Windows 10 Home Edition's automated updates early troubles prompt for release of block tool

[Gabe Carey]

Microsoft's decision to forgo user control over security updates in favor of mandatory, automatically installed updates in Windows 10 Home edition was a point of contention when the news was revealed earlier this month.

Having the latest security patches and features installed seems like a noble cause that would protect users from various vulnerabilities. Yet at the same time, it’s not uncommon for a particular Windows update to cause more harm than good. With Windows 10's official release mere days away, users testing the operating system via Preview builds have already found the perfect excuse to call it a poor decision.

Multiple reports from Nvidia graphics card owners popped up during the weekend over a recent GeForce 353.54 driver update that was installed automatically and subsequently broke down systems... automatically. Both Nvidia and Microsoft have been quick to react, but not before users have had to deal with issues.

Microsoft's troubleshooter package (KB3073930), available as an optional download, while not at all practical allows users to block or hide automatic updates. Alternatively, Nvidia issued a new driver last night (version 353.62) that according to several Reddit users are working properly.

Another potential solution to keep in mind if you stumble upon similar issues would be to enable System Restore, automatically creating a restore point after each new update is installed. This way, you can revert your computer to a point before Windows Update imposed on you a faulty revision.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/61529-windows-10-home-edition-automated-updates-early-troubles.html

 

[JamesSWD]

This is going to make July 29th, 2015, go down in history as Black Wednesday for MS (as well as the succeeding weeks) and just totally bork the Win10 rollout and cause public backlash like Vista did. Millions of customers who upgrade will potentially have any forced driver update causing a broken system or other issues.

 

[noel24]

Already? I was expecting it a little bit down the line, after some half a million machines of early adopters will refuse to work one day because of specific hardware configuration...

 

[Cycloid Torus]

"This way, you can revert your computer to a point before Windows Update imposed on you a faulty revision."

At this point the automatic update will install and break your computer again.

At this point " you can revert your computer to a point before Windows Update imposed on you a faulty revision."

Sounds loopy to me.

 

[DaveBG]

This "feature" smells like it is coming from the dark ages of ballmer

 

[noel24]

I suppose to all those blindly repeating M$ mantra, that 10 is the most advanced Windows yet and those complaining about forced updates are morrons: ROFL!

 

[yRaz]

I don't think this will last. While Microsoft is still very large and profitable, they cant keep going against what consumers want much more without jeopardizing their market share. I've been using the w10 preview build as my daily driver for roughly the last 2 months and I must say I like what I see. However, I will not install software on my computer that doesn't let me choose how I get to use.

On a better note, Microsoft has been good about listening to user feedback about the w10 preview and changing it accordingly. I have no doubt in my mind that Microsoft will respond appropriately to user backlash. I'm fairly certain they learned their lesson from the start menu fiasco.

 

[JamesSWD]

I agree...in the coming weeks, I think MS will issue an auto-update-update to return control to users. But not before Win10's marketing & image suffer massive damage in public perception, like Win8 classic's Start menu caused. Then it might be too late to recover from, similar to how Win8 never recovered.

I don't think this will last. While Microsoft is still very large and profitable, they cant keep going against what consumers want much more without jeopardizing their market share. I've been using the w10 preview build as my daily driver for roughly the last 2 months and I must say I like what I see. However, I will not install software on my computer that doesn't let me choose how I get to use.

On a better note, Microsoft has been good about listening to user feedback about the w10 preview and changing it accordingly. I have no doubt in my mind that Microsoft will respond appropriately to user backlash. I'm fairly certain they learned their lesson from the start menu fiasco.

 

[Sniped_Ash]

Forcing driver updates for hardware is a bad idea. Doubly so when it's the video card because new builds for unified drivers can break or severely degrade performance in legacy applications.

 

[insect]

I think they will modify to allow SOME updates to be optional, but ones related to security will still be pushed. While the users on this site might be more tech-savvy than most, the general population is pretty oblivious to the threats they face by not patching, and generally are worse off because they are exploited (e.g., ransomware, spyware, etc.). MS is willing to risk the crashes in the hopes we are all safer by trimming down the bot-nets and other crap out there.

Personally, I'm glad grandma and my brother porn-surfer are forced to update.

As for me, I got Pro - so I can opt out anyway. Home users are your most basic/OEM users usually.

 

[BMfan]

Nvidia driver issues? I thought only AMD had driver issues.

 

[Lionvibez]

All they have to do is keep the security updates mandatory and drivers updates and anything else optional.

 

[JamesSWD]

In earlier months, I also read that Pro users would have the option on updates. But the latest I've been reading is that Pro will now have auto-updates forced. Only Enterprise and some others will have the option. Not sure what's accurate now.

I think they will modify to allow SOME updates to be optional, but ones related to security will still be pushed. While the users on this site might be more tech-savvy than most, the general population is pretty oblivious to the threats they face by not patching, and generally are worse off because they are exploited (e.g., ransomware, spyware, etc.). MS is willing to risk the crashes in the hopes we are all safer by trimming down the bot-nets and other crap out there.

Personally, I'm glad grandma and my brother porn-surfer are forced to update.

As for me, I got Pro - so I can opt out anyway. Home users are your most basic/OEM users usually.

 

[TheBigFatClown]

I don't think this will last. While Microsoft is still very large and profitable, they cant keep going against what consumers want much more without jeopardizing their market share. I've been using the w10 preview build as my daily driver for roughly the last 2 months and I must say I like what I see. However, I will not install software on my computer that doesn't let me choose how I get to use.

On a better note, Microsoft has been good about listening to user feedback about the w10 preview and changing it accordingly. I have no doubt in my mind that Microsoft will respond appropriately to user backlash. I'm fairly certain they learned their lesson from the start menu fiasco.

I like what I see also but that's because of what a disaster Windows 8 was. I am very cautious about ever giving up my Windows 7 operating system at this point. I have 2 computers. Running Windows 7 on one and Windows 10 on the other. I must say I haven't used the Windows 10 system as much as an insider should be because of having the two options. I haven't invested enough time on Windows 10 to know if it would ever qualify as a worthy replacement for Windows 7.

Microsoft is still playing psychological warfare with it's customers. Backtracking on certain things but, I don't know, the new Start menu kinda sucks. The decisions they make sometimes are completely stupid like forced updates. It seems they are adamant about learning things the hard way.

So, I for one am glad to hear about this story. I hope it reinforces the stupidity of their iron-fist decision to thrust updates upon users at will and burns into their brain forever how ignorant an idea it was to begin with.

I hope they pay severely for every mistake. The higher the cost, the more likely they are not to let history repeat itself.

Joke of the day: definition of the word forever: 10 years.
"Windows 10 - the last Windows operating system from Microsoft forever!!!"

 

[davislane1]

Where are the Microsoft sales reps from the last auto update thread? I have more than five million chest thumps to thump, as do my fellow Prophets of the Obvious.

 

[Guest]

I think they will modify to allow SOME updates to be optional, but ones related to security will still be pushed. While the users on this site might be more tech-savvy than most, the general population is pretty oblivious to the threats they face by not patching, and generally are worse off because they are exploited (e.g., ransomware, spyware, etc.). MS is willing to risk the crashes in the hopes we are all safer by trimming down the bot-nets and other crap out there.

Personally, I'm glad grandma and my brother porn-surfer are forced to update.

As for me, I got Pro - so I can opt out anyway. Home users are your most basic/OEM users usually.

I got Pro too; but are you sure about Pro users getting control of updates? I heard that, yes, it was business users but those using Enterprise!

 

[drjekelmrhyde]

I don't know what the fark they were thinking by auto updating drivers. I could see security updates, but drivers.

 

[h4expo]

Fail. The average user is more inclined to interrupt the update process if the update interrupts the users workflow when either the computer is set to sleep (because windows loves to beat that horse) and never actually "apply" updates, or shutdown your system and get interrupted with installations every time you start it back up. Microsoft is out of touch with reality and they are doing more to conform people into their idea of what a computer should be then to really supply a user experience people want.

 

[treetops]

I don't know what the fark they were thinking by auto updating drivers. I could see security updates, but drivers.

They have been auto updating drivers since xp.

Aside from directx12 I see no reason to get windows 10. I prefer using a OS designed for a pc, not a tablet.

 

[BlueDrake]

What many seem to forget is Microsoft is shipping Windows 10, with the restore points disabled from what I was reading. Most likely to cut down on space usage. I imagine this will spark some arguments, for it to be enabled instead of it's current default setting.

I'm going to wait a few months, see how much of a blunder this turns out to be. :\

 

[Guest]

What amazes me is that a lot of people think that for Windows 10 to be free, they have to reserve it and get it on July 29th, whereas you will have an entire year to decide whether or not it's worth it. My advice is, unless you have a very good reason to "upgrade" straight away or you are one of those who just have to have the latest, too simply wait a bit. Yes, a lot of Windows 10 looks promising, and yes, it's free - but there is no rush. I wish more websites would stress that, instead of going along with the hype.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Nvidia driver issues? I thought only AMD had driver issues.

Maybe they mean't AMD, you could construe that as a typo.

 

[uzerr]

"This way, you can revert your computer to a point before Windows Update imposed on you a faulty revision."

At this point the automatic update will install and break your computer again.

At this point " you can revert your computer to a point before Windows Update imposed on you a faulty revision."

Sounds loopy to me.

Don't worry, restore will fail and break the cycle, requiring more headaches or a complete reinstall. I've had it happen recently.

 

[cartera]

Or we could all update tomorrow and all live happily ever after...

Wait a minute, I'm dreaming again!

 

[wiyosaya]

Windows NT Home Edition's automated updates early troubles prompt for release of block tool

Fixed that for you.