Newsletter Archives

• Chasing the elusive upgrade for Win10 Pro v1803

  Posted on December 8, 2019 at 14:45 CST by PKCano • Comment in the Forums

  I have been doing some testing on my Win10 Pro v1803 machine. I wanted to see if the pulldown deferral settings in the Windows Update GUI under Advanced Settings really work.

  My Win10 Pro v1803 Windows Update Settings are as follows:
  + In the GUI, Semi Annual Channel, Feature Update deferral=365, Quality Update deferral=0, NO Pause.
  + In Group Policy under Windows Update\Configure Automatic Updates=Enabled, value=2 (notify download/install)
  + Fully up-to-date 2019-11 CU KB4525237 Build 17134,1130
  + wushowhide shows NO available updates.
  + There are no pending updates in the queue and it is reported “Up to date”.
  + There is NO “Download and install now” section/link because the updates are deferred thus not available.

  Testing:
  1. Set deferral=230 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows Feature Update 1809 (2019-1113)
  2. Set deferral=200 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows Feature Update 1809
  3. Set deferral=180 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows Feature Update 1809
  4. Set deferral=150 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows Feature Update 1809
  5. Set deferral=120 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows Feature Update 1903
  6. Returning to deferral=365 days, rebooted, wushowhide shows NO available updates.

  Observations:
  + Perhaps the 180 deferral for v1903 is too large by the 60-day one-time extension MS allowed for the change in updating (eliminating SAC (Targeted).
  + Settings between 230 days and 150 days deferral make v1809 available in wushowhide
  + A setting of 120 days deferral make v1903 available in wushowhide.
  + Returning to 365 days deferral eliminated the availability of the upgrades.
  + I did not run “Check for updates” because I did not want to do the upgrade at this time and that would have initiated the download/install.
  + Because I did not wait for the system to check for updates on its own, there were no available Feature Updates, so I did not see the “Download and install now” section.

  Conclusion: The deferrals seem to be working as expected.

  NOTE: the deferral days listed here are as of Dec. 8, 2019. If you are upgrading at a later time, add the appropriate number of days to the deferral periods going forward from 12/8/2019.

  Windows 10, Windows Patches/Security Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903, Win10 upgrade

• Microsoft to start pushing Win10 1809 customers onto 1909

  Posted on December 6, 2019 at 04:57 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Nevermind that Win10 1809 Home and Pro don’t officially hit end of service until May of next year…

  Microsoft just announced that it’s starting to push machines from Win10 1809 to version 1909.

  Current status as of December 5, 2019:

  Beginning today, we will slowly start the phased process to automatically initiate a feature update for devices running the October 2018 Update (Windows 10, version 1809) Home and Pro editions, keeping those devices supported and receiving the monthly updates that are critical to device security and ecosystem health. We are starting this rollout process several months in advance of the end of service date to provide adequate time for a smooth update process.

  I can understand a month, or maybe two. But five?

  No indication how the push will proceed. I guess you wake up one morning to find that your 1809 machine wants to reboot into 1909.

  As a service.

  Thx Bogdan Popa, Softpedia.

  Windows 10 Releases pushed upgrade, Win10 1809, Win10 1909

• Should you upgrade or stick to the MS-DEFCON rating?

  Posted on November 26, 2019 at 09:32 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I created a lot of confusion with my Computerworld post yesterday. In a nutshell, it goes through the pro’s and con’s of upgrading to versions 1809, 1903 and 1909 and, once you’ve chosen the version you want, gives detailed instructions on how to get there.

  To put this in perspective with the MS-DEFCON rating you see above…

  I published that article knowing that many of you in the US will be visiting with family and friends over the next few days. If you’re going to upgrade your Deranged Uncle Darth this year, many of you will want to get the dirty deed done while everybody else is watching football. (American football, of course – and I say that with apologies to my Sainted Aunt Martha.)

  I should’ve made clear that, if you’re concerned about bugs this month – of which there are a few, but not many – you should wait until the MS-DEFCON level goes down before you move from one version to another. (Note, in particular the fix for the Access bug hasn’t been completely rolled out.) But if you’re under some pressure to get things sorted out in the next week or so, it’s OK to upgrade now.

  Windows 10 Releases, Windows Patches/Security Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• Here’s how to control the upgrade from Win10 version 1803 or 1809

  Posted on November 25, 2019 at 12:54 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Yes, you can choose which version you want to run — 1809, 1903, or 1909.

  There are direct methods from moving from 1803 to 1809, 1903 or 1909.

  And there are direct methods from moving from 1809 to 1903 or 1909. You do have control, with either Win10 Pro or Home.

  A discussion of options and upgrade details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows 10 Releases Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903, Win10 1909

• What’s the best way to move from Win10 1803 or 1809 Home to 1903?

  Posted on November 20, 2019 at 08:07 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I just found a conversation that has me wondering if there’s a better way.

  Right now, if you have Win10 version 1803 or 1809 Home that’s been held that way with a metered connection, when you turn off the metered flag, Windows installs version 1909 Home.

  While version 1909 Home isn’t a terrible choice — I’ve heard of very few problems with 1909 that aren’t also present in 1903 — many people, quite reasonably, would rather move to 1809 or 1903.

  So… what’s the best way to:

  • Move from Win10 1803 Home to Win10 1809 Home?
  • Move from Win10 1803 or 1809 Home to Win10 1903 Home?

  Yes, if you downloaded and saved a copy of Win10 1903 (as I recommended weeks ago), moving to 1903 is easy. But what if you didn’t squirrel away a copy while it was easy?

  Yes, you can download a copy of Win10 1903 from Heidoc.net (as @PKCano suggested) and go from there. And if you have an old copy of the 1903 Media Creation Tool, MediaCreationTool1903.exe, you can use it (as @wavy confirms).

  Moving a Pro system to a specific version is easy. But what if you want to move to Home 1903 (or 1809) using Microsoft’s officially sanctioned software?

  Windows 10 Releases Win10 1803, Win10 1809, Win10 1903

• Has anybody seen an “early” notification to upgrade from 1809 to 1903?

  Posted on September 5, 2019 at 14:39 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  A friend just dropped me a note, pointing to an interesting announcement from Microsoft, dated August 29:

  Feature update install notification on Windows 10, version 1809 (the October 2018 Update)

  We’ve had reports on August 29th that some customers running Windows 10, version 1809 (the October 2018 Update) have received notification to install the latest feature update (version 1903) early. Updating remains in your control. To install the update, you must select one of the following options: “Pick a Time”, “Restart Tonight,” or “Restart Now”. If you are not ready to update at this time, simply dismiss the notification by clicking the arrow in the top right corner. If you have updated to Windows 10, version 1903 and would like to go back to your previous version, see the instructions here.

  That’s a fascinating note for all sorts of reasons. First, I don’t understand why an upgrade notification would appear “early” (or, indeed, what “early” means). Second, the instructions imply that the 1903 upgrade hasn’t been downloaded – and the method for avoiding the update is quite unlike any of the usual 1903 updates that I’ve seen.

  Anybody else see the notification? It isn’t showing up on my production 1809 machines.

  Windows 10 Releases Win10 1809, Win10 1903 upgrade

• For some, this month’s Win10 1809 cumulative update installs twice twice

  Posted on May 16, 2019 at 07:01 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft has finally acknowledged what’s been going around since Tuesday. On some machines, installing KB 4494441 — this month’s cumulative update for Win10 version 1809 — takes two tries.

  The KB article now says:

  Some customers report that KB4494441 installed twice on their device. 

  In certain situations, installing an update requires multiple download and restart steps. If two intermediate steps of the installation complete successfully, the View your Update history page will report that installation completed successfully twice.

  No action is required on your part. The update installation may take longer and may require more than one restart, but will install successfully after all intermediate installation steps have completed.

  We are working on improving this update experience to ensure the Update history correctly reflects the installation of the latest cumulative update (LCU).

  Fair enough, but it’d be nice to have an update only throw one reboot, yes?

  Who tests this stuff anyway?

  Snarky sidenote: the shiny new official Release Information page says the problem’s been Resolved.

  Thx Martin Brinkmann, ghacks.net

  Windows Patches/Security KB 4494441, Win10 1809

• Confused by the second April Win10 1809 cumulative update and the second second update? You aren’t the only one.

  Posted on May 3, 2019 at 16:34 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  On May 1, Microsoft released the second cumulative update for the April cumulative update for Win10 1809. It’s KB 4501835, and it brings Win10 1809 up to build 17763.439. As I explained at the time in Computerworld:

  Oddly, in the Microsoft Catalog, the latest [KB 4501835] cumulative update is listed as:

  2019-05 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809

  … whereas in the past, these 1809 laggards have been identified with the previous month. I would’ve expected “2019-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809.” A foolish inconsistency.

  With me so far? It’s about to get crazy (and drive @PhotM nuts).

  On May 3 (today), Microsoft released its second second cumulative update for the April cumulative update for Win10 1809. (Say that ten times real fast.) It’s KB 4495667 and it brings Win10 1809 up to build 17763.475.

  Got that?

  Sooooo… what is this new update called? Why it’s the

  2019-05 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809

  No, there’s no echo in here.

  Microsoft has apparently resolved, ahem, the discrepancy by renaming the former cumulative update

  2019-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809

  without fanfare. If you check the Microsoft Catalog listings, you’ll see that it’s been renamed.

  @rpodric had a prescient tweet on this very subject earlier this morning, after the second cumulative update and before the second second cumulative update:

  @AskWoody

  Have you ever heard why MS doesn't actually label Win10 updates as it does Win7's? Otherwise, it's not super-easy, at least for me, to tell which is what type. pic.twitter.com/ey8Fcbp3VL

  — Rick (@rpodric) May 3, 2019

  and with that I think I’m ready for a drink. Thx @PhotM, @Kirsty

  Windows Patches/Security April 2019 Black Tuesday, KB 4495667, KB 4501835, Win10 1809
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