Windows Update deleted my Visual Studio files
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Windows Update deleted my Visual Studio files
I was copying my (rather large) visual studio files from one drive to a backup drive.
In the middle of the process (I fell asleep as it was late at night), Windows in their transcendent stupidity, downloaded some idiotic update and restarted the computer.
Previous to that, windows asked me when I want to install the updates. I said, 9AM. Well, the updates started at like 5PM. OK, yes to their stupid updates.
So I worked last night like 7 more hours on my program and then remembered, oh, back it up to my other USB drive. I started that process. Then when I woke up this morning I noticed that the backup was stalled at a file (db something or other, used by....god knows what but not important to my code) asking to try again, etc. I always say skip. Then Windows rebooted yet again for the "update". OK, coffee and news and now I got to that folder and my files are not there. The folder is empty.
A friend of mine is going to try to recover the deleted files.
What a nightmare. I worked maybe 20+ hours on the code and now, nothing.
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Ways to avoid disaster:
a. Use Active Hours (in Settings) appropriately. If you change to work overnight, change the settings.
b. Use a 3rd party tool to block Windows Updates (assuming you have Home- you don't say.
E.g.
WUMT/Sledgehammer (free) - blocks and allows manual scan and selection of updates
c. Naturally save and back up critical work (well- you tried..)
d. Keep personal files off C: so they are not affected by OS maintenance
e. Pause updates (better control for Home from 1903).
Sadly some lessons are learnt painfully. I've seen people in tears with no backup and a failed PC.
At the present time people on 1803 - and seemingly some on 1809- are being offered an upgrade to 1903 as part of MS's roll-out policy and end of life of 1803.
Last edited by dalchina; 30 Aug 2019 at 10:13.
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Was this a feature update ?
You can check in your history. If it was a feature update you could try Recovery, under Updates and Security, to go back to older version.
Are you imagining your machine? While you could loose the 20 hours the base files would be recoverable. Macrium is my choice and it does allow you to selectively recover files.
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Previous to that, windows asked me when I want to install the updates. I said, 9AM.
Sorry to sound uncaring, We have been dealing with Windows 10 updates for 4 years now.
Stop working and make a system image (Macrium) then do the update and move on.
The previous suggestions are great but if you have to use Windows, Stop fighting the "system" and learn to work with it.
I make it a point to back up system and install Feature updates when they are released. If any issues arise (never have) restore the image and keep more frequent images untill future updates to address the issues are released.
I have a perfect record using the ISO to install upgrades with no issues but I stay prepared. I also image the night before patch tuesday as insurance as well.
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od
I'm now on 10.0.18362.
I do not understand the multiple updates or why when I said 9AM it was 5PM unless that was two updates.
So from now on, I'll back up the work in several different locations.
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So Ron was this a feature update? You said you are now on.
If so either fallback or as dalchina said look in the Window.old file
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I was backing up when the moronic windows update kicked in and the computer restarted. I did not do that. WIndows did. What I do not understand is how the "system" could go from copying a folder to deleting the folder. I'm now in the process of starting back quite a bit. That 20 hour stretch was totally exhausting and is now just a piece of garbage thanks to Microsoft.
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Ron, two simple questions, was this a feature update?
Two, did you look in Windows.old file?
I hear you on the update, no one is questioning that.
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