It’s good that Microsoft has acknowledged the bugs in this month’s Cumulative Update. I’ve looked and looked, and haven’t found any patterns. So I fee
[See the full post at: The bugs in this month’s Win10 version 1903 and 1909 Cumulative Update have prompted MS to issue a call for help – but where’s the telemetry?]
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
The bugs in this month’s Win10 version 1903 and 1909 Cumulative Update have prompted MS to issue a call for help – but where’s the telemetry?
Home » Forums » Newsletter and Homepage topics » The bugs in this month’s Win10 version 1903 and 1909 Cumulative Update have prompted MS to issue a call for help – but where’s the telemetry?
- This topic has 12 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 5 months ago.
AuthorTopicwoody
ManagerViewing 4 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
_Reassigned Account
AskWoody LoungerI think telemetry collection works when it used properly and only when a active issue is present. I don’t think its very useful to collect data from all these devices even when no problems are detected. But exactly how useful is any of the telemetry except when you have a issues affecting a large number? The shear amount of telemetry Microsoft collects is detrimental to being able to filter out smaller more isolated issues. I just think Microsoft needs a more refined way of collecting data about issues. So far their argument that more telemetry is better has not created a better update system.
3 users thanked author for this post.
-
warrenrumak
AskWoody Lounger“Basic” telemetry level — which is the default if you install Windows 10 — sends the following info:
- Operating system info (edition, build number)
- Hardware info (CPU, memory, disk types and sizes, configuration values of certain BIOS features, battery sizes, printers)
- Installed drivers and version numbers
- If if you have mobile broadband, it sends the IMEI number and mobile operator
- App crashes and blue screens
- Success/failure information related to Windows Updates
- Malicious Software Removal Tool results
- Windows Defender results
- List of IE add-ons
- Usage of the Microsoft Store app (e.g. how you navigate through the store pages)
There is also basic monitoring of specific things they’re trying to improve, like sleep/wake performance.
“Basic” does not watch the following:
- Application usage
- File usage
- Internet usage
- Performance data around how the OS and built-in applications are running
- Detailed crash dump information (which can sometimes leak personal data that might’ve been in memory when the crash dump is captured)
The “Full” diagnostic level allows Microsoft engineers the ability to collect detailed diagnostic data from groups of machines that are exhibiting problems; “Basic” disables that, too.
But here’s the thing, right…. if Microsoft has a database of this information before you run a Windows Update, then they can proactively and automatically place a hold on updating specific machines if they suddenly see a spike of crashes after that update gets installed. Or, a driver update that fixes a known bug can be pushed to you before the update.
Disabling the “Basic” diagnostic level through various means (firewall blocks, stopping services, editing the hosts file, etc.) may help you feel better about protecting your privacy …. you know, just in case you’re dead-set against Microsoft finding out that you’re using a Kingston SSD and Bose wireless headphones…. but it also opts you out of this protection.
Microsoft has been trying to get this right for, like, 15 years. Those “Windows is checking for a solution to the problem” dialogs are just an earlier iteration of what they’re trying to do now with the telemetry data collection.
-
This reply was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by
warrenrumak.
3 users thanked author for this post.
-
anonymous
GuestThose sound great in theory, but it fails in practice. I have never had Microsoft do a good job updating drivers–the ones Microsoft provides are always downgrades and remove features (e.g. NVIDIA drivers are old and don’t include the NVIDIA control panel). Furthermore, how often had Microsoft actually held back updates? Most of the time, they’re still sent out despite them known issues. And any time they have actually stopped an update until it was fixed, simply following Woody’s advice and waiting would have worked just as well. I defer updates and avoid feature updates until the new OS is mature, and I have no problems.
In theory, Microsoft using telemetry to actually make the experience better might be worth the admittedly small privacy risk. But, in practice, they’re doing worse now with telemetry than they were with actual testing.
-
Alex5723
AskWoody Plus“Basic” telemetry level — which is the default if you install Windows 10 — sends the following info:
Operating system info (edition, build number)
Hardware info (CPU, memory, disk types and sizes, configuration values of certain BIOS features, battery sizes, printers)
Installed drivers and version numbers
If if you have mobile broadband, it sends the IMEI number and mobile operator
App crashes and blue screens
Success/failure information related to Windows Updates
Malicious Software Removal Tool results
Windows Defender results
List of IE add-ons
Usage of the Microsoft Store app (e.g. how you navigate through the store pages)There is much more data harvesting sent to Microsoft then the above list (keyboard keystrokes…)
Just look at this old Vista data harvesting. With Windows 10 it is much worse:
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
-
GreatAndPowerfulTech
AskWoody LoungerTelemetry is of no use when a PC won’t boot as MS can’t collect the data to determine why. That’s why we great PC technicians exist, to fix what Microsoft have no idea is wrong.
GreatAndPowerfulTech
4 users thanked author for this post.
-
Alex5723
AskWoody PlusTelemetry is of no use when a PC won’t boot as MS can’t collect the data to determine why.
When the PC boots (safe mode…) after a crash Microsoft gets the cumulative Telemetry data.
2 users thanked author for this post.
anonymous
GuestI have never believed that telemetry itself could totally bail out the inherent quality control issues associated with the adoption of “end to end” software engineering. I am sorry Satya, but you still really need a dedicated in-house quality assurance testing program working alongside modern uses of telemetry. Artificial intelligence is really artificial and often not very intelligent.
lurks about
AskWoody LoungerI have been suspicious of telemetry as implemented by MS. It does not seem to collect right kind of information in the proper quantity to aid in bug hunting. It seems to be more oriented in getting semi-useless information from users that is often not germane to quashing bugs in volumes that buries the bug reports unless the issue reaches a significant threshold. Adding to this is often it is after the ‘patch’ has been released that the bugs are even found. This all points to a fundamental flaw in the QA program showing it is too dependent on sifting through reports that are easy too miss until users start howling.
The effects of users howling periodically is tarnish the brand as garbage and that one should consider alternatives. Once the brand is sufficiently tarnished getting customers back is impossible and it will tarnish their other products.
My personal experience with W10 is that is a marginally functional OS that does some inexplicable things that never occurred with W7. My experience is moving to W10 on the work box was a serious downgrade from W7. And my experience with an underpowered notebook is W10 can be very difficult to upgrade, the notebook was upgrade effort was project for a friend. Neither experience, while anecdotal, inspires confidence in W10 especially when I am comfortable with other options such as Linux.
1 user thanked author for this post.
anonymous
Guest-
PKCano
Manager -
anonymous
Guest -
PKCano
ManagerPerhaps someone else set up the computer for you, then, and created the accounts.
I don’t know if that’s just a created account in the Administrators Group with the name “Administrator” or the “God Administrator’ which is more powerful.You are probably safer using the account in your name.
There are two types of accounts used commonly: Administrative account (can have any name but is not the God Administrator) and Standard account. The latter is less powerful. Look in the Control Panel\Accounts and find out which type of account each one is. It is more secure to use a Standard account for every-day things.
-
-
Viewing 4 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
The Takahē is not extinct afterall
by
lylejk
49 minutes ago -
How to unbloc W10pro from moving to W11
by
hession
14 hours, 41 minutes ago -
Windows 11, Surface, and Windows Copilot
by
Will Fastie
3 hours, 53 minutes ago -
Why File Explorer keeps me on Windows
by
Josh Hendrickson
1 hour, 24 minutes ago -
Uninstalr — “World’s best cup of coffee”
by
Deanna McElveen
8 hours, 29 minutes ago -
Locked out of your refurbished computer?
by
Susan Bradley
1 hour, 1 minute ago -
Thunderbird 115: Changing font size in the Message Panel
by
WCHS
13 hours, 22 minutes ago -
Lenovo ThinkPad not updating to Windows 11 22H2
by
Gordski
23 hours, 32 minutes ago -
Android Security
by
Magic66
15 hours, 27 minutes ago -
What happened to the manual?
by
Susan Bradley
6 hours, 20 minutes ago -
OK to Restore Files From a Possibly Hacked Computer?
by
kc27
1 day, 5 hours ago -
Startup loop after adding new user and installing File Explore Patch
by
PFC
2 days, 6 hours ago -
RoboCops comes to NYPD. You have the right to remain cyborg
by
Alex5723
2 days, 12 hours ago -
iOS 17 : New Safari Privat Search Engines
by
Alex5723
2 days, 13 hours ago -
Photos App running in background
by
Tom
1 day, 9 hours ago -
IPV6 Issue Win10 22H2 August Update
by
Win7and10
2 days, 11 hours ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 23550 released to DEV
by
joep517
3 days, 11 hours ago -
Windows 11 Build 22621.2361 (22H2) released to Release Preview
by
joep517
3 days, 11 hours ago -
Lately I’ve been getting qr code spam attacks
by
Susan Bradley
3 days, 14 hours ago -
ghacks Wants Edge – FF Browser Update to View – hack/redirect
by
CraigS26
2 days, 12 hours ago -
iOS 17 : If your new iPhone gets stuck on the Apple logo when you transfer…
by
Alex5723
3 days, 22 hours ago -
Apple zero days out – September 2023
by
Susan Bradley
3 days, 17 hours ago -
No shortcuts to files on Taskbar in Win11
by
KingGeorgeN
3 days, 14 hours ago -
“New” Google Sites vs Network Solutions: domain resolution
by
Towson_Steve
3 days ago -
Topic: Privacy Report on Modern Cars
by
oldfry
4 days, 3 hours ago -
Microsoft’s massive Windows 11 update, featuring Copilot AI, begins rolling out
by
Alex5723
4 days ago -
MailStore Home updates
by
Alex5723
5 days ago -
T-Mobile users say they see other people’s account information
by
Alex5723
5 days, 11 hours ago -
Retirement of Exchange Web Services in Exchange Online
by
Alex5723
5 days, 23 hours ago -
What Remote Desktop credentials do I use to access a MS Account computer
by
JP
4 days, 13 hours ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2023 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.