Microsoft: Don't Jump The Gun On Windows 10 Update

John Lister's picture

Microsoft says most users should hold off getting the next major Windows update until it's automatically installed. The unusual warning is because of some specific hardware compatibility problems that Microsoft is ironing out.

The update has been dubbed the 'Creators Update' and is the second major update Microsoft has issued for Windows 10, though it has been making minor changes and additions since the system was released.

Some but not all users have already received it as an automatic update. That's because Microsoft is deliberately rolling it out in stages and initially targeted people with newer computers. It says this is because they will have "the best possible update experience" -- or to put it another way, they are least likely to have problems.

Bluetooth Connection Causing Problems

The approach also means Microsoft may pick up on problems that didn't show up in the ordinary testing process. It says it takes three approaches to such problems: publishing advice on how to work around the problem; issuing an update to Windows 10 or the relevant drivers; or adding a block filter that mean computers it knows will likely be affected don't get the update until the problem is solved.

It's the last of these options that applies in this case. Microsoft says one reason is that it's found a problem with some computers that use a particular hardware component for connecting to Bluetooth devices.

The warning is for people who don't wait for automatic updates but instead jump the gun through a variety of methods such as visiting Microsoft's site that lets users download Windows 10 complete with the latest updates to create an installation disc.

Only Advanced Users Should Try "Early Update Trick"

According to Microsoft, using such an update method might mean the filter block doesn't kick in, risking users downloading a version that will be problematic on their computer. It says it recommends waiting for the automatic update "unless you're an advanced user who is prepared to work through some issues." (Source: windows.com)

PC World speculates that such warnings might become more common in future. It says Microsoft has cut back on its software testing department and is now relying more on the Windows Insider program (where users volunteer to test updates that still in development) to pick up on problems, something that is leading to more issues not showing up until the official update rollout starts. (Source: pcworld.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Has Microsoft got the right approach to issuing updates? Have you ever been tempted to try to get an update early rather than wait for the automatic download and installation? Should Microsoft go to the extra effort of adding the filter blocks to the installation disc downloads, or should people who try this workaround have to take responsibility for any problems?

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Comments

gmthomas44_4203's picture

I just got an 'update' this week and have a 'newer' laptop. How do I know if I got this update you are talking about?

Dennis Faas's picture

Click start, type in 'winver' (no quotes), and press enter. If it says: Version 1703, OS Build 15063.xxx (mine is currently 15063.138), then you are running the Creators Update.

chesscanoe's picture

My laptop was purchased 8/2015 with Windows 10 x64 Home and updated to Creator Update CU manually on 04-06-2017. I recently changed to a High Contrast Accessibility theme and then ran manual Windows Update for the offered KB4016240 on 04=25-2107. Manually restarting, I could not enter any characters for my PIN. I had to force power down. On startup I had no previously defined login background, but I could enter my PIN and all was well. Subsequent restarts also work well.

It turns out When running a High Contrast theme, certain Settings, like the login background image, are no longer an option to choose. However old Windows Screen Saver choices can be chosen if desired.

anton_van_wamelen_3476's picture

Since quite a while Microsoft is promoting this 1703 update after build 1607. Family tried this several times and got disaster results, described in the subject. Now there is bulletin by Microsoft, to be patient, and wait till all child diseases are ironed out. We think this is a disaster too, not to warn people BEFORE the release but AFTER or in the middle of it.
We have reported this in the FEEDBACK section of Windows Update. We experienced several buggy updates in the FAST lane of Windows Insider program, so we have set the option to SLOW. It works normally as it is not in the program, but still get our updates, not BUILDS, in a orderly fashion. Apparently the competition is breathing down on their necks, that they act in this way. Please Microsoft do not release something if you are not have all bugs fixed, thanks by all the community.

oldboyrip_9099's picture

Following an article in the How-to-Geek newsletter, I downloaded Windows10Upgrade28085 from Microsoft. I've now run it on two PCs; One is a I5-based 64-bit desktop that was built locally in 2015 and the other is an older 64-bit Dell Studio portable that dates back to 2009.

The creator update installed on both PCs without a hitch and has now been running for 2+ weeks without any sign of problems. May be I'm just lucky for once!