Newsletter Archives

• The Win10 1903 upgrade is now blocked on machines using older Intel Rapid Storage Technology drivers

  Posted on July 26, 2019 at 08:16 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  UPDATE: Comments and new material have been moved here.

  It’s official Win10 version 1903 doesn’t like Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) drivers numbered between 15.1.0.1002 and 15.5.2.1053. If your machine has an older “Optane” driver — Fred Langa has a warning and analysis — you need to make sure that it’s updated to the latest version before trying to move to Win10 version 1903.

  Of course you aren’t going to jump into 1903 just yet, right? But it’s good that Microsoft is winnowing out these persistent problems. Kind of like, you know, a beta test should.

  From KB 4514156:

  If you are trying to update to the Windows 10 May 2019 Feature Update (Windows 10, version 1903), you may encounter an update compatibility hold and receive the message, “Intel Rapid Storage Technology (Intel RST): The inbox storage driver iastora.sys doesn’t work on these systems and causes stability problems on Windows. Check with your software/driver provider for an updated version that runs on this version of Windows.”

  Intel and Microsoft have found incompatibility issues with certain versions of the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) drivers and the Windows 10 May 2019 Update.  If your device has an Intel® RST driver version between 15.1.0.1002 and 15.5.2.1053 installed, it cannot install the May 2019 Update.

  Versions 15.5.2.1054 or later are compatible, and a device that has these drivers installed can install the Windows 10 May 2019 Update. For affected devices, the recommended version is 15.9.6.1044.

  The latest version available on the Intel site is 17.5.1.1021, which dropped on 7/10/2019 . As you can see from the version numbers, Intel seems to update this driver frequently. As a consumer, you don’t want to update the driver directly. Instead, go to your hardware manufacturer’s site and get the latest RST driver set that they offer.

  Windows News Win10 1903 rollout

• Are we seeing a kinder, gentler push to Win10 version 1903?

  Posted on July 24, 2019 at 06:16 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  The 60-day deferral for “Semi-Annual Channel” is up. We’re seeing more and more “Download and install now” notices. But I’ve heard very few complaints from people who were pushed unexpectedly onto Win10 1903.

  So far, at least.

  Details in Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Thx @zero2dash, @b, @abbodi86

  Windows Patches/Security Win10 1903 rollout

• Remember “Download and install now” – the big reason to upgrade to 1903? Yeah. Not so much.

  Posted on May 22, 2019 at 10:45 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I have high hopes for “Download and install now,” the new feature in Win10 version 1903, just out. Six weeks ago I wrote about it, saying:

  By the time Microsoft ships Win10 1903, theoretically in late May, we’re supposed to have the tools necessary to block it. At the very least, you should block it until Microsoft says it’s ready to be deployed on business machines (what used to be called “Current Branch for Business,” then the “Semi-Annual Channel” — and now it doesn’t have a name)…

  If we get what’s been promised, there’ll likely be some new traps to avoid, but life will indeed be better.

  and guess what? We have new traps to avoid.

  I’m still trying to get the “Download and install now” patch on my Win10 1809 machine. So far, no luck. But it’s being added to 1803 right now – KB 4499183 contains the new link:

  Starting with update KB4499183, we are introducing functionality that allows you to decide when to install a feature update. You control when you get a feature update while simultaneously keeping your devices up to date. Feature updates that are available for eligible devices will appear in a separate module on the Windows Update page (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update). If you would like to get an available update right away, select Download and install now.

  With the May 21 announcement, we found out when Microsoft’s going to start pushing 1903 on Win10 1803 machines:

  Starting this June, we will begin updating devices running the April 2018 Update, and earlier versions of Windows 10, to ensure we can continue to service these devices and provide the latest updates, security updates and improvements. We are starting this machine learning (ML)-based rollout process several months in advance of the end of service date to provide adequate time for a smooth update process.

  Of course, Win10 1803 and then Win10 1809 were both pushed out using new, improved machine learning rollout processes. Look at all the good it did us.

  So the short story is that, if you want to continue to use 1803 until it dies in November, you need to proactively block 1903. Microsoft will take your lack of a block as a signal that you really want 1903. And the “Download and install now” link may or may not work the way you might expect.

  Stay tuned.

  Windows News Win10 1903 rollout