If you have the 1909 enablement package listed in installed updates (Control Panel) you can just uninstall that to get back to 1903. MS's record on correcting past mess-ups has not been great.
Is it possible to download a copy a W10 from the Microsoft site and make a clean install? I am totally lost about what is right or not, legal or ilegal. I don't know if the formatting or resetting option inside Windows is as "totally clean" as an external install download installed via USB. And I don't know if I can install the external copy and my license will be OK or I would need a new one. This laptop comes with a license for W10 but I'm not sure what happens if you install another copy. I know the UEFI thing is terribly complicated and you need to change many things there for the external copy to be installed, but don't know about the license.
Yes, Windows 10 can be downloaded for free, as long as you have the respective version of Windows 10 (Home or Pro) and that the license is activated.
As you mentioned, have you tried to Reset Your PC from inside Settings? This performs in a very similar manner to doing a clean install. As such it re-installs Windows 10 and gives you the option to keep most of your files and settings. Doing this should also retain your license.
I would only recommend doing a clean install as your very last option. A clean install is a bit lengthy and tricky but can be done...
Before you do a clean install you should:
- Backup all your files/folders, programs and settings
- (Recommended) Find and write down your Windows 10 product key in-case activation fails
A clean install typically involves:
- Downloading a Windows 10 ISO and use it to boot from a USB drive or Disk
- Then erase your Windows 10 Partition and format a new one
- Re-activate Windows if it asks you to (usually not needed)
- Restore everything you have backed up
If you want to do a clean install then you can follow this tutorial: Clean Install Windows 10
Sure, I've done hundreds of clean installs, I just donpt know what the current policy of Microsoft is concerning it.
I did a reset from the Settings and corrected some previous problems but these ones are new.
When you do a reset from the Settings, does it install the latest updates? Which is newer, lets's say, the iso image you download from Microsoft or the settings reset?
The problem with the search boxes comes and goes, today I can't type again and it's horrible to look for a file among thousands.
There seems to be a tone in your posts implying that you think a fault with your computer is causing the search problem.
No. The fault has been seen by others and is a Windows fault. There is no reason to think that reinstalling Windows will achieve anything at all.
Personally, I just use a third-party search application and I can just wait patiently for MS to change the current fault to another one.
I use Nirsoft's SearchMyFiles There are lots of others available.
Denis
Have a read:
Windows 10 Version 1909 Breaks Down a Key Feature
You can wait for a fix or do what I did - uninstall the update and go back to 1903
Or as suggested use a third party search utility. A few additional ideas here:
Is there a better file-search utility than the one in Win Explorer ?
Last edited by Callender; 19 Jan 2020 at 11:48. Reason: remove image
I would agree with Try3 and Callender, maybe just try a few search programs.
In most cases I would expect them to be far better than Windows search anyway.
(e.g. only show results for file extensions, display more detailed file previews etc...)
Thanks to all. I consider reinstalling windows because I have other problems too such as the pointer freezing for long periods randomly or sudden overheatings and fan going furious under no RAM or CPU high usage at all, and etc. Many things go wrong.
Today KB 4532695 released. But I still have File Explorer crash, just when I did a search in the search box in Taskbar.
Attached is the screenshot.
It says Cortana, but I have disabled long time ago via:
Group Policy, in my Windows 10 Pro.
Here is about the new update that supposed to fix this.
The latest “optional, non-security, C/D Week” patch for Win10 1903 and 1909 is out @ AskWoody The latest “optional, non-security, C/D Week” patch for Win10 1903 and 1909 is out @ AskWoody
The issue of the mouse cursor not appearing when click in File explorer Search box seems to be fixed, for me, with today's KB. I never had to close File explorer to get it to work before, either. Just click a few times or click once and start typing. Don't use Quick Access, so can't comment there.
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