Next Feature Updates Always Resets Tons of System Settings

The Officer · 24 Jun 2020

Upon updating to the most recent version of Windows 10 Pro for Workstation (2004), a lot of changes that I have previously made to the registry either get changed or completely deleted. One I know right off of the top of my head are "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WaitToKillServiceTimeout". I have explicitly added this key before, and I don't know why this key, along with many others I have made in the past get deleted. Another thing that happens is that my graphics options can get changed that were in the Nvidia control panel, such as the "Output dynamic range" setting for my monitor being changed from "Full" to "Limited", which is another setting I explicitly set. The day I updated to this new version I had to revert back to the previous version with a full system image I created before the update to keep all my changes that I have made previously. I ask this, why is it whenever a major update gets released, many settings in my registry, driver options, sometimes even group policy, get modified, reset, or deleted? How can I prevent this? I understand things change with updates, but this is the fourth time now that a major update has changed these settings, all of which seem to revert the same types of settings/keys I list here. Currently rolled back to Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.900).

dalchina · 24 Jun 2020

Hi, certain registry settings that are added, deleted, or changed - typically those that are not expected to be changed e.g. equivalent to group policy settings, say- will be reset. That's one reason an in-place upgrade repair install can be so useful- same mechanism as an upgrade.

You would be wise to create a registry file or files for the changes you make such that reapplying them is easy, whether it be additions, deletions or changes.

That would make it easy for you.

Where these are changes you make via a GUI, you might just keep a record of these so you can apply them quickly.

Most changes made by a user in Settings should be respected- but then MS can always surprise us.

Caledon Ken · 24 Jun 2020

Welcome to TenForums @The Officer

Feature updates probably need a better name, they are for the most part an OS replacement.

Additionally Windows loads updated drivers although I thought that was supposed to stop.

TV2 · 24 Jun 2020

Caledon Ken said:

Feature updates probably need a better name, they are for the most part an OS replacement.

Hear! Hear!
We need to stop calling them updates altogether. They are upgrades if anything.
(Although some people will certainly not think of them that way.)
In any event, it is really a new operating system.

Bree · 24 Jun 2020

The Officer said:

....this is the fourth time now that a major update has changed these settings....

dalchina said:

...Where these are changes you make via a GUI, you might just keep a record of these so you can apply them quickly....

I have a little list....

I was pleasantly surprised to be able to cross one of them off the list for 2004. For the first time ever a feature update has not reset Task Manager back to 'Fewer details'.

Berton · 24 Jun 2020

TV2 said:

Hear! Hear!
We need to stop calling them updates altogether. They are upgrades if anything.
(Although some people will certainly not think of them that way.)
In any event, it is really a new operating system.

.
Yeah, they are Upgrades since the first number is for a Version as in 1803,1903, 1909, 2004 as seen when typing winver in WinKey + R. The Builds are more akin to the Service Packs seen in Win7 and earlier.

And Yes, an Upgrade will nearly always replace customizations, I lose the Win7 Games so keep it available to reinstall.