Monday, October 8th 2018

Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update

Updated by
W1zzard
 Discuss (97 Comments)
Over the weekend Microsoft has stopped delivery of their latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Build 1809). Many user reported serious issues with the new version, with the biggest problem being the deletion of files in "My Documents". Some users have reportedly lost hundreds of Gigabytes of data, containing decades of their life's work. Another scary experience was that in an enterprise environment, where "My Documents" was mounted from a server, with shared subfolders, the update erased all the documents on the network server. Let's hope the affected people have backups. Reportedly copies on OneDrive aren't affected.

Other users are having issues with drivers not installing properly, or the system crashing during a driver install. Another Microsoft bulletin goes into detail that using an Intel Audio Device with the new update "may result in excessive processor demand and reduced battery lifemay result in excessive processor demand and reduced battery life".
Microsoft has issued the following statement:

"We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809)* for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.

If you have manually checked for updates and believe you have an issue with missing files after an update, please minimize your use of the affected device and contact us directly at +1-800-MICROSOFT, or find a local number in your area https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4051701/global-customer-service-phone-numbers. Alternatively use a different device to contact us at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/ (link will vary according to country of origin).

If you have manually downloaded the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installation media, please don't install it and wait until new media is available.

We will provide an update when we resume rolling out the Windows 10 October 2018 Update to customers."

Update 08:33 UTC:
Apparently Microsoft support is able to help with file recovery, and urges you to contact them via phone.

Microsoft's 1st level support will just tell you to run System Restore which relies on a restore point being created prior to the upgrade. Creating a restore point before upgrade is the default behavior, so it looks like if you have a restore point, you're good to go.

If that doesn't work out, then 2nd level support will request to remotely login to your system, where they can run some sort of file recovery tool (similar to GetDataBack NTFS). The underlying reason why this can work is that when a file is deleted, only its entry in the filesystem directory is deleted, not the actual file data itself. So, as long as the data blocks haven't been overwritten by some new data, it's possible to recover the files. That's exactly the reason why Microsoft recommends to stop using affected systems.
Sources: Microsoft, User who lost 220 GB, Intel Audio issue with Update, Reddit user on MS Recovery Procedure

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97 Comments on Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update

#51
Konceptz
Installed 1809 on my work laptop (intel based), home desktop (AMD based).

Work laptop: Blue screens every so often (still investigating)
Home Desktop: No issues, however dark mode only applies to the settings screens and not windows explorer too as on the work laptop.

I'll update as I have more time to troubleshoot.
Posted on Reply
#53
lexluthermiester
This problem and many others are the reason I disable the update process complete and only install major releases after they have been in the wild for at least 12 months and have been tested/vetted. People keep saying it's not safe, but it's more safe than this nonsense.
Posted on Reply
#54
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
StrayKATI'd blame not just MS, but the QA/testers. What are they even doing? edit: Or at least the people who moderate their suggestions.
There are very few left at MS. They were excess to their business plan. No joking there.
Posted on Reply
#55
Vayra86
lexluthermiesterThis problem and many others are the reason I disable the update process complete and only install major releases after they have been in the wild for at least 12 months and have been tested/vetted. People keep saying it's not safe, but it's more safe than this nonsense.
Traffic isn't safe either, yet we're still here.

Life is all about risk management :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#56
StrayKAT
rtwjunkieThere are very few left at MS. They were excess to their business plan. No joking there.
Well, that's pretty stupid. Especially with this whole "Windows as a service" thing.
Posted on Reply
#57
R-T-B
lexluthermiesterThis problem and many others are the reason I disable the update process complete and only install major releases after they have been in the wild for at least 12 months and have been tested/vetted. People keep saying it's not safe, but it's more safe than this nonsense.
I meant to reply to you in that other thread but here it is more on topic.

I actually agree with this policy provided end users are educated. I thought earlier you were implying you endorsed no updates at all. My apologies.
Posted on Reply
#58
lexluthermiester
rtwjunkieThere are very few left at MS. They were excess to their business plan. No joking there.
True statement. Microsoft did a ton of layoffs to outsource to cheaper countries. It has had a very negative effect on their QA.
Vayra86Traffic isn't safe either, yet we're still here. Life is all about risk management :laugh:
Fair point. Where PC's are concerned I prefer to yield on the side caution.
R-T-BI actually agree with this policy provided end users are educated. I thought earlier you were implying you endorsed no updates at all. My apologies.
No worries. I could have been more clear on that point.
Posted on Reply
#59
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
rtwjunkieThere are very few left at MS. They were excess to their business plan. No joking there.
Yep, they laid off most of their testing team back in the Windows 8 days. They've made it pretty obvious that they are instead using the early adopter users as testers instead.
lexluthermiesterThis problem and many others are the reason I disable the update process complete and only install major releases after they have been in the wild for at least 12 months and have been tested/vetted. People keep saying it's not safe, but it's more safe than this nonsense.
I see no reason to completely disable updates. They give you the option to automatically defer the major feature updates for upto a year, while still getting the security updates. Completely disabling the updates means you are missing out on important security updates.
Posted on Reply
#60
StrayKAT
newtekie1Yep, they laid off most of their testing team back in the Windows 8 days. They've made it pretty obvious that they are instead using the early adopter users as testers instead.



I see no reason to completely disable updates. They give you the option to automatically defer the major feature updates for upto a year, while still getting the security updates. Completely disabling the updates means you are missing out on important security updates.
Well, if that's the case, they need to listen to them. Because I'm sure some pointed out these bugs.
Posted on Reply
#61
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
StrayKATWell, if that's the case, they need to listen to them. Because I'm sure some pointed out these bugs.
They did listen to them. The early adopters got hit with the bug, reported it, and Microsoft pulled the update.
Posted on Reply
#62
StrayKAT
newtekie1They did listen to them. The early adopters got hit with the bug, reported it, and Microsoft pulled the update.
lol.. By early adopters, I thought you meant the slow/fast ring stuff. Not actual releases. That's kind of crazy.
Posted on Reply
#63
lexluthermiester
newtekie1They did listen to them. The early adopters got hit with the bug, reported it, and Microsoft pulled the update.
StrayKATlol.. By early adopters, I thought you meant the slow/fast ring stuff. Not actual releases. That's kind of crazy.
But this illustrates the exact problem. These issues should have been discovered in a testing phase of the update. But because they don't do much testing any more and rely on the public to be it's beta testers, people have to suffer so Microsoft can save money not having to do it's due diligence.
Posted on Reply
#64
StrayKAT
lexluthermiesterBut this illustrates the exact problem. These issues should have been discovered in a testing phase of the update. But because they don't do much testing any more and rely on the public to be it's beta testers, people have to suffer so Microsoft can save money not having to do it's due diligence.
Well, I hope this a wake up call for them. Microsoft isn't dominant as they were, but yet they're still pretty dominant. No reason for them to be penny pinching.
Posted on Reply
#65
Salty_sandwich
well if your going to manually update or upgrade your O/S and it even warns you to back up before hand and don't do a back up! the only person to be angry with (no matter what you lose) is yourself for your own failings lol sorry.
Posted on Reply
#66
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
newtekie1Yep, they laid off most of their testing team back in the Windows 8 days. They've made it pretty obvious that they are instead using the early adopter users as testers instead.
There is a reason why I call Windows 10 a perpetual beta release. Once things have been shored up, it's fine but, I feel like they've become far too reliant on their users to find problems. This isn't something you should have to do for software that you paid for. If it's something like Linux, fine. It's not like I paid money for it and it's not like I'm paying anyone for support, but when I pay for software, I expect support for some duration of time and that means not using me as a beta tester unless I explicitly opt into it. Now, I know that you can do that with Windows but, their GA releases need to be more stable than they are right now.

The sad reality is that hearing about things like this pushes me away from giving Windows a try again. It would have been a prime opportunity too since I got this swanky new NVMe drive that still needs to get utilized, but it's feeling more like I'm just going to be crafting a fancy /etc/fstab file instead. :ohwell:
Posted on Reply
#67
Divide Overflow
There's a lot of uncertainty to this. I'm hoping that Microsoft will be forthcoming with the circumstances that involve problems.
I applied the update, now wondering if I need to go back and compare documents with a backup to see if anything was removed / deleted.
Posted on Reply
#68
Bluescreendeath
Don't you love it when you pay $100-$200 for an Operating System just so Microsoft can beam advertisements directly into your computer, annoy you with forced updates, and then occasionally messes up your files with botched updates? Everybody not running the Enterprise/Enterprise LTSB versions are basically just beta testers.
Posted on Reply
#69
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
Well, my delayed time came due today for 1803. First upgrade failed by being stuck at 84%. So I downloaded Media Creation Tool in case I have to do a clean install.

Now I’m using it to do an update, see if I get different results than Windows Update. This is not how I want to spend my day off. :shadedshu:

I understand clean install is the best way, but I shouldn’t have to do a clean install every 6 months or a year, and then spend a week getting my settings like I want and reinstalling a basically heavy load of programs.

If this doesn’t work, I may take the spare 8.1 I have and go to that, leaving 10 behind, because W8.1 doesn’t have this monstrous massive OS update. Updates just work on it like they should.
Posted on Reply
#70
R-T-B
rtwjunkieWell, my delayed time came due today for 1803. First upgrade failed by being stuck at 84%. So I downloaded Media Creation Tool in case I have to do a clean install.

Now I’m using it to do an update, see if I get different results than Windows Update. This is not how I want to spend my day off. :shadedshu:

I understand clean install is the best way, but I shouldn’t have to do a clean install every 6 months or a year, and then spend a week getting my settings like I want and reinstalling a basically heavy load of programs.

If this doesn’t work, I may take the spare 8.1 I have and go to that, leaving 10 behind, because W8.1 doesn’t have this monstrous massive OS update. Updates just work on it like they should.
I mean, isn't the update pulled from all channels at the moment? Or did I miss something? How are you making media today?

EDIT: Oh, 1803. Woosh!
Posted on Reply
#71
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
R-T-BI mean, isn't the update pulled from all channels at the moment? Or did I miss something? How are you making media today?

EDIT: Oh, 1803. Woosh!
Yeah, 1803 is still available. Between the business channel delay, and the extra time I select, I end up about a year between upgrades.
Posted on Reply
#72
lexluthermiester
@rtwjunkie
Man I feel for you. I have to fix crap like this all the time. It's why I live and swear by the ethic I do. Windows Update has been like this since the XP days. In many ways it's gotten worse. Microsoft needs to slow things down and focus on stability instead of making themselves look like a bunch of monkeys diddling a football.
Posted on Reply
#73
Splinterdog
All the ISOs I've downloaded through Media Creation Tool recently have been 1803.
@rtwjunkie have you had a any problems running the tool? For me, it gets to the end preparing the pen drive and then comes up with an error, no matter which machine I use.
Posted on Reply
#74
rtwjunkie
PC Gaming Enthusiast
SplinterdogAll the ISOs I've downloaded through Media Creation Tool recently have been 1803.
@rtwjunkie have you had a any problems running the tool? For me, it gets to the end preparing the pen drive and then comes up with an error, no matter which machine I use.
No, no trouble creating the bootable usb drive.
Posted on Reply
#75
XiGMAKiD
This is why postponing update is important, set mine to 3 months
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