Monday, October 8th 2018
Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update
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
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".
"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.
97 Comments on Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update
Or go back to 8.1. :p
I think its clear to say that W10 is now officially the worst MS OS in recent history, isnt these updates meant to "fix" issues and of course add new features not screw up things which it has done over and over again in the past, how many yrs has 10 been out for? like come on! this is ridicules. I wonder why im getting more and more people wanting to roll back to 7 or even 8/8.1 even on there brand new PC's because this kind of incompetence is just not exceptable in this day and age.
I don't use any third party overclocking software or overclock any of my PC's (well I have in the past overclocked but just for testing/fun, but not kept anything overclocked of any amount of time)
maybe that has help me with not having issues ? i dont know?
That said, it still sucks. Data loss is just.... a whole new level of fubar.
but losing data and moaning because you didn,t back it up?
To me is like going for a long drive with no petrol and being angry with the petrol station because you run out of petrol lol
come on hands up who's gone for a long drive while low on petrol, then run out of petrol and phone the petrol station to tell them it's their fault and demand compensation
that's how I see it lol
"The October 2018 Update tried to tidy up this situation. When KFR is being used, the October 2018 Update will delete the original, default Known Folder locations. Microsoft imagined that this would simply remove some empty, redundant directories from your user profile. No need to have a Documents directory in your profile if you're using a redirected location, after all. The problem is, it neither checked to see if those directories were empty first, nor copied any files to the new, redirected location. It just wiped out the old directory, along with anything stored within it. Hence the data loss."
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/10/microsoft-fixes-october-update-file-deleting-bug-resumes-insider-testing/
That'd how you do it if you're a multibillion-dollsr software giant who's been writing complex software for decades.
I put this on user error.
I like windows 10 never had any issues with it really, how ever few days back, I was bored so decide to play around with a few different O/S distro's
Ubuntu, Mint, OpenSuse
I finally settled for OpenSuse, which in turn has made me realize I don't really need windows 10 anymore (please don't take that as people don't need windows 10)
I'm not saying I wont go back to Windows 10 but to be fair to OpenSuse i probs dont need anything more.
Windows 10 has a lot to offer, but it also has alot i don't need, so OpenSuse is a good o/s for me to learn to use.
After sticking with OpenSuse it feels like Microsoft are using my PC for more than I do lol
www.guru3d.com/news-story/windows-10-version-1809-sees-another-data-loss-issue.html