• Patch Lady – 1803 getting offered up to Semi Annual

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    #194120

    I have personally seen several credible reports of 1803 being offered up to folks that have Windows 10 pro, and have the updating deferral set to the
    [See the full post at: Patch Lady – 1803 getting offered up to Semi Annual]

    Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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    • #194128

      This may not be just windows. Monday our WSUS server was showing my office 365 users had installed semi-annual targeted updates. We are set for semi annual only, not targeted.

      Red Ruffnsore

      1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194129

      I’ve moved past the point where I consider Windows updates to be malware. While the intent may not be malicious, the approach certainly is and the quality control is non-existent. They keep making the same “mistakes” over and over. There are only two explanations for that. Either it’s intentional or it’s incompetence, neither of which is good for customers.

      Lately, I’ve been using Winaero Tweaker to shut down the update service and prevent any of this until either you or Woody give the OK to let this junk through.

      Group "L": Linux Mint dual-booting Windows 10 Pro.

      5 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194145

      I’ve lost count how many time that the deferral process has not held.

      I also remember that I said here that I was going to give Microsoft one more time to get it right.

      Guess, there will still come one more time – again and again – so you should probably copy-paste that sentence to a text file for easy future use!

      <big sigh>

      Might just as well copy that one too… 😀

      But what happens, when you run out of patience?

      Or do you see Microsoft is like having children? “I’ll only say this one more time!” for the umpteenth time… and still nothing happens.

      5 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194140

      Two questions:  is 1803 being  “offered” – or  forced ?  Offered usually implies choice, is there a choice to make or is it  “forced”  onto the  ‘Semi Annual Channel’  ( not  SAC-Targeted ).  Also, question #2:  is the  ‘Check for Updates’  button still a  “Seeker”  (sucker)  button like the red X in GWX that gives us 1803 when we  ” Check for Updates ” ?    Thank you.

    • #194149

      I’m wondering whether these people have telemetry disabled, or what level they have it set at. The reason I bring this up is because of the machines that were upgraded to 1709 in the past, and MS’ excuse was that they had telemetry restricted or disabled.
      https://www.computerworld.com/article/3261570/microsoft-windows/microsoft-forces-win10-1709-upgrades-on-pcs-set-to-restrict-telemetry.html
      https://www.computerworld.com/article/3261969/microsoft-windows/microsoft-again-forced-upgrades-on-win10-machines-specifically-set-to-block-updates.html

      It doesn’t excuse the behavior, but, just something I thought to bring up.
      I’m still basically riding out Win10 only because I’m still in control of my machines so far, and, the tires haven’t fallen off yet. Once any one of my machines does something without my consent, that’s it, and they’re getting reimaged back to 7. I loved 1703 and I’ve had no issues yet with 1709…my machines are stable and they behave. I’m definitely “praying they [MS] don’t alter the deal any further”.

      8 users thanked author for this post.
      • #194155

        Correct – the GPO for controlling feature upgrades states the following:

        “Note: If the “Allow Telemetry” policy is set to 0, this policy will have no effect.”

        4 users thanked author for this post.
        • #194203

          Try this one. In the Group Policy Editor, go to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update. Find the setting “Configure Automatic Updates” and set it to “Enabled” and select option 2 – “Notify for download and auto install” in the dropdown box.

          You can also set it to Disabled. The note accompanying this setting says, “If the status for this policy is set to Disabled, any updates that are available on Windows Update must be downloaded and installed manually. To do this, search for Windows Update using Start.”

          This setting seems to work pretty well. I haven’t had any problems with unauthorized updates although, with 1803 being forced, I’ve resorted to using Winaero Tweaker to turn off the windows update service for the time being.

          Group "L": Linux Mint dual-booting Windows 10 Pro.

          2 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194156

      Great post, and an even better link to the Q&A.

      Based upon the answers received from MS, I do not see any improvement on the horizon. MS and their minions believe their Titanic is unsinkable, so with religious zeal, it is full speed ahead.

      I believe the only thing that will create any change in posture is to get this situation out of the tech press and into a national, respected publication with a non-technical, well researched, and sourced article that includes some technical sidebars. It would need to have Enterprise input (hopefully on the record).

      For instance what are the costs to a business of warrantee services (both as a user of failed devices, and if they are a servicer of such devices), IT resources, and HR responses to having machines down, losing productivity, and people worrying about when they will be able to resume work, etc. It could also cover, but not focus on, the individual and home user who does not have IT support. However, it must be careful not to be get into the weeds of consumer focus, but remain organization or enterprise focused.

      One such publication that comes to my mind that could pull this off and have the right audience is the Wall Street Journal.

      Again, thanks to the Patch Lady, Susan Bradley for this posting.

      4 users thanked author for this post.
      • #194180

        I think it’s more likely that Microsoft realizes how vulnerable they are right now.  The whole tablet phenomenon took off and now they’re stuck with an operating system that’s more complex and resource heavy than current-gen mobile devices (Android/iOS), less trendy and secure than their competitors on last-gen mobile devices (Laptops, Apple), and much less secure or robust than their competition on servers (Linux).  The one clear winner they’re still holding onto is compatibility and User Experience.

        They’re trying to pull an Apple and start a new system where they can maintain total control over their own ecosystem.  Unfortunately in doing that they’re destroying their compatibility.  They want to expand out into being on all devices but that requires compromising their user experience, and eventually either their codebase or the device itself.  Microsoft realizes security is important but they expect that all corporations will just fall in line and work happily within their new walled garden.  This is killing off the business in their strongest segment.

        The ideas Microsoft is trying to follow are all good, the problem is that they can’t do them all with what they currently have.  Ubuntu Unity is a good example of what the outcome of this will be: Unity was just cancelled this year.

        3 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194160

      Patch Lady,

      Sorry, my apologies for being off topic, but given the onslaught of 1803 and other Windows 10 issues I have, after asking a question three times already elsewhere slightly more appropriate without getting an answer, got to this point. So this is my question:

      Why in the Master Patch List have the Win 7 May security only and IE 11 updates listed there, in the column of “Issues being tracked” the comment “None at this time”, when some troubling issues have been mentioned elsewhere by Woody and others in earlier discussions?

      Given the onslaught of  non-Win 7 issues, I follow the Master Patch List, not the Defcon, which is largely determined these days by the Win 10 multitude of woes, to figure out when, after a prudent wait of more than two weeks without finding recent bad news there, to shout “Geronimo!” and go ahead and patch.

      So… what do you say?

      Group B, Win 7 Pro SP1 x64, Intel I-7 “sandy bridge”.

       

      Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

      MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
      Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
      macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

      • #194168

        Please keep in mind the enormity of the task. Patch Lady’s master patchlist is a volunteer effort, and it draws on observations from all over the web. Microsoft’s making the big bucks. We’re just trying to sweep up the offal.

        Better to light a single candle than to curse… whatever… if you see something that should specifically be changed, post it here (with links, if need be) to make Susan’s job easier!

        10 users thanked author for this post.
        • #194205

          Woody,

          Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate the pressure of other work on the PL and everyone helping out here people like me.

          I was referring to postings made in new topics initiated, some time ago, by someone using your Woody’s pseudonym.

           

          Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

          MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
          Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
          macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

      • #194175

         


        Me being lame and paying more attention to the 1803 issues.  I’ll fix it and thanks!!

        It’s also called getting old 😉

         

        Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

        6 users thanked author for this post.
        • #194176

          P.S. at the top of each OS I’ve put my overall yea or nay on patching.

          Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

          2 users thanked author for this post.
          • #194188

            Hi, could you also “yea or nay” April’s 4093105 patch which still reads “Too early just released”

        • #194204

          Patch Lady,

          I have been wondering for a while who of the two persons shown in the photo in your Visual Textbox is you. Am I guessing right you are not that fresh-faced pretty young thing?

           

           

          Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

          MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
          Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
          macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

          1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194161

      Add me to the list. I had Win10 Pro 32-bit on 1709 with deferral set in group policy, but still got updated. Deferrals are working on other, 64-bit machines in the same domain. Pretty sure I left telemetry at default for all.

      I wondered if I could go back in some logs to figure out why it decided an upgrade was okay. MS partner support send me a list from MS China of about 20 log files to check:

      https://support.microsoft.com/zh-cn/help/928901/log-files-that-are-created-when-you-upgrade-to-a-new-version-of-window

      I’d like to understand patching better but I’m not sure I can spend the time to dig through all that, especially since I have doubts about actually finding the root cause.

    • #194186

      I disable the Windows Update service and set it’s logon account to Guest with a bogus password (plus my Guest account is disabled anyway, but that should not be relevant). Then if some MS app or another service tries to start Windows Update, it won’t start. When I decide to install updates, I run a script that uses sc.exe to change the service back to normal and start it.

      2 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194209

      Big Thanks to Susan & Woody for putting this problem out front… Again. I think what I’m fed up with is Not instability in Win10 versions; I trust Loungers here when they say a version is stable & working. I’m fed up with Microsoft forcing changes on people based on what Nadella & co. want, not based on what users want. By “users”, I include Enterprise techs as well as consumers. Also, declaring the OS works 1 way, then circumventing that chaps my butt. The “telemetry disabled” scam goes hand in hand, since users can only “control” updates if telemetry AKA spying is enabled. As Woody’s article documented, Version 1703 was forced upgraded Three Times to 1709, & the same nightmare seems to be happening again. I’m only a “lowly” Windows 8.1 Home user, but if I can’t trust that Windows 10 Pro (in S Mode or not) will perform as Microsoft promises, why should I pay $99 more to upgrade to it?! BTW, I don’t want to jinx Windows 7 & 8.1 users, but if Win10 users are having these issues, it’s only a matter of time before…

      Bought a refurbished Windows 10 64-bit, currently updated to 22H2. Have broke the AC adapter cord going to the 8.1 machine, but before that, coaxed it into charging. Need to buy new adapter if wish to continue using it.
      Wild Bill Rides Again...

      2 users thanked author for this post.
    • #194225

      I don’t want to jinx Windows 7 & 8.1 users, but if Win10 users are having these issues, it’s only a matter of time before…

      Before we don’t use Windows anymore, or Nadella and Co. are shown the door and someone else comes in to do some real and useful work over at Redmond?

      WildBill: Hope springs eternal.

       

      Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

      MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
      Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
      macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

    • #194272

      Semi Annual Targeted (Previously Current Branch) vs Semi Annual Channel (Previously Current Branch for Business)? Just another set of terminologies designed to confuse the users.

      The problem now is, even if you are on Windows 10 Pro, and even if you have the appropriate deferral commands set, it is up to Microsoft to honour these settings. If Microsoft decides not to honour these settings, either by “accident” or by “intention”, your Windows 10 Pro machines will be force “upgraded” and you can’t stop it (without using wushowhide anyway).

      Microsoft has done this three times before, and the evidence points to Microsoft continuing to do so in the future. Which is probably one reason why the person who asked the confidence question said :

      Many of my colleagues that I network with in the industry have ignored Microsoft’s advice to not roll out LTSB as their standard build, this due to the many quality issues that come with the SaaS model of a new release every 6 months or so.

      as the LTSB build will not suffer from these repeated upgrade requests (and still works with Windows applications, and with a 10 year support period to boot), requests that each time come with the possibility of causing havoc on the computers “upgraded”.

      I have said myself before that if I am compelled to use Windows 10 in the future (and I anticipate having to run it on at least some of my systems) then it will be LTSB (LTSC in the future) only. I certainly won’t want continuous “Feature Updates” that bring nothing beneficial to my workflow and which may bring endless problems.

      Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst.

      1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194276

      Well, according to SFC my Windows 10 v1709 build 16299.461 installation in my VM has (again) corrupted itself, and none of the typical repair mechanisms fix it. I barely use this VM for anything. I don’t think it’s too much to hope that an operating system shouldn’t make itself unserviceable.

      I’m sure Microsoft would say that v1803 is here to save the day, and point out that if it were to be “accidentally” installed it would fix this issue handily. Until the next time.

      This constant self-corruption sure makes me weary, especially since we could see it coming SO long ago from SO far away…

      -Noel

      1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194277

      I’ve always had the “pro” version since XP, because I wanted the same system at home as what I used at work.

      I wound up updating to Win 8 -> 8.1 Pro even though work was still on Win 7 in order to get myself squared away until 2023.   The Classic startmenu has made that workable.

      I simply decided I don’t have the time or energy to oppose Microsoft.  This adversarial relationship that Microsoft decided should exist between Microsoft and their consumer base, which increasingly includes the “pro” users that have Win 10 that results in them being beta testers for enterprise users was something I need to avoid.

      Yesterday, I needed my computer to deal with some money issues (about $30,000).  I don’t need to be fighting some upgrade that causes my computer to fail to boot.   So, the upgrade to Win 8.0 cost me money, but the freebee to Win 10 likely would cost me money, since time is money for me.

      2 users thanked author for this post.
      • #194368

        Anonymous, woody, Noel, et.al., I had said this and I believe even more now that windows 10 was put out as free for the home user to be the beta tester for the business user. I remember years ago that this was seemingly mentioned. I think woody had a hard time getting an answer on how long is a device’s life is for the windows 10 support and warranty. It was finally divulged that 2 to 4 years is the normal life of a product. So after 4 years if end of life happens, Microsoft does not have to support that device with windows 10.

        The whole purpose of giving an OS away for free, when it had been a closed, paid for OS is to have the free users be the beta testers and the paid enterprise users be the real customers.

        Remember in many cases a free product has ads, or some way to get worth from the end user such as telemetry or “spying”.

        Windows 10 home users, the bottom of the windows 10 barrel, are the actual beta testers of windows 10. The paid enterprise users are the true customer. Windows 10 Pro users are somewhere in between.

         

        1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194341

      Susan, I went to the Microsoft link that you included. It is amazing the “groupspeak” that the Microsoft people put for answers. Makes you wonder if Microsoft provides free Kool-Aid to their employees at their Redmond offices.

      Group "L" (Linux Mint)
      with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server
      • #194435

        The paper cups are preprinted with the bafflegab word for the day, and a scanable link to a complete usage guide.

        1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194470

      You and others are having to deal with this issue again, it must be causing some migraine headaches. It will happen again… The continual misbehavior/abuse from Microsoft is no surprise; The EULA says they will apply updates to Windows, but not all the (possibly) dirty methods they’ll use.

    • #194737

      Current News for WUMT = Windows Update MintTool users as of 26May2018, the creator of the WUMT Wrapper Script (pf100) has updated his program to version 2.3.1 and is now both Portable and now includes an Installer to simplify operation. There is a 22 page discussion on the MyDigitalLife forums with a history of development, scroll to bottom of page 22 for current history.

      https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/wumt-wrapper-script-controls-windows-update-service.72203/page-22

      A current download of version 2.3.1 is available at the Major Geeks website, note date:

      http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/wumt_wrapper_script.html

      This may be what is needed to control Windows Updates.

      1 user thanked author for this post.
      • #194919

        Important update for WUMT Wrapper Script users, the author pf100 (MDL Addicted) had a bug in newly released version 2.3.1, and has fixed it in version 2.3.2. Windows Update MiniTool Wrapper Script has been in developement for quite awhile, and as Microsoft changes their updating strategies = Forced Updates, developers have to keep changing also. Below is copy and paste from latest author notice:

        If you installed version 2.3.1, install v2.3.2 immediately or you can’t update! Sorry about that!
        May 27, 2018
        WUMT Wrapper Script 2.3.2 portable and installer.
        Delete your previous script folder contents and shortcuts and install using the installer or manually put the files in a folder since some file names have changed since version 2.3.0
        To uninstall completely only use the uninstall shortcut in the start menu, or run Uninstaller.cmd in the script folder.
        Changelog since 2.3.1:
        Improved installer.
        Fixed serious bug with Windows Update not opening in Settings App.
        Disabling usocore.dll in 2.3.1 was the problem.
        v2.3.2 re-enables usocore.dll and leaves it enabled.

        Developement discussion now has 23 pages, please review to stay current:

        https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/wumt-wrapper-script-controls-windows-update-service.72203/page-23

        Hope this helps.

        1 user thanked author for this post.
    • #194853

      Saw it here too, very worrying. Dont trust Microsoft at all anymore. Who owns my computers actually?

      • #195084

        I have loaded Linux Ubuntu to get away from Win 10 all together. 1709 completely trashed my computer, and when I did get it up and running, it was so slow I couldn’t handle it. I reverted it back to the previous version. Then the forced updates kept coming.

        I still use Win 10, but I unplug my cable before booting up to stop the updates. I sure hope they get this figured out or I’m getting a Mac this summer.

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