Anxiety of Updating Windows 10

So with the warning from Microsoft regarding a broken update that causes Windows 10 systems to BSOD during startup, it has many users scared of updating, myself included. I had to roll back (Using Windows 10's "uninstall feature update" within the troubleshooting parts of the recovery environment. Currently I am running Windows 10 20H2 OS Build 19042.928.

At the time of writing this thread I have had to 'pause' updates so that it does not force install. Alas, did that work? Of course not. Microsoft seem adamant in their ways of Communism (in the sense that they don't care if it breaks your system, they want you to install the update) that the updates, at some point, should be automatically and forcefully installed.

My question is this: Which updates are broken and should be avoided at all costs? Because I currently have these updates wishing to be installed.

The moment I 'resumed' to check which updates wanted to install, it starts downloading one. -_-

pparks1 said:

I'm assuming that the update that you are talking about is this one from mid april
KB5001330
Microsoft is in a tough position. They provide software to end-users and we essentially are provided with a license that allows us to use the software. Microsoft has a responsibility to fix security issues, especially zero day exploits. And of course, they want all users to be running these updates so that they don't run into a known vulnerability that was previously fixed. However, Microsoft cannot test every single hardware and software combination that exists when they role out their patches.
Many years ago, I think it was a service pack that went out and it borked a ton of systems. Turns out those systems were all infected with a rootkit. Microsoft obviously are not going to test systems infected with rootkits and viruses to see "what might happen if their machines are screwed up".
I've had overall good luck with Windows updates. I don't exclude any of them and my systems are all running fine.

I've never previously had issues with BSODs after Windows Updates except this one time with KB5001330.

Matthew Wai said:

Have you ever heard of Windows Update MiniTool?

I've never heard of this tool, no. When I run it it only shows a few.
And oh good god...

Kyle said:

... it has many users scared of updating, myself included. ...

Kyle,

You'd be a lot less scared if you knew you had the security of a recent System image to fall back on.

Macrium Reflect [free edition] is often recommended in this forum for making system images. Other utilities are available but this one is so commonplace that you can get plenty of help for it.

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect - TenForumsTutorials
Macrium Software Macrium Reflect Free
Macrium USB - TenForums
Macrium Reflect KnowledgeBase - user guide [version-independent link]

It can also make bootable system images. This facility is called viBoot and it requires Win10 Pro.
Macrium viBoot - Macrium KB
Macrium viBoot - Create Virtual Machine using Macrium Image - TenForumsTutorials

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While you're thinking about backups, consider Backup and Restore Device Drivers - TenForumsTutorials as well.

All the best,
Denis

It's good that you are aware of the risks some upgrades and some updates have posed, and probably will continue to do so.

You can quite readily take full control of Windows Updates even with Home- and have been able to do for some years for free.

There are two tutorials on this topic, one of of which also suggests one of the free utilities as Option 7.

This is a VERY frequently discussed topic.

Example: I stayed with 1903 (2019) on this PC until a couple of weeks ago when I upgraded to 20H2.

And another vote for disk imaging- ALL the partitions comprising your O/S- typically 4 for a UEFI installation.

You can stay on a given build for as long as you wish - provided you take the appropriate measures. (Requires 3rd party tool/intervention).

I have 1 PC on 1903 - the last build where Windows search works as was - with blue highlighting for correct search syntax. MS made a complete mess of search after that and took several updates to more or less sort it out. That debacle is why I stopped bothering to update and upgrade- until 20H2 was more or less stable.

After 1903 Cortana changes completely. I had one use for it- set reminders. After upgrading to 20H2, that's gone- and the reminders I'd set were deleted after upgrading.

Then I found I'd lost networking - on my 20H2 PC. Still not fixed- unclear.

I also found I had a solid rectangle under my mouse rather than a translucent one when dragging a file. Had to remake my simple theme change in Settings to solve that.

Quite frankly, I have so many other things I'd rather do with my time than fix some software company's botched upgrade.

Hello @ClippyBeer,

ClippyBeer said:

I'm on 1903 now but that was a fresh install. Everything is working perfectly so I have no compelling reason to upgrade to the latest shiny new version. Quite frankly, I have so many other things I'd rather do with my time than fix some software company's botched upgrade.

As mentioned above, there is an option to STAY on whatever Version you want . . .

> OPTION TWO - Specify Target Feature Update Version using a REG file

I hope this helps.