on my Ivy Bridge desktop. Upgraded from Win 7 Pro 32-bit. My motivation was to get off the 32-bit OS, since a couple of my software vendors have either stopped supporting that architecture, or seem to be heading that way.

I considered buying Win 8.1 Pro_x64, but based on my experience with a laptop that I bought last year, that OS is cool, but I just really hated the start menu and full screen tiles. Ugh!!!

I have now set Win 10 updates to be scheduled (anytime within 7 days), and feature upgrades to be deferred (this includes the Anniversary Update, hopefully).

I’ve also have minimized all data collection, turned off Cortana and web search results.

Don’t use any Microsoft apps, never sign into any Microsoft cloud services. Just use Firefox, Chrome, Gmail via Thunderbird, Dropbox, etc.

Looking good here!!!

Oh, and that laptop with Win 8.1 is now sporting Win 10 too

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Problem report with Windows August 2016 Anniversary update.

The Update Assistant completed and reported that it was ready to restart the PC to complete installation. The PC restarted, and now cycles at the BIOS screen (PC is unbootable). Attempts to resolve by booting from a Windows 10 version 1511 ISO into the recovery environment failed: MS utilities to resolve boot problems, rollback to previous build, etc.

Resolved by using a recent Macrium Reflect clone image — re-cloned image back to C: drive to restore computer.

It seems evident that there are serious issues with the Anniversary Update.

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I experienced error 0x80070057 during installation after download and validation when the install hung at 2%. Searched on MS – error was something about Outlook 2010. Never had Office 2010 on the machine. Googling it, the solution was to turn off the Ethernet/WiFi for 2 min during the “try again” validation, then turn it back on and wait another 2 min for the install to continue. Worked for me.

Automatic/Notify to schedule restart has disappeared from Windows Update. Seems like Down-Your-Throat is now the method.

System Restore has always been off by default in Win10. If you turned it on, it was set back to off with the next update (been fussing about this from the git-go, comments on AskWoody somewhere). But now, when you turn it on, the default is 0GB, not the percentage of disk size like it used to be.

The problem with calling upgrades a service pack is, I think, possibly something to do with changing the support date (heaven forbid!). But Win10 end of life is 2025 – only 2 years after Win8!!!!

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Apple.

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I guess I didn’t get the memo about the Defcon status not being applicable to Win10. OK, I don’t care for Edge, but that’s me. Cortana is no more messed up than it’s ever been, but that’s my old laptop. Then again, I’m one of those who likes Win10.

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Prudent advice although worth installing for “fun & giggles” should you choose the new install image (yes the win 10 giveaway seems to have restarted at a different address)first chuckle comes as the new install image starts life downloading, yes you guessed it, an update. OK on to plan “B” the full install on a working win 10 part. nothing to hair raising here the usual deselecting network printer, apps that need coaxing back to life, a very real possibility that old age may overtake you before completion, of course a rather large download, the creation of a mysterious extra partition approx. 800mb. but I am saving the best for last edge is supposed to be revamped and that it is you cant enter your own home page, extensions there be but you have to go to “the store” but the final and loudest chuckle is selecting the Microsoft update Catalogue where you get this message “You’ve stumbled upon some vintage web tech” and they call this progress probably worth putting on ignore/defer/metered connection for a long time to come.

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Woody. I work with a global real estate firm, a VP of which recently advised me in no uncertain terms, that their goal is “…quantity, production, NOT quality..”.

Seems clear that this is also Microsoft’s credo now.

Problem is, how do we know which airlines, banks or hospitals are using Windows 10?

A new blog for you?

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HA!

Thanks for the idea… but, man, I’ve never been so busy…

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Hi Woody

I have done as you say and blocked the update but what about the accumulated files in Downloads which date 2nd 3rd 4th Aug. Surely these must contain some corruption?

Can I safely delete them until newones are issued by MS?

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Most Win10 installations I know about haven’t had the Anniversary Update pushed just yet. Those with AU installed tend to have gone looking for it.

Yep, the MS-DEFCON status does include Win10, and I should’ve put a hold on updating Win10 on Tuesday. Sorry about that.

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Yep, calling it a “Service Pack” invokes some sort of contractual agreement. Microsoft insists that it’s now on the rapid release “as a Service” schedule – but, forgive me, I don’t see where Win10 releases are rapid.

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Glad you had the backup….

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Win 10 just seems like a “pain in the a$$” way to live. Endless unannounced crap to deal with and no or inconsistent notice regarding such. Win 10 seems like antimatter to individual productivity on the desktop.

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Delete them if you can. Microsoft has to make this mess better.

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Please Microsoft, buy a clue!

How can such misbehavior and customer disrespect be financially be sustainable?!?

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I noticed something different on a fresh install of version 1607 (new system, clean spinner drive). System restore was turned ON at 1% (1TB drive) after installation. All other Win10 installs I’ve done system restore was off by default. Wonder what triggers the installation to turn it on???

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I guess that “Rapid release” buzzword is only for the shareholder meetings… So discouraged. How are Windows 10-using shareholders feeling?

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Thanks for the article, Woody. Most informative, if not remotely surprising!

Add me to the list of those sticking with Windows 7 up to 2020 and beyond.

While I am sure there are some advanced device users for whom the upgrade made sense at the time, it somewhat saddens me to see so many people on my gaming and other forums who have switched to Windows 10 for no better reason than that it was the latest “shiny new toy” – and, of course, because it was free.

Those of us with a certain number of years behind us tend to be of the view that when someone gives away something for nothing that is usually because they have reflected its true value in their gift! Either that, or because they intend to rip you off later, whether through subscription or forced advertising – remind you of anything?

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I hope the Enterprise Clients are watching all of this. Even with the additional control they have over their PCs and all the guarantees they get from MS, it has to be evident by now that MS has a competency problem.

I would delay any migration to W10 to a date way in the future if it was my call to make. I would not let this OS put my business at risk.

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“… because it was free.”

And that is part of the problem, in my opinion.

People who pay for Windows 10 (and, it is definitely not cheap – especially in places like here in Australia) have to put up with all the same update/bloatware (Candy Crush anyone?) hassles as those who obtained it for ‘free’ over the past 12 months.

But. it wasn’t really free. You still needed a valid, paid for W7 or W8 licence to be eligible for the ‘free’ W10.

Reminds me of the good old two for the price of one offers. Yes – one way of looking at is you are getting one free. But, I’ve always seen it as you’re getting two for half price.

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My guess on the System Restore issues: during an upgrade, the old SR points need to be removed, the fastest way to do that is at Boot, so SR is switched off. There *should* be some inbuilt mechanism to automatically turn it back on but I’ve no real idea as to what/when that might be or if it’s ever worked/existed.

With a clean install, on a new/clean drive, there’s no old SR points to deal with, SR is on by default.

Obviously, I could be completely wrong, I don’t want to waste any more time on it until maybe December, if I don’t have anything better to do.

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I posted in a different thread that, after updating, Cortana was showing the notebook, but that I had to reinstall two printer drivers.

Now I have been notified at two different web sites that I am using an “obsolete” browser. But it’s the same, most recently updated, IE 11 version I had been using before installing the Anniversary update. Did the update affect IE? I haven’t seen anyone else comment on misbehavior with IE. Have any readers on this site heard of this issue previously?

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…and Alphabet[i-spaghetti](Chrome, Gmail) DON’T collect masses of data about you?

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@ve2mrx;

M$ has bigger fish to fry.

Why Microsoft, With $100 Billion, Wants a Loan for LinkedIn

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-13/why-microsoft-with-100-billion-is-borrowing-to-buy-linkedin

JF

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Woody, this is the first time I posted here, even though I have closely followed your articles for some time. I have actively stayed away from Windows 10 on my working PCs, and have NOT taken the “free” upgrade offer. I do have a couple of Windows 10 virtual machines for testing, though.

Besides all the problems with Windows 10 1607 here, I would add one more :
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/anyone-else-seeing-text-justification-issues-in/ab720c58-f8f6-43d9-b5fa-09eb4c8fe657

It is very irritating. The icon text has been centre-justified since Windows 98 at least, all the way to Windows 10 1511. But after installing the Anniversary Update on my VM, all the icon text became left-justified, as shown in the link above. You have to set the icon view in Explorer to Medium to see the problem.

All these problems just reinforce my feeling of staying away from Windows 10 for as long as possible.

I wonder if you or others have seen this after installing the 1607 release build?

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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I haven’t heard of the issues. What web sites? Sounds like the sites are looking for older versions of IE.

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Well members in a group I belong to are reporting problems with IE and WLM which they use for stationery….. since the demise of OE and WM… many use WLM but cannot import their stationery as they used to. They have a work around which is to send it from their HTML Editor to IE and then from IE to send it to WLM (as in send email) Since the Anniversary Upgrade this is broken/not working.
One member actually spoke with MS who firstly told her that WLM was not supported…….but when she said why then is it available for download on the MS site…..she was then handed to another MS person who told her that the ‘bridge’ is broken between IE and WLM…. the problem has been escalated. So there is something apparently amiss with IE. LT

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Interesting. The Windows Live Mail signature export problem has been around for ages, but I wonder what might’ve changed in IE?

I doubt Microsoft will spend any time on it, but if you’d like to pursue it, head over to the MS Answers Forum.

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It’s not exactly earth shattering but, yes, I can confirm that File Explorer filenames under thumbnails in build 1511 are centered, whereas in 1607 they’re left justified. And, yes, I definitely do prefer having them centered.

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Yeah, not earth shattering, but for me it is definitely and totally unacceptable.

I really cannot understand why Microsoft thinks making these changes without telling people, and without a way to change it back to the old default (of more than 20 years), is a good idea.

Totally vindicates my decision not to take up that “free upgrade”. For me, Windows 10 in its current state is rubbish.

I agree that Windows 10 really needs a way to control forced updates, and this “feature” is my main reason not to use Windows 10 at this time. If Microsoft won’t back down, I think I will have to leave Windows eventually.

Woody, would you please notify Microsoft about this “left-justified” issue and ask them to fix it?

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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Should have seen that one coming. True, but Google and Facebook, etc. are up front about their data collection practices. Their computers read my emails and posts to figure out how to place ads in front of me that I might click on. These are free services that I would otherwise have to pay for. I can also choose to not use them if I wish.

Microsoft has a monopoly on the Windows ecosystem. By default, the latest OS digs deep into your PC and tracks everything you do, including keystrokes and clicks, etc. Cortana “really” wants to get to know you. And MS is not exactly clear on what they will do with all of this data being collected. It is unprecedented in the history of computing. The NSA must be jealous.

So no, I really do not equate Google with the default level of snooping in Windows 10. Just turn most of the tracking off and it’s probably OK. And if I’m in any doubt of my privacy, I also have Linux installed

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I can. You should find a Feedback post and +1 it…..

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I believe all of this makes a very good case for upgrading to Windows 10 Pro. It does let you defer feature upgrades for a few months, hopefully until all the bugs get worked out.

If you have the Windows 10 Home edition, the Windows store will let you upgrade to Pro for $99.

Plus you get Bitlocker with Pro. I like!!!

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True that Pro does let you delay feature upgrades. (Ed Bott has a good article that explains how. I really appreciate the article, because Microsoft’s documentation of the setting is horrible!)

But Pro doesn’t let you delay other kinds of patches. Those are still rolled out with security and non-security patches commingled, and they still get pushed onto your machine whether you want them or not.

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Anybody remember how Microsoft was touting its new model for vetting Windows updates? Instead of keeping a crew of professional testers, millions of amateur Windows “Insiders” would try out the new build and report problems back to the mothership.

How’s that model working out now?

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Okay, I succumbed to MS’s AU temptation, did a fresh image of my #2 PC then downloaded the AU stub installer and made the ‘upgrade’.

Post-install, SR was turned off, as expected. A short time ago, ~3.5 hours uptime, I checked again and this time it was turned on and set to 6%, which I think was the original setting.

For anyone that sees SR as turned off after an update/upgrade, leave it untouched and give it a few hours before rechecking.

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Re: AU issues — would the registry setting DisableOSUpgrade prevent Windows 10 from upgrading from version 1511 to version 1607 (AU)?

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I moved all my production work to Macs a couple of years ago, but still have one Dell W10 PC that I keep around simply because of morbid curiosity about what MS will screw up next. (It took me five months to update from 8.1 to 10 because 10 didn’t like the way my SSD C: drive was partitioned. No help from MS, of course – I had to figure it out myself. Lots of people on MS Answers had my problem – one user post gave a hint of what to try. The MS error codes were useless and Dell said the 3 year old system was not supported for W 10! I used to need the PC for work software (PC SAS) but have retired and don’t use it any more. I am in the enviable situation that I can just leave the PC turned off until this gets sorted out. I assume Woody will give the “all clear” – assuming that ever happens – so I can turn on the PC again…..

David

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The ultimate example of crowd sourcing. Six million volunteers working on W10 for 2 years and MS could only harvest 5000 useful recommendations, most of which were accepted 3 months before the Anniversary Update.

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I saw the same thing happen in the Linux world.

The day Microsoft announced rolling updates, I felt it put a final nail in its reliability coffin.

But hey, you reap what you sow.

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Forgot to add:

Anything touted usually ends up being the opposite. Simple life lesson, haughty get their rewards in lip service.

Titanic was unsinkable…

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Say what you will, but it beats the livin’ bewhilickers out of Windows 8.

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I don’t think so. Blocking the upgrade is easy unless you have Win10 Home on a wired network connection.

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Yeah, LinkedIn, that fits inside the bear hug they have in mind for us.

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Or Microsoft associated sites advertising for Edge. I have seen this even on Windows 2008 R2 server.

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Hey Woody, thanks for the link! The MS approach to the other monthly patches makes me grit my teeth. From what I experienced after my recent upgrades of both a Home and Pro system, when I checked for updates, they showed up. But I had checked the option “Notify to schedule restart”, so I was given a calendar to choose from the following 7 days (inclusive of the current day). There was also a tip that updates would not be downloaded over a metered connection, so there is apparently still that trick. I guess that means if I shut down or restart any time after they are downloaded, they got me!

I wonder if this will change with the Anniversary Update?

Anyway, I plan to take regular system images, so that I can roll back if I get bitten by a killer patch.

I would encourage anybody to learn about the built-in Windows image utility. It works well if you are somewhat hands on.

If you want autopilot, I have heard that Macrium Reflect Free Edition gets the job done well.

http://www.macrium.com/pages/windows10.aspx

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I’m still not letting Windows 10 anywhere near either of my desktops or my laptop, and feeling better about that decision with every passing day.

But I forgot that I switched my little Stream 7 tablet from 8.1 to 10 about 6 months ago just to try it out. As I do nothing of any value on that device, I haven’t touched it in sever weeks. But I found it on a shelf last night and decided to see if it would work with the AU for fun, so I downloaded the updater and fired it up.

Given that it has only 1GB of memory and the latest requirements call for 2GB, I expected an immediate rejection of the update and an end to the entire process.

Surprisingly, the pre-install scan OKed the low RAM count and started the install. But two minutes later, it crashed to a halt because of insufficient disk space. Seems the AU needs 16GB of clear space to install.

My built in storage only had 12GB free, but there was 26GB free on an SD card and a further 30GB free on an attached USB-to-Go key, however the AU updater ignores that space. S

If I recall correctly, when I made the initial move to Win10 on the tablet, the installer was programmed to utilize all available storage and not just the built-in type. That seemto have changed this time around.

While I don’t really regret the fact I won’t get a chance to drive myself crazy with the new release, I am wondering if Malwaresoft will tweak the installer to enable the AU on small-storage tablets, or if I should just wipe the device and reinstall the original 8.1 OS that I backed up very carefully.

Just something to ponder on a hot Friday night.

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“beware of greeks bearing gifts” perchance?

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What surprises me is that the compatibility checker has no problem with 1 GB, where the specs and the installer demand 2 GB.

It just ain’t ready for prime time. In spite of what many luminaries in the business say.

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Thanks Woody…….. I’ll pass the message on and see what eventuates! LT

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Another ‘glitch’ introduced in the AU release (worked as expected in the previous version).

Enabling the ‘Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage’ group policy does no longer remove OneDrive from the navigation pane in File Explorer as stated in the group policy description.

Beside privacy and security issues, forced upgrades/updates, and Microsoft’s ability to remote control each and every Win 10 computer, the most disturbing thing with Win 10 is that the upgrade is messing up everything (file system, registry, custom settings, you name it) and the only option left is to walk through the ‘Reset PC’ procedure and set up everything from scratch. Back in the day, we would have set up a Windows machine and operate for several years. Now, we have to do several times a year?

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Well, due to the multitudes of mishaps(for want of expletives) by MS, I’ve reverted my old laptop back to LXDE/Debian and no longer have to endure their windows 10 beta testing..Still on Win7 on other devices as my old programs dictate this.

Woody, you are a shining star to the windows 7,8 and 8.1 community. Thank you for all your assistance in diverting the MS Windows 10 malware and keeping us all informed.

kind regards, Rob

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From what I see on Windows Answers, satellite on W-10 Home qualifies as “not meterable” so long as I’m hard-wired to the WiFi-enabled router. So one machine can use the metered connection trick, but my desktop would be at the mercy of MS. With 10Gb prime-time usage, that would be grim.

Sure am glad I stayed with 7, and it’s going to stay that way for a while.

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There sure seems to be a big difference of opinion… I use Windows 8.1 Pro every day and it works just fine. I have made some modifications of course. I have absolutely no intention of upgrading it to Windows 10. My complaint about Windows 8.1 is that it is so blah in appearance. But aside from that, it works great. Windows 7 is still the best looking OS of the bunch.

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Here is my one and only question to Cortana:
[Is Microsoft ISO 9001 certified?]
My suggestion is that Microsoft should become intimately familiar with the ISO 9001 quality management system. Quality Management System certification enables you to demonstrate your commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, as well as continuously improving your company’s operations.

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I agree Rob, Woody should be given a Knighthood for a successful, but ongoing, crusade.

For all those who write comments insisting Win 10 is the greatest, and the rest of us are just whining idiots. Here’s a real world taste.

I went into Bell offices in the maritimes, and while we were waiting a group of us customers started chatting, and Win 10 came up.

Of roughly 8 people as well as some service agents, I heard nothing good said about Win 10. Nothing but headaches.

There were even some scary anecdotes about friends have had had serious work and business problems due to Microsofts mess.

MS has such a PR machine with trolls etc, they seem quite successful at obfuscation..like some politicians I know.

[Post edited. I really don’t want to turn this into a political forum. -W]

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Correct. Wi-Fi users should run the metered connection trick. Among the rest, those with Win10 should just go into Settings > Update & security > Advanced Options and check Defer upgrades. If you don’t fall into either bucket, it’s considerably more difficult but not impossible. See http://www.infoworld.com/article/3053701/microsoft-windows/block-windows-10-forced-updates-without-breaking-your-machine-part-2.html

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As it stands right now from what I have read and tinkering around on a couple of VHDs here 1. clean install 2.full upgrade package (not letting it loose on my win 10 partition)I certainly would have grave reservations about letting this loose in any “production environment” let alone a home user who can, reasonably, expect to use the “on” button and the machine to do its thing. The differences appear to be largely cosmetic in nature and as for production gains well battling with a recalcitrant machine is not conducive to greater productivity. I am fairly reasonable in expectations and aware there are bound to be the odd teething troubles and I have outlined in a previous post the “niggles” that are immediately apparent. the emasculation of GPOL that has surfaced is a worrying development indeed, I mean why buy the Pro version as you have just removed one of the deciding factors for the higher grade/price. it begs the question what else is rendered useless in GPOL that we haven’t picked up. For Pro users you really should “use it or lose it” setting the updates to deferred and hitting your GPOL settings and the windows update accordingly -> gpedit.msc->admim. templates->windoze components->windoze update and choose the value that suits I use config. auto. updates but there are other items that may suit you better. any way a foray in there may lead you to the same conclusion that I reached what else could have been changed that we don’t know about or have stumbled upon. Any way to conclude thx very much to Microsnooze for ruining my vacation true you cut down on my quality beer time but alas before I left work the other week I set the “clutch” of win 10 machines we have to deffered keep up the good work Woody this and your other web pages are invaluable resource OBTW currently evaluating the “wushowhide” tool shows promise.

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Another ‘glitch’ introduced in the AU release (worked as expected in the previous version).

When installing well-known software, such as 7-Zip, Notepad++, etc., shipped as .exe installers, the start menu blocks access to those programs (menu items are disabled) until explorer.exe gets restarted via task manager, signing off/on, or rebooting the machine.

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My guess is Woody does not wish to be the tribune of Win 7 and 8.1 users. We are, after all, a wasting asset–although we are more than half of the user base currently, we will waste away over time, as many acquiesce in Win 10 (sell out to Big Brother) or defect to Linux or whatever. Like it or not, we will eventually morph into a sect.

Unless, that is, Microsoft changes it game. But that may take a management change. The current nobodies (starting with Satella) have done nothing more than misuse their current customers.

I continue to believe that the best hope is a successful class action lawsuit that forces a change in policy at M$.

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Woody,

I am not sure if this information is correct (there’s not much detail to it), and/or if this sort of thing (small out of court settlements) is already known to you, but I’ve read a comment today on a different website saying that a person who started to sue MS for issues with Win 10 was paid off $1000 by them to drop the suit — I’m not sure if this is happening around the country, or not.

The comment is the 3rd one in this thread:
https://www.fatwallet.com/forums/deal-discussion/1518043/
“My neighbor filed [suit] several months ago. MS gave them $1000 just to be done with it.”

====
Even though I’m on Win 7 and not interested in moving to Win 10, last week I decided personally to be on a “DefCon 0” even for the as-of-the-first-week-of-August Win 7 updates — risk just seems to be in the air, so I’m going stay with my as-of-the-first-week-of-July update situation (when I was last up-to-date), and wait to see how things shake out.

=====
Thank you for all the guidance that you provide everyone!

There’s never been a greater need/value for an independent Windows expert & commentator.

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Well . . . I just finished a long meeting with my largest client. We were planning on rolling out W10-Anniversary Edition over their entire workstation inventory. We even prepped last month by reserving the free upgrades for all the W7 and W8.1 machines (which was a pain) because we wanted to wait until the AE upgrade came out – to avoid some known issues with the original 1511 public release.

Short answer, due to the removal of certain group policy features regarding MS CrapWare on the W10-Pro 14393.10 edition, and for a lack of interest on the part of my client to pay a recurring Open License fee for the Enterprise edition . . . they are canceling the entire project and sticking with the current W7/8.1 mix until at least 2020.

Per my advice.

I’ll miss the paycheck this would have generated, but from where I am sitting the W10 Pro base would generate FAR more support issues for which I don’t bill hours . . . (we back our work by contract, and with W7 that worked nicely for everyone.)

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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I’ve posted this in another thread, but for those having AU problems, you might want to check out this post.

http://www.windowscentral.com/windows10-anniversary-update-common-problems-how-fix

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I live in Portugal and I have win 10 on two computers (upgraded many months ago from 8.1 and 7). The anniversary upgrade has not arrived, although win defender has received updates since Aug 2. I have read your advice and comments, and I have a question.Should I let MS chose the time to upgrade, or should I go to a MS website and “Get anniversary upgrade now”? If I let MS choose the time it may be inconvenient for me, but it may be a more secure system, while if I choose the time it can be at my convenience, but an earlier less secure system.
What do you suggest?
Jeffrey

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I don’t recommend that people go out and download/install the Anniversary Update. If you don’t want to block it (which I recommend), it’s certainly safer to wait for it to appear in your Windows Update list.

There’s nothing in the Anniversary Update that you need right now. Nothing.

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Yep, I link to that article in my “Problems with Automatic Update” article in InfoWorld. Good work.

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I can certainly understand where you’re coming from. There are very, very valid reasons for sticking with Win7.

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Fascinating! I wonder if there are other out-of-court settlements wandering around…

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Interesting. I haven’t hit that problem….

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I have seen this stupidity for quite a while. Bug introduced quite some time before 1607.

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What stupidity/bug?

OIC. After installing an program with an EXE installer, the Start menu doesn’t recognize the programs until Explorer is restarted. That’s a crazy bug, eh?

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Thank you. I am glad you take the positive view that there will be a safe update.

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Meanwhile, over in non-FUD-land:

Should you bother? Yes, I think so. As I noted in my Windows 10 Anniversary Update review, this important update makes the best desktop operating system even better, with important new features that will benefit all users of this system. And while some will always report problems with such an update, the feedback I’ve received from readers so far has been overwhelmingly positive. That is, yes, I’ve received a few problem reports, but nothing endemic, where certain issues seem to be widespread. This was the most heavily-tested version of Windows ever created, and it looks like that transparency is paying off.
https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/75259/windows-10-tip-get-anniversary-update-immediately

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No question there’ll be fixes for the Anniversary Update – many of which should roll out this Tuesday.

As for “safe” – it depends on what you mean. As long as you accept Win 10’s limitations (http://www.infoworld.com/article/2972298/microsoft-windows/10-reasons-you-shouldnt-upgrade-to-windows-10.html), the upgrade will certainly be safer by the end of this week.

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It’ll be interesting to see what fixes appear on Tuesday, both to 10586 and 14393.

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Hmmmm … Microsoft Shortens Recovery Rollback Period to 10 Days in Windows 10 Anniversary Update

http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/microsoft-shortens-recovery-rollback-period-10-days-windows-10-anniversary-update

“Based on our user research, we noticed most users who choose to go back to a previous version of Windows do it within the first several days. As such, we changed the setting to 10 days to free storage space used by previous copies.”

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10586? Surely the version before Aug 2 was 10586, and version after will be 1607. The numbering system seems confusing.

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When M$FT came out with win10, I ordered a new system. It had a video card with a new connection that I had never seen before. I still don’t know the “official” name, but it looks something like a sata drive connector, with the little “L”.

I have two monitors, my right, primary monitor, is a 24″ portrait monitor with a standard connector, and my left, secondary monitor is a 27″ landscape monitor with the new connector. After the upgrade was complete, my left monitor was not recognized AT ALL, and my right monitor would ONLY allow horizontal positioning.

The new update obviously didn’t even recognize this new connection type. Fortunately, the video card had an HDMI connector, and that worked on my secondary monitor, and then my primary monitor was able to display in portrait mode.

It would be interesting to hear from someone who knows what I’m talking about better than I do…

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I think we’ll see big updates for both 10586 (version 1511) and 14393 (version 1607), both with major pieces devoted to smoothing the transition from one to the other..

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Yep, I covered that at the beginning of http://www.infoworld.com/article/3104389/microsoft-windows/the-case-against-windows-10-anniversary-update-grows.html. Richard’s report has now been demonstrated to be true. http://www.computerworld.com/article/3104927/microsoft-windows/microsoft-reduces-windows-10-roll-back-grace-period.html

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I think the term you were looking for was “paid luminaries”. Or maybe “space ranger”.

-Noel

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Microsoft would have to be directed to pay, what, the price of a past Windows release to every man, woman, and child in the US in order or them to even begin to take notice.

And yet, somehow, that amount doesn’t seem to begin to cover the time spent in trying to find the good in Windows 10, then the pain and suffering of realizing the golden age of computing is being crumpled up and discarded, now does it?

No, Microsoft, your ad delivery, profit skimming platform is not valuable. You don’t get to call it valuable without actually advancing the state of the art.

-Noel

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Ok, thanks Woody.

I hope people stuck with these problems benefit from some of those tips. Cheers.

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Classic Shell doesn’t do that. It makes new entries available for selection from the menus right away.

Why does the new technology have to be brain dead compared to what was already working? Who said that’s acceptable or normal?

Tell me again why we should want the new Start Menu?

-Noel

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>This was the most heavily-tested version of Windows ever created

You’re kidding, right?

Tested by whom?

Do you actually think the dabbling by pre-release testers could possibly substitute for months of System Verification Testing done by a professional team at Microsoft?

If so, why do you think that?

-Noel

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With millions of beta-testers, according to MS, how can they keep missing all these bugs?

Or are these bugs reported, but MS just doesn’t have the resources to fix them anymore, after firing 10,000s of programmers?

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All of Win10’s failings reinforce the truth of the old adage – “You get what you pay for.”

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“You get what you pay for.”

Win10 Home/Pro will wind up costing Users far more than $$$$.

“…Instead where Microsoft will recover it’s lost Windows 10 income is through a much less popular route: Control.

The reason Microsoft is hardlining Windows 10 upgrades for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users …. is the new operating system gives the company control over its users like never before.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2016/04/29/free-windows-10-cost-expensive-secret/#66fcb99f403f

JF

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I would take Kelly’s article with a heaping helping of salt. Yep, Win10 AU does have many hooks no previous version of Windows had. But turning that into a route for world domination is a bit over the top.

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Beware the temptation to summarize the other guy’s work to your own benefit. This seemed utterly factual to me:

“Using default settings (the norm for most mainstream customers) gives Windows 10 an incredible amount of user data (anonymised though invaluable) and absolute control over updates and the installation of new features and services. What’s more, by being ‘free’, Microsoft clearly feels more entitled to use Windows 10 to push users towards its own products.”

As did all of what followed.

World domination? Nah. Trying to extract money out of dying franchise, yeah.

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“Beware the temptation to summarize the other guy’s work to your own benefit. This seemed utterly factual to me:”

‘Just the facts maam.’
JF

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I surely miss Pismo Beach clams…

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Me too. Number 714 on the menu?
BG

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Amen, well said.

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the update downloaded and is asking me to restart, is there a way to still block it following your steps in your part 2 of the blog?

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Very good question, and I don’t have a definitive answer. Let’s see if anyone else reading this thread knows.

(If all else fails, you can let it install, then immediately revert back to 1511.)

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@b:

I hate to say it, but Thurrott has always been wildly overoptimistic. When he has actually said a Microsoft policy is bad, it usually means it’s really bad, like pushing all of us to Windows 10.

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/63966/windows-10-tip-just-say-no-to-get-windows-10-on-windows-78-1

That’s the only article I remember being negative in the past six months. Now I’m not saying positive is bad. What I’m saying is that “objective is *good*”. I don’t want an optimist. I don’t want a pessimist. I want a realist. I’m quite happy with the job Woody does; between he, Susan Bradley, and others, I benefit from his raising the awareness flag.

Paul provides me useful information…but his ability to provide constructive criticism to a company whose products benefit his career has never really been something I have seen.

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You have to take into account the fact that Paul’s coming at this from a different point of view than you or I. His POV is quite valid, and tends to be (usually, but not always) pro-Microsoft. I believe mine’s valid too but I’m more pro-customer.

That’s great. That’s what makes a horse race, and gives folks something to think about.

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I installed the 1607 update on a 1507 LTSB VM using a 1607 LTSB ISO. I then installed the KB3176495 update which updated Windows 10 build to 14393.51.

The “icon text left-justified” problem that I noted before still persists. Apparently Microsoft is already aware of this problem but it is not clear if it will be corrected, ever.

By the way, I checked the privacy settings after the update and found that some of them were turned back on. I am quite certain I had them all turned off before the update.

I hate all of this.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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Oh, by the way, I also noticed that after the update, a primary partition of 450MB was created on the disk.

Originally the disk contains a single 32GB partition occupying the whole disk in MBR format. After the update, the size of the original partition was decreased by 450MB and another 450MB primary partition was created on the disk.

I have absolutely no idea why Microsoft thought it was necessary to do this. If the original disk already contained 4 primary partitions in the MBR format, I wonder what the update will do to it!

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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That’s a known bug. See

https://www.askwoody.com/2016/i-recommend-that-you-actively-block-the-windows-10-anniversary-update/comment-page-1/#comment-94727

You can safely delete it, but you might want to go onto the MS Answers Forum and complain, or post something on the Feedback Hub.

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Microsoft’s changing all sorts of settings. they promise they’ll fix it – but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

The icon text spacing, though – I’m sure they’ll fix that. I think. It’s still left justified in the first RS2 beta build, 14901.

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By default, if you install Windows using media created from Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD), you’ll get a dedicated WinRE tools partition on both UEFI and BIOS-based devices, located immediately after the Windows partition. This allows Windows to replace and resize the partition as needed.
See https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/commercialize/manufacture/desktop/windows-recovery-environment–windows-re–technical-reference

Here is my systems’s partition lay out:
System Reserved|Simple|Basic|NTFS|Healthy (System,Active,Primary Partition) | 100 MB| 67 MB| 67%
(C:) |Simple|Basic|NTFS|Healthy (Boot,PageFile,Crash Dump,Primary Partition)|232.29 GB|121.80 GB| 52%
|Simple|Basic| |Healthy (Recovery Partition) | 450 MB| 450 MB|100%

After you delete the recovery partition, you will be unable to create a System Repair Disc. Checking the “Back up system files to the recovery drive” option while creating a Recovery Drive will fail. Also “reagentc /enable” will fail.

See https://www.winhelp.us/restore-windows-re.html

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Thank you for your information. However….

When I install Windows 10 in the VM, I created only one primary partition on purpose and do not allow even the “System Reserved” partition. Why did Microsoft decide to mess with the partitions on the disk?

I don’t need or want a recovery partition, and I don’t want Microsoft creating such a thing during an OS update without my permission. Fair enough?

What if the system disk contains other partitions like Linux or other MBR primary partitions containing other versions of Windows? Will the OS update decide to remove or erase them? May be that is what happens when some people say the Anniversary update deleted their Linux partitions!

For me this “bug” is simply unacceptable.

Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

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