I just noticed there's an update waiting for me to put in a time for it to be installed. It's the Feature Update Version 1709 for Windows 10.
Is this a mandatory update, do I need it for security? I do very simple things on my computer and don't necessarily want anything more loaded if I don't need it.
That's the next major build - every 6 months or so MS release one, with updates in between.
If you have Pro upwards (not Home) you can defer upgrades for up to a year, I think. Otherwise you would have to disable updates altogether.
Recommended- use disk imaging routinely and update your image (or create one) before any major change like upgrading e.g. Macrium Reflect (free).
In Pro up to 1607 you could choose to 'Defer upgrades', in Creators Update (1703) this was revised as choosing between the 'Current Branch' and the 'Current Branch for Business', and in Fall Creators Update (1709) the choice becomes 'Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)' or 'Semi-Annual Channel'. In all cases the effect is the same. Either get the next version of Windows as soon as it's released, or stay one step behind and don't get this one until the next is released. In addition, 1703 added a further 365 days you could delay the upgrade (in Pro).
All the above is academic now, even if @Bigfoot has Pro. What could be deferred was the start of downloading the update. If it's asking for a time for it to be installed the download has finished, all the setup files are already on the PC and poised to upgrade to the Fall Creators Update.
As the name 'Semi-Annual...' implies, an updated version of Windows 10 will be released every six months from now on. This is what Microsoft call 'Windows as a Service'. Apparently from now on we are to see our operating systems gradually evolve, rather than the culture-shock of a jump like Windows 7 to Windows 8. This is our future, and we'll just have to get used to it
The upgrade takes from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the machine (and no, it's not the processor speed that determines this, apparently some system configurations just take longer). To be honest, there is little difference to see between 1703 and 1709. Some more settings have migrated to the Settings app (notably all Cortana's settings). Bar that, most of the changes are under the surface.
I agreed to install the Creator's Update a long time ago, is this just and upgrade to that? Is 1709 the Creator's Update number? Sorry, if it is I didn't recognize it. I doubt that I have Pro, probably Home.
Thanks, I'll just set the update to load tonight and leave my computer on.
You're welcome. Run Winver in the morning, it should say version 1709, os build 16299.19 if the update to Fall Creators Update has gone well.
Quote
