Win10 users — it’s time to move to Creators Update, version 1703

Topic

New Reply

… but not because 1703 is loaded with features you absolutely need. Those of you who are happy with Win7 (or even 8.1) have no reason to sweat just
[See the full post at: Win10 users — it’s time to move to Creators Update, version 1703]

Reply | Quote

Replies

Can i upgrade from 1511 to 1703?

Reply | Quote

Yes. Easiest way is to go to the update page and click Update now.

Be sure you make a full backup first….

1 user thanked author for this post.

AElMassry

Reply | Quote

What do you think you will get in 1703 that you don’t have in 1511? How will 1703 make your life better?

Reply | Quote

i prefer 1511 but i hear it expire oct 2017

Reply | Quote

Yes, maybe it does expire. So? Why do you need to upgrade? Seriously – are you just going along or are you managing your machine? What is the downside to using an ‘expired’ OS? How do you know? Who told you? Why do you believe them? What do they gain from telling you?

Reply | Quote

RamRod wrote:

What is the downside to using an ‘expired’ OS? How do you know? Who told you? Why do you believe them? What do they gain from telling you?

I definitely recommend that folks avoid expired versions of Windows. That was true with XP, it will be true with Win7 in two-and-a-half years, and it’ll be true of Win10 1511 next month.

If you’re using 1511 LTSC (formerly LTSB) it’s a different story, but for most people, now’s the end of the line for 1511.

The downside is very simple: Microsoft won’t be issuing security patches for 1511. If we have another fiasco like the MS17-010 EternalBlue fiasco, you’ll need to be running a supported version of Windows. (Unless Microsoft decides to retroactively patch your version – which did happen with XP.)

What do I have to gain from recommending the move from 1511 to 1703? Nothing, except the knowledge that I made a good recommendation. 🙂

3 users thanked author for this post.

JohnW, PKCano, ch100

Reply | Quote

I certainly meant no disrespect. In my frustration my words were, if not ill considered, not ordered in a friendly, persuasive manner. I apologize to AElMassry and you Woody, and the other forum participants.

I am frustrated with MS. I’m frustrated that I no longer have control over my computing experience. Perhaps that is just the destruction of a misconception I’ve held since the 1990’s. I imagined that MS was a partner, providing an improving series of products that improved my productivity and expanded my horizons. That business model was beneficial to both MS and me.

I understand the risks associated with an unsupported OS. I’m attached to reality, and occasionally the internet – and I fully appreciate the risks associated with detaching from the former while attached to the latter.

Nevertheless, I value ownership of my computing experience – I prefer to master my own ship. I spoke rhetorically in a poorly veiled attempt to muster fellow rebels. That’s right, I now imagine a rebellion against the dastardly business practices and poor OS stewardship of the Redmondians. They are the generators of the majority of computing anxiety in the US today.

My strategy is to store all of my data on external hard drives. I will continue with 1511, regardless of the risks, unless/until the Redmondians produce an OS that fits my concept of usability within a reliable and trustworthy business model, or unilaterally terminate my ability to continue using 1511. I am also moving towards Linux. I will measure that move against the lifespan of my current computer hardware.

It is always good to understand, within reasonable prudence and discretion, the motives of those you do business with. Those that use Windows are most certainly in business with MS regardless of whether or not $ changes hands. You Woody are my most trusted source of computer advice. I admire your level demeanor, informed opinions, and measured words. Thanks for sharing your computing knowledge with me on your forums and in Computer World.

I am not resisting or rejecting your advice. I am resisting the poor business practices of MS.

Fare well.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, teuhasn, Kirsty

Reply | Quote

@RamRod

YES, Yes, Yes.

I could very easily put most of your comments in a paste of my own and it would reflect my thoughts exactly. M$ is creating a form of anxiety that should never be there. I think that there must be many more users out there that have similar feelings.

I am using Home version and am seriously considering getting out my old XP Pro Retail disk and loading it over this current version of rubbish impersonating as an O/s.

All credit and gratitude to Woody and all others that contribute to his site, but M$ is just wearing me down and it is not a path that I feel I should be facing.

I want my life back as it used to be, before being assaulted by Win10.

Wombat.

Reply | Quote

If you have the upgrade to 1703 blocked — I discussed several ways of doing so in April — you should go in and remove the blocks. Wait until you have a few days to spare (guess how I’m spending my weekend), then check update (Start > Settings > Update & security, Check for updates) and reboot a couple of times. It may take a day for your machine to get noticed, but chances are pretty good you’ll get upgraded through Windows Update.

Woody,  I have versioni 1607 and have done monthly updates using your methodology with Wushowhide. However, I have never been offered update to version 1703. How does one do that upgrade

Edit to remove HTML. Please convert to text before cut/paste

Reply | Quote

From the same article

If the Grim Upgrade Reaper passes you by, head over to the Download Windows 10 site and click Update now.

Be sure you make a backup first

Reply | Quote

I don’t see how to remove the html as I got it from Woody’s post.

Is there a post on how to go to version 1703 from version 1607? My updates don’t look for or see version 1703.

Thanks.

Reply | Quote

Click on the link “Download Windows 10 site” in the post above, Click on “Update now”

2 users thanked author for this post.

cmar6, woody

Reply | Quote

If you’re using Windows 10, you should consider moving to version 1703 — not because it’s better, but because Microsoft has s****** up 1607 patches so royally.

Maybe, this was intentional on M$’s part, ie to push Win 10 1607 users onto 1703.
… IOW, M$ have “weaponized” Windows Update, eg to block Win 7/8.1 computers with Intel Kabylake processors from receiving updates.

1 user thanked author for this post.

HiFlyer

Reply | Quote

Sweat?

Don’t worry, it leaves me absolutely cold…

I was out shooting the ponies (easy now, was with my camera), when my boss came and asked, if I could help “fix” his brand-new tablet. I was shooting jpeg and would simply transfer the shots via an usb cable to his laptop… I thought.

His new tablet is running Windows 10 and his son-in-law had made short-cut icons for easy access to his most used programs, IE, Word, mail etc…

But he asked, where the icons are now? and if I could get them back. He opened the tablet and… the entire desktop was filled with large tiles, that was flashing and blinking with games, news, weather report and what not, and as I flabbergasted stared at the… mess, a new tile popped up with a skype message. “Oh, you’re using skype”? “What’s that?”, he replied…

Since I’m a big fan of the truth, I could only confess having zero experience with Win 10 and was sorry, but he should ask the son-in-law to have a look…

A right-click on a tile gave an option to un-pin it, but what’s the point? Next updates – or whatever it was – will probably overrule his chosen settings again?

From my point-of-view, his laptop had been hi-jacked by Microsoft and his personal choices means squat to them… being aged 88, he prefer to have his computing experience in the “simplest” possible way. Microsoft thinks the complete opposite.

So no. No sweat here. Cold as ice.

And shocked, quite frankly.

4 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, radosuaf, DeWayne12, Cybertooth

Reply | Quote

Ubuntu’s Unity big button interface works well with a touch screen and could be easy for him to use, if he only uses a few programs and Unity could be configured to get out of the way. Also I’m learning that installing a Gnu/Linux distribution on any system with secure boot is not easy.

Though, I heard a rumor that Canonical is changing to some other desktop experience package.

Reply | Quote

Ubuntu is dropping the Unity interface and is moving to GNOME, and I believe the target date is early 2018.  I was playing with several Linux distros last week in an experiment to multi-boot 5 flavours alongside Windows 8.1 PRO, and was a little surprised that every variation of Ubuntu and Mint that I tried installed without difficulty at all on my UEFI+secure boot system. Zorin and Fedora also installed without problems. Unfortunately, others like Solus, Manjaro and PCLinuxOS would not play nicely at all with secure boot. If there is a silver lining in this, I guess it’s that more and more Linux distros are being made to work with hardware like this every few months.

Reply | Quote

Ubuntu Unity finally drove me away from Ubuntu.  Gets in my way more than it helps.  Like Windows 8, LOL!  I set up a dedicated PC install with Ubuntu a few years ago for a computer science class that I was taking.  I really gave Unity a chance, but we eventually parted ways.

I’m not a big fan of the new Gnome 3 interface either.  Still clunky, and workflow compared to a traditional computer desktop design is not improved.  I tried it with Fedora and Debian.

I really like what the Linux Mint team has done with their Mate and Cinnamon desktops.  My current favorites!  I like Mint’s ease of use, and a beginner could install and run it without any trouble.  It comes with everything you need to get started.

For older systems, probably Xubuntu would be the best, but the XFCE desktop is a little more work to customize than Mint.  Definitely need some command line skills, and some diving into help forums to get everything set up.  I use it as a guest VM in a laptop that is a little low on RAM, and it works nicely due to it’s lighter footprint.

 

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote

As of this morning, I have 5 flavors of Ubuntu installed for comparison purposes… GNOME, MATE, Budgie, Lubuntu and Kubuntu… Must say I really like the look and feel of Kubuntu, Budgie and MATE, but I haven’t spent enough time with any of them yet to start uninstalling any of them… And IMO,  they’re all much nicer to work with than Unity… Have to agree with you on Mint Cinnamon and MATE UIs, they are both very good.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

Reply | Quote

Windows 10 aside, Woody what did you mean “windows 7 users don’t sweat ‘just yet’ !!!

Reply | Quote

The article does not address Windows 7 at all, does it?  Just pulling our chain?

Reply | Quote

If you don’t see any reason to move to Windows 10, at this point there’s no reason to worry about going to Win10 in general, or Win10 1703 in particular. Nothing’s changed, really.

The “not yet” part is a reference to end of support for Win7, which will happen on January 14, 2020. In late 2019, you Win7 users will need to seriously think about your future computing needs.

And I guarantee that the landscape in two years will look quite different from the landscape now.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, JohnW

Reply | Quote

I began making the transition to post-Windows 7 earlier this year. I don’t want to wait till the last minute to make the change. I’m well on my way to being Microsoft-free come January 14, 2020.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

Reply | Quote

@Woody, what makes you think that Microsoft will get the patches right for 1703?

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM

Reply | Quote

I don’t think 1703 patches will be better than 1607 patches. I just can’t imagine them getting any worse.

‘Course I’ve been surprised before. Sigh.

Reply | Quote

Hey Woody. feeling better for the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

I will STILL stay on the 1607 release of Windows 10 on the Dell Inspiron e1405 laptop that uses the Broadcom 440x integrated LAN device.

The 1703 release of Windows 10, even with the newest cumulative updates, WILL NOT WORK on any old laptop/desktop PC using the Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller device (at least if the latest CU for 1703 is not installed or slipstreamed).

Edit: It seems that maybe the August 2017 cumulative update KB4034674 may resolve the Broadcom 440x hardware problem in the 1703 release as noted in this Tenforums page.

But I’ll skip the 1703 release and jump right into the upcoming 1709 creators update and update from 1607 to 1709 instead.

2 users thanked author for this post.

woody, Kirsty

Reply | Quote

it’s funny,both Mint 17 and 18 has a problem with Broadcom wireless devices because of proprietary drivers. had to do a little work to get them to work. Yet the 10/100 worked right away.

Reply | Quote

I’ve never had any luck getting my Broadcom based USB wifi adapter to work with Linux.   Works great with Windows, though.

My solution was to order a $10 Ralink based USB adapter to use with Linux.  Plug and play, even with most live boot distros!

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote

I’ll have my fingers crossed for you, that the next five months of 1607 patches aren’t as bad as the last one!

1 user thanked author for this post.

JohnW

Reply | Quote

G’day – So, going directly from 1607 to 1709, skipping 1703 entirely, is feasible?  No landmines or bamboo pits to worry about?  I asked this question elsewhere in the Lounge Labyrinth a couple of days ago, no responses so far:  “OK, I have to ask:  will it be possible to go directly from 1607 to 1709, skipping 1703 entirely?  Inquiring minds want to know…”

Very appreciative of ongoing guidance I find here.  I am a fierce W7 Group B loyalist on my desktop machine, but I made the mistake of upgrading my perfectly good OEM W7 laptop to W10 just before it stopped being free, to test it out.  BIG MISTAKE!  I must now live with the consequences.  One foot on a melting ice floe, the other in the tar pit…wonderful!

Thanks!

Reply | Quote

If you can keep the upgrade to 1703 at bay, there should be no problem going from 1607 to 1709 – EXCEPT. You really don’t want to install a new version right after it come out, do you?? So you will need to hold it off a little longer as well.

Reply | Quote

Seems to me like the good patch testers are now only working on the most current release of 10 and its updates, and the rest of the crew (if you can call them that) are working on updates for every other version of Windows, from all other versions of 10 and everything before it. Before now, I would say this is a running gag, but after the last several months of botched updates, it seems likely that it’s true.

Reply | Quote

Running Windows 10 1607 here, taking scheduled daily images now…

Next update botched???  Just roll back, no problem…

I would really like MS to get it right for once, though!

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote

I’m on Win10 Pro 1607, using the Current Branch for Business block. This month I’m being offered but have held off at MS-DEFCON 2 on installing two August patches for 1607 (KB4035631 and KB4034658), as well as the feature update to 1703.

Does it make sense to hide the two 1607 patches and go directly to 1703, or are those two 1607 patches needed as well for feature upgraders? I notice MS-DEFCON 2 has not yet been taken down.

Reply | Quote

KB4034658 is the update to Build 14393.1593 and KB4035631 is the latest servicing stack.

When the DEFCON number goes to 3, if you want to stay on 1607, you will need those two updates.

If you want to move on to 1703, let Windows Update install whatever it wants to install.

3 users thanked author for this post.

woody, teuhasn, ch100

Reply | Quote

PK,

As you and Woody have advised, I am willing to go from version 1607 to version 1703 but don’t see how to get that done. Will Windows automatically do that on 10/17/17 and is it safe to leave version 1607 unpatched till then? Your and Woody’s followers are stuck between an unpatched version 1607 and an impossible-to-get version 1703.

Reply | Quote

When the DEFCON number goes to 3, if you want to stay on 1607, you will need those two updates.”
Is there a catalog page to get those those updates?

Reply | Quote

Just run Windows Update and install whatever is there!!!!

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmar6

Reply | Quote

PK:

I appreciate your patient support for the Windows ignoramuses  🙂

Reply | Quote

See https://www.computerworld.com/article/3221371/microsoft-windows/its-time-to-install-august-windows-and-office-patches-carefully.html

Short answer: It’s easier if you manually install the latest update first. But if you do it the other way around, it’s not horrible – you lose you Update history and any hidden updates get kicked to not hidden.

Reply | Quote

not that i use it regularly, but 1607 still better than 1703, even with bad patches

2 users thanked author for this post.

HiFlyer, Kirsty

Reply | Quote

In which sense is 1607 “better” than 1703?
How can “better” be defined? 🙂

Reply | Quote

Better to this person may mean they get to keep some Windows features because some flawed telemetry data suggests and chasing after money dictate otherwise.

Reply | Quote

I don’t know, i don’t care 😀

it’s just the brief usage experience

3 users thanked author for this post.

woody, Noel Carboni, ch100

Reply | Quote

🙂

1 user thanked author for this post.

abbodi86

Reply | Quote

That’s going to be an ongoing problem. I just love Windows 10’s lifecycles.

Reply | Quote

I can define “not better” as something like…

• With v1607 I was able to reconfigure and augment Windows 10 to my liking and Windows Update still worked. With v1703 I am having to update from the catalog.
• With v1607 some 3rd party tools I choose to use worked great. Only just in the past few weeks were the authors of those 3rd party tools able to make them work with v1703. The constant change aspect makes any new release “worse”.
• The amount of information provided to the user for just about anything that goes wrong is decidedly LESS in v1703. I mentioned not being able to use Windows Update above – there is no error message or even information deep in a geek-level log file to tell me why it didn’t work.
• The amount of DOCUMENTATION provided by Microsoft is declining. That’s more than enough reason to call it “not better” all by itself.
• Gettin’ technical, with v1703 I have begun to see Explorer update problems – for example, delete one file and the entire Explorer files pane might go blank. That didn’t happen in v1607. I’ve been able to reproduce it even in a freshly installed v1703 with no tweaking or added software.
• It’s harder to get rid of the App C***. No, I don’t want Apps. No, I don’t want to be forced to keep them.
• No, I don’t want “suggestions” (ADS, goldang it!) to run stupid games.
• I’m in the Administrators group. So why does Windows refuse to do so many things (like disable certain services or scheduled jobs), requiring me to start the control functions under SYSTEM to do what I want done?
• I for one don’t need a dumbed-down system. I need a smarted-up system that advances the state of the operating system art, not just adds application software worthy of a 1970s 8 bit computer.
• I could go on and on; there are reasons I’m not even remembering right now.

Do we need questions like “why is it not better” when it’s so obvious?

-Noel

4 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, radosuaf, ch100, AlexEiffel

Reply | Quote

Another worse thing is that TrustedInstaller has more permissions than the SYSTEM account.

Reply | Quote

I’m on 1607 and it is very stable.  Nothing in Creators update appeals to me, so I plan to stick with 1607 a bit longer.  It just does what I need it to do, and that is to support the applications I use, without causing problems.

And I always take a disk image before running MS monthly updates, in case MS has botched something I use.  Rollback in 25 mins … if necessary.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

2 users thanked author for this post.

Noel Carboni, abbodi86

Reply | Quote

JohnW wrote:

Nothing in Creators update appeals to me, so I plan to stick with 1607 a bit longer.

Time was, you could just skip a version that didn’t light your fire. You could use an older version that did what you need, on the hardware you had, for years. Or maybe you just waited until Service Pack 1 came out, in 12 to 18 months.

Being able to do that is one of the things that made being in the Microsoft / Windows camp a Good Thing.

Those days are gone. Now it’s about 6 month intervals – FAR too short.

Microsoft hasn’t changed. Their new stuff is just as buggy (it’s the nature of the beast with something as complex as Windows, which itself is more complex and bloated than ever). Needs haven’t changed – people need Windows TO WORK RIGHT. It’s the cornerstone. Computers are changing less quickly now than in prior decades…

So what’s new to justify this ridiculous constant change BS? Management’s attention span?

-Noel

3 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, dononline, JohnW

Reply | Quote

Well if push comes to shove, I’ll just unplug Windows from the network, and run my Windows apps on it.  Stay with the version I like forever, which may be 1607, no updates ever again …

And use Linux for my online life.  Simple.  🙂

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

1 user thanked author for this post.

RamRod

Reply | Quote

I don’t care. I have a computer that meets my needs right now. Convince me, without using Chicken-Little security fear mongering, that I need to upgrade. And ‘because MS says so’, doesn’t count either. Go slow, I want to take a picture of your facial expressions while you express your dearly held opinions but still fail to justify any reason for ME to upgrade. I’ll upgrade on my schedule based on what benefits I perceive.

Reply | Quote

Convince me, without using Chicken-Little security fear mongering, that I need to upgrade. And ‘because MS says so’, doesn’t count either. Go slow, I want to take a picture of your facial expressions while you express your dearly held opinions but still fail to justify any reason for ME to upgrade

I don’t see where the anger underlying your post is coming from.

If you go back before the comments page to Woody’s post that linked you to an article on Computerworld, that article contained several hundred words of reasoning for the update advice at the time it was written. That advice will change as the situation evolves. I know you didn’t get to photograph Woody’s face as he explained it, but it seems unlikely to me that further back-and-forth discussion with you is going to be time well spent, since your mind is made up.

As with recommendations about other products, when to change the furnace filters, how to paint a house, how to evaluate a roofing estimate, and so on, you’re free to adopt or ignore any or all of the advice. It’s your Windows device; do what you want.

Reply | Quote

Sorry, RamRod, that was me posting “anonymous”ly. Not trying to hide from you–just forgot to log in before posting.

1 user thanked author for this post.

RamRod

Reply | Quote

I must have written that right after I stubbed my toe. I apologize for the angry tone. See my explanation above in a response to Woody. Respectfully, there is an error in your reasoning – as long as MS can update my machine without notice or approval it’s not really my ‘windows device’.

Actually, my mind is not made up. In my passive aggressive manor, I’m hoping someone will say something that convinces me to give MS more time to get it’s act together and fix some of these issues in a way that meets both our needs. I am really too lazy to move to Linux, unless MS forces the issue. That point is approaching, but we aren’t quite there yet.

1 user thanked author for this post.

teuhasn

Reply | Quote

I’ll just add my perspective here.  It is important to run a currently supported and patched OS, if you intend to use it online, because of malware designed to attack weaknesses.

The malware creators are very sophisticated now, as it has become big business, and their drive by exploits are lurking everywhere online.  Just look at the rise in crypto ransomware, for example.

By just visiting a web page linked to an attack, it can cause a script to run to see what version of OS you are running,  what browser, etc., to see if you expose any known vulnerability.  If one is found, they download a malware payload just for you!

By staying current, you minimize the attack surface that you expose to the bad guys.  You also need to run good security software, but that will not guarantee protection, especially if you run out of date software with known vulnerabilities.

On the subject of making Windows “yours”, keeping it offline is the only sure way to avoid it phoning home. or downloading unwanted updates.

I still use Windows XP to run some paid for software that won’t install on Windows 10.  But keeping it offline and using local files only works well for me.

Linux is probably the best alternatives for online use.  It’s not vulnerable to Windows malware, and since it’s open source, it serves no master other than you!

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote

@John’W ,

5 Stages of a Web Attack

The term drive-by download describes how malware can infect your computer simply by visiting a website that is running malicious code (Stage 1: entry point).

Most of the time, these are legitimate websites that have been compromised to redirect you to another site controlled by the hackers (Stage 2: distribution).

Today’s cybercriminals use sophisticated malware packaged in an “exploit kit” that can find a vulnerability in your software among thousands of possibilities.

When your browser is redirected to the site hosting an exploit kit, it probes your operating system, web browser and other software (such as your PDF reader or video player) to find a security vulnerability that it can attack (Stage 3: exploit).

Remember — if you are not applying security updates to your operating system and software, you are unprotected against these exploits.

Once the exploit kit has identified a vulnerability, that is where Stage 4: infection begins. In the infection phase of an attack, the exploit kit downloads what is known as a “payload,” which is the malware that installs itself on your computer.

Finally, in Stage 5: execution, the malware does what it was designed to do, which is mainly to make money for its masters.

The malware known as Zbot can access your email or bank accounts. Another type of payload called ransomware can hold your files hostage until you pay to have them released.

.
https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2014/03/26/how-malware-works-anatomy-of-a-drive-by-download-web-attack-infographic/
.
I think an unpatched Windows OS using a non-Admin User Account and running a good Anti-Virus program(eg with Web Reputation Service) would have prevented the above Drive-by infection, ie by flagging both the insecure legitimate website and redirected website controlled by hackers as Dangerous.
. . . The Limited/Standard and Guest User Accounts in Windows do not allow malware to be installed.

Reply | Quote

The Limited/Standard and Guest User Accounts in Windows do not allow malware to be installed.

I wish this was true.

2 users thanked author for this post.

JohnW, AlexEiffel

Reply | Quote

I was going to reply please see MrBrian regarding this…

I remember our discussion about how a malware running in standard user account could hijack admin credentials just by having any elevated process running side-by-side…

😉

 

Reply | Quote

I wish this was true too.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

Reply | Quote

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/standard-accounts-stop-malware,news-18326.html

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-windows-10-non-admin-and-why

https://www.zonealarm.com/forums/showthread//69895-True-of-False-Standard-User-Account-(Limited-Account)-is-most-secure

Reply | Quote

@anonymous: Malware can be acquired and gain persistence in a standard account. That’s the reason that some people (like me) use additional measures such as anti-executable software in conjunction with a standard account.

By the way, I am a big proponent of using a standard account for everyday use.

Reply | Quote

I share your frustration as do most of us here. I’m glad you came back and dialed it back a notch.

Reply | Quote

Once Defcon is at Level 3 I’ll install the updates. I saw I got 1703 too. I’ll be sure to save my pictures, documents and stuff on a USB drive before I do updates. Also lucky since I out an outlook email and stuff even if I reboot, my stuff will be safe except for scanned pictures-Trust me learned that when I got fed up with the HP win 10 laptop and swapped to Lenovo laptop. 🙂

I got the adobe, malware update, 1703 update and the defender update. Once it goes level 3-I’m saving my stuff on usb drive before I begin the updates.

Reply | Quote

May I ask h ow you got version 1703 update?

Reply | Quote

Excuse me-Is it safe to install the cumulative update for 1703 for windows 10. It’s kb4034674

Reply | Quote

I am in v1607 , at 7/7/2017 I get the message to set my privacy settings, I’m waiting still to get the v1703 but nothing. I see in my programs this “”” windows 10 update and privacy settings “” that install in 7/7/2017 with the message to set my privacy settings, so I wonder if I must wait to take the v1703 from windows update or I must go to Microsoft page to do that.

Reply | Quote

Set your privacy settings.
It is better to wait for Windows Update to update you to 1703.
But if you are in a rush, you can go to the Microsoft page and update immediately.

Either way, BE SURE TO DO A FULL BACKUP BEFORE YOU UPDATE

Reply | Quote

How does on set the Privacy Settings to go from version 1607 to version 1703? Thank you.

 

Reply | Quote

Settings>Privacy.
Highlight each on the left.
Change settings according to your preferences on the right.
Then wait for 1703 to be offered through Windows Update.

If you used any of the blocking methods, you will need to reverse those settings.

Reply | Quote

PK,

I went to Settings/Privacy but don’t see any that have to do with Windows update. What settings prevent update to version 1703? Woody must have given those settings to us at one point but how does one reverse those settings to allow update to version 1703?

You and Woody always provide the guide to the uninitiated but I can’t figure out how to get version 1703 based on any of your recent posts.

Thanks, CMA

Reply | Quote

Privacy settings have to do with privacy, not WU. Set your privacy settings so they will be right for you in 1703.

WU blocking – this ComputerWorld article tells you about blocking. If you did any of this it needs to be undone. Then just wait for WU to offer Creators Update 1703.

Reply | Quote

“Click Update & security. Click the link to Advanced options and check the box marked Defer Feature Updates. That puts you on the “Current Branch for Business”

PK,

I don’t have “Defer Feature updates checked”. I will review the Computer World article you referenced. The issue must be Wushowhide. That is the only thing left. Also, in Services. doesn’t one have to enable “Windows Update” and “Background intelligent Transfer Service”?

BTW, does the version 1703 update (or any update) take place only on reboots or can it interrupt overnight work?

Reply | Quote

Reply;

Bear in mind that if for whatever reason, a computer running Win 10 Version 1607 could not be upgraded to Version 1703, end-of-support or EOL for Version 1607 will be in early 2018 = the users may need to buy a new OEM Win 10 computer preinstalled with Win 10 Version 1710 or FCU.

Bear in mind that M$ have the legal right to block a computer running Win 10 Version 1607 from receiving the feature-update/upgrade to Version 1703, eg because of hardware incompatibility or an OEM device having reached EOL(eg certain old Intel processors).

The above situation will repeat itself for every new Version of Win 10, ad infinitum.

In short, Planned Obsolescence.

P S – Previously, users of Win 7/8.1 were rest assured that they could run the OS for about 10 years until EOL in 2020/2023, even though M$ have tried to degrade Win 7/8.1 since the launch of Win 10 in July 2015.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Elly

Reply | Quote

It’s nothing special, wish we had a choice of a long term release. Don’t care in the least about Microsoft’s six months everything is reset and three months of fixing s**t. Sorry, in a bad mood on Windows 10 right now. Think I need to use my Windows 7 PC for a while.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, RamRod, Noel Carboni

Reply | Quote

PKCano wrote:

Click on the link “Download Windows 10 site” in the post above, Click on “Update now”

The link goes to
“Create Windows 10 installation media”
You have a license to install Windows 10 and are upgrading this PC from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

You need to reinstall Windows 10 on a PC you’ve already successfully activated Windows 10.

I already have Windows 10 version 1607. I want to go to version 1703 as Woody recommends. The link seems to be to get Windows 10.  Isn’t there a method to upgrade to version 1703 from within version 1607?

Thank you.

Reply | Quote

PKCano’s quite correct. The page is poorly marked, but clicking Update now will perform the upgrade.

I also tried upgrading by clicking on the Windows Update link in 1607 that says something like “You can be one of the first to get the Creators Update” — which is utter BS, but the link worked.

Reply | Quote

Woody,

Where in versioin 1607 can I find this:<span style=”color: #000000; font-family: ‘Helvetica Neue’, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;”> Windows Update link in 1607 that says something like “You can be one of the first to get the Creators Update”</span><span style=”color: #000000; font-family: ‘Helvetica Neue’, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;”> ?</span>

Perhaps I am going to the wrong URL, but the page I go to does not havc the option “Update Now.”

Thanks.

Reply | Quote

Woody-Excuse me-Is it safe to install the cumulative update for 1703 for windows 10. It’s kb4034674. So will it be safe to download it when were at Defcon 3. Yes or no-I need to know asap.

Reply | Quote

Yes, when the DEFCON number is 3 it will be safe to download and install KB4034674 v1703 Build 15063.540

1 user thanked author for this post.

woody

Reply | Quote

Thank you very much 🙂

Reply | Quote

PK, I have a Windows 10 Pro system on the Deferred Channel/Updates  (not sure which term to choose) that I upgraded from Windows 10 (Home) about a month ago.  Yesterday, I updated from Version 1607 Build 14393.1480 to Version 1703.  On Version 1703 with Deferred Channel/Updates, I am now at Build 15063.483 (from July 11) while the Current Build is Build 15063.540 from August 8.

Is this normal when updating on the Deferred Channel/Updates, i.e. that you are brought up to a build that is not quite current?

I discovered today that Windows Update has two updates waiting for me (because I always use a metered connection):

• 2017-08 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems (KB4034674)

• 2017-08 Security Update for Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10 Version 1703 for x64-based Systems (KB4034662)

I am thinking of using WUSHOWHIDE to hide KB4034674, but not hide KB4034662, which I was being offered on Version 1607 before I upgraded to Version 1703.

What do you think about these ideas since you are an AskWoody MVP?

Very truly yours,

Jonathan Handler

Reply | Quote

There is a semi-annual channel, a semi-annual channel (Targeted), and a Long Term Servicing Channel.

What do you mean by “Deferred Channel?” Do you mean you have “defer feature updates” set? Do you mean you have “defer Quality updates” set?

If you have “defer feature updates” set to a certain number of days, it will defer upgrades (Fall CU for example) for that number of days.

If you have “defer quality updates” set to a certain number of days, it will defer the next Build for that number of days. In your case that would be update to Build 15063.540 which is the August Build update. If you set this at 7 days now, it will hold you till the DEFCON number is 3 or above.

Look under Settings\Update & security\Windows Update\Advanced options to find these values.

I don’t recommend hiding updates. Windows Update will give you what you need. When you get ready to update (that is when DEFCON is 3 or above), set the “defer quality updates” setting to 0 (zero), turn off metered connections, and take whatever updates are in the queue (except drivers – OK to hide them).

After you update, reset the metered connection and defer the quality updates for 30 days.

 

2 users thanked author for this post.

Jonathan Handler, JohnW

Reply | Quote

PK:

Thank you for pointing me to the settings.  Since I have been on Windows 10 Pro for only a month or so and on Version 1703 for only a day, this information has been very helpful.

When I searched the path that you recommended on Windows 10 Pro, I found only the Current Branch and Current Branch for Business options.  Are your running Windows 10 Enterprise that you have the third option?

I see settings on Windows 10 Pro that I can:

1) Defer Feature Updates for 0-365 days

2) Defer Quality Updates for 0-30 days

Based on Woody’s recent advice and your advice above, I am inclined to Defer Feature Updates to 90 or 120 days based on the Version 1703 experience and to Defer Quality Updates to 30 days.  This corresponds to what I have been trying to do by using WUSHOWHIDE.  I am not sure how drivers factor in this because I see more than a dozen when I run WUSHOWIDE.  Currently, I am not hiding any software using WUSHOWHIDE.

All Wi-Fi networks that I use or have used are set to Metered Connection.

What do you think?

Very truly yours,

Jonathan Handler

Reply | Quote

The pulldown menus still say CB and CBB – they haven’t changed the nomenclature yet. You want CBB.

I would defer feature updates for AT LEAST 120 days (4 mos) maybe more to be sure you are at semi-annual channel (CBB old terms). You can always reduce that number later, but it’s hard to go back after the feature update is dropped on you unexpectedly.

There has been some scuttlebutt that Metered Connections may not always hold from now on. We’ll see on that one. But I wouldn’t take them off.

3 users thanked author for this post.

Jonathan Handler, JohnW, woody

Reply | Quote

PK,

OK, I like your ideas: Defer Feature Updates set to 120 days; Defer Quality Updates set to 30 days.

When we go to MS DEFCON3 within a week or so, I will manually trigger the Quality Update that is waiting to take me to Build 15063.540

Thank you again,

Jonathan Handler

Reply | Quote

You are certainly welcome. 🙂

Reply | Quote

PK,

With the settings we have been discussing, I feel that I can use Windows 10 Pro and begin to “set it and forget it” and not need to obsess about it most days of the month.  Of course, Murphy still rules and I do not expect this to last forever, but it is a start.

Now, if Microsoft can improve its software development and delivery process from here that would be even better!

Very truly yours,

Jonathan Handler

Reply | Quote

It was certainly worth the Home -> Pro upgrade!!!!

1 user thanked author for this post.

Jonathan Handler

Reply | Quote

Woody, I understand the patches of 1607 made you assert it is better to move to 1703, but don’t you think the fact 1607 has an LTS version should help those issues be addressed at some point?

I really don’t feel like moving to 1703. Only one computer I manage went to it because I think the tech forgot to use my scripts on it. We had a few issues with that laptop after and one still not resolved with a flash based website not working properly anymore (I know we shouldn’t use a flash based website, I didn’t know about this one and just found out this service they bought ans used for a long time was flash based). For me, I will let 1703 cool down from the oven a bit more and stay on 1607, despite the recent bad patches.

Reply | Quote

I have been running 1703 since CB and it had good and bad.
One thing which I don’t like is the complicated way to reach Control Panel.
Other than that, I don’t see any reason not to update (or to update).
Once on Windows 10, any debate on this subject is redundant.
I personally can’t wait to jump on board of 1709 when it will be made CB, or a little bit earlier when the software is sealed and “sent to manufacturing” to use older terminology.

Reply | Quote

ch100,

I am using the same way to reach Control Panel now that I have used at least as far back as Windows 8.1.

I type Control Panel into the lower left search box.  Control Panel opens up and puts an icon in the Taskbar. I right click on the icon and select Pin to Taskbar where it stays.

As a further refinement, I slide the Control Panel icon to the left and place it between the Task View icon and the Store icon.  I seem to remember moving the Store icon to the left more than a year ago, but maybe it has always been there.  It looks to me like Windows 10 is now/still doing a good job of not scrambling my left to right arrangement of icons on the Taskbar when I upgrade with a new Feature Update.

Very truly yours,

Jonathan Handler

2 users thanked author for this post.

JohnW, ch100

Reply | Quote

I know how to access Control Panel in 1703 via multiple methods, either by searching in the Cortana box or by going in sequence through multiple screens starting with the Settings app.
I mentioned it because this is a change from the Start Menu as it was known from Windows 8 and until Windows 10 1607 when Control Panel could be accessed directly via right-clicking on the Start Menu button.
This change signals an acceleration in Microsoft’s intentions to move away from Control Panel and port functionality into the Settings app, but I find this move premature as there is still a lot of important configuration which can be made only in Control Panel.
Thank you for providing the method to Pin to the Taskbar which many other users would find useful.

Reply | Quote

I pin Control Panel to the taskbar. In the Cortana search box, type Control. Right-click on Control Panel and choose Pin to taskbar.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Jonathan Handler, ch100

Reply | Quote

Most good Windows System Admins would recommend thus:

meatwad75892, 3 months ago*

Totally up to you, but I’d recommend waiting at least until it hits CBB. We have a staged approach for Win10 feature updates:

(a) Release – Me and the other admins test.

(b) 1 month later – IT managers and helpdesk/desktop crew test.

(c) 2 months later – Approved for all of IT.

(d) CBB date – Approved for all per our maintenance plans unless there’s an outstanding incompatibility for a major application we use. If it’s a busy time of the year, we wait another month.

If you’re in our general user population, what you get is whatever the latest version released to CBB is.

For argument’s sake, you could deploy 1607 now, skip 1703, and deploy the 17??(Fall Creator’s Update) when it hits CBB. Your users will be without those new features for a while, but it’s an acceptable middle-ground in my opinion if you feel better sticking with 1 upgrade per year-long span instead of 2. Just be wary of your EOL dates. Win10 versions that are not on a long-term branch will go end of life once they’re 3 versions behind, such as 1507 did this month.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/6di0j8/windows_10_1607_vs_1703/di2ykeq/

Reply | Quote

Although the terminology has changed (twice), that’s still very good advice.

Reply | Quote

Really, having used Windows 8.1 for 8 months now (with history dating back to MS-DOS 3.11 and generally having had at least basic contact with all desktop Windows versions from 3.1, with notable omission of Windows ME) I have to say that this is an OS with the worst undeserved publicity ever. Incredible how one (I admit, an important one) design choice (taking out the Start menu) can influence perception of the whole OS (just as “restoring” mostly useless Start menu in Windows 10 made it a “better system” right away).

Antec P7 Silent * Corsair RM550x * ASUS TUF GAMING B560M-PLUS * Intel Core i5-11400F * 4 x 8 GB G.Skill Aegis DDR4 3200 MHz CL16 * Sapphire Radeon 6700 10GB * XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 1TB * SanDisk Ultra 3D 1TB * DVD RW Lite-ON iHAS 124 * Windows 10 Pro 22H2 64-bit

2 users thanked author for this post.

Jonathan Handler, Noel Carboni

Reply | Quote

This is old news to some, but worth repeating:

Something almost anyone can do if you have a reasonably decent computer system… Get a virtualization package and TRY the newer operating system in a virtual machine. Make sure it does what you need, get used to it, get some practice tweaking it to your liking BEFORE upgrading your actual hardware system.

Essentially, virtualization gives you PCs in windows. The more powerful your hardware, the more feasible it is to run one or more VMs.

I personally use a commercial package called VMware workstation to facilitate this, but there are different choices out there, some of which are even free (e.g., VMware Player).

My hardware boots Windows 8.1, and I have Virtual Machines (VMs) for Windows OS versions/editions (XP, Vista, 7, 8.1, 10) I can boot up for testing. I have kept snapshots for major service packs or builds within each. A snapshot can be restored and run literally in a few seconds.

To host virtual machines you of course will need a lot of spare disk space (which is relatively cheap nowadays, even SSD storage) but virtualization is a nice “have cake and eat it too” solution. Once you’ve used this tech to test or experiment without risking the integrity of your host hardware system, you’ll wonder how anyone could do without it.

-Noel

3 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, BobbyB, JohnW

Reply | Quote

Using a VM is much better than multi-boot setups, IMO.

The only reason I could see using multi-boot is the special case where the OS needed direct access to some hardware that is not supported in the VM hypervisor.  But for most typical use, that should not be an issue.

I am a big fan of the Oracle VirtualBox (free), and have also used VMWare Player.  It is cross platform and runs on most hosts.  It can run VM guest OS of any flavor.  I have run Linux on Windows and vice versa, and Windows on Windows, no problem!

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/VirtualBox

If your CPU supports hardware virtualization, and you have at least 8GB of RAM, you should be fine.  I have run it on one laptop with 4GB, but it was a tight squeeze.

The performance I experience with the guest VM’s is like I am running a native install of the OS.

Windows 10 Pro 22H2

2 users thanked author for this post.

Elly, Noel Carboni

Reply | Quote

1703 isn’t working very well with RSAT tools. For example, I’m unable to edit or create GPOs with the console, the DHCP console is very laggy or unable to connect to the server.  I thought that it was the re installation of the tools due to their removals during the update. To be sure, I create a new VM with clean installation of 1703 and no joy. As per Microsoft, they won’t released a new version for 1703.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Noel Carboni, ch100

Reply | Quote

Any idea how well they’re working with 1709?

Reply | Quote

Not really, I didn’t try the preview update 1709 yet. When I will have the chance to try it, I’ll report back. As I said Microsoft recommend to use the tools released with 1607, but on various Technet forums, the solution is to use version 1607 and block the upgrade to 1703 until a fix is provided or a new set of tools is released.

Reply | Quote

Still have the same problems with eiher the fast or slow ring preview on 1709. It’s even worse with the fast one, I got random crashes regarding the MMC console.

Reply | Quote

Is it gonna change to Defcon 3 yet? Next week is september’s patch tuesday and we can’t have august and september patches mixing each other up.

 

So are we almost at Defcon 3 yet this week?

Reply | Quote

I suggest windows users start seriously looking into dual booting mint Linux.  The next best thing to windows I have found. There will be some bumps and no without installing a vm of window that 12 year old program you must have will not run.  There are 80 to 90 percent coverage replacement apps in Linux. Also there is wine a addon that will mostly run some windows apps in Linux native.  Do your best to use the Linux partition each day and you will be surprised how long it has been since you needed to boot to windows.   I hated Linux a few years ago but it has come a long way since.  Fyi you can download an iso and boot from it to “try it out before installing.  Again I suggest mint Linux some of the others are funky when coming from windows

Reply | Quote

Average user here. Sorry for my English!

I started to feel a few years ago that all this update thing is to create an artificially exaggerated hysterical ‘must update’ tension. The feel that the new, updated stuff MUST BE better than the old because of. . .something. This something is that I very rarely saw. As an experiment for 3 years, I was in group W or Z, I’m not sure, but I totally disabled Win update on 8.1, had paid antivirus though. Guess what, nothing happened.  I might was in a botnet but sensed nothing, had a fast, convenient, reliable OS. I also have WIN10 on a dual boot tablet and well, I don’t like it. Occasionally sluggish, has unexplained errors. I usually use the Android part, feels far far solid.

I want secure, fast, reliable OS not an everchanging terminal software controlled by a bunch of remote servers!

Reply | Quote

I have tried to upgrade from Windows 10 v1607 ( OS Build 14393.1670) to the Creators version using the Windows Upgrade Assistant as per Woody’s suggestion “for all the wrong reasons”. The process just fails without providing any useful error message.

So, I tried downloading and burning the ISO to DVD. It goes through the installation process until the first boot when it just reverts  to v1607. Again , no useful error messages.

Finally, the  Features update appeared in my Windows Update and I went through the process of downloading it and attempting to install it. Again it fails , only oncee giving the error message . “Feature update to Windows 10, version1703 –  Error 0x80246010”

I have tried this the Windows Update process at least  6 times without success and am getting concerned at the repeated writes to my SSD of  GBs of files, so much so,  that I have hidden the efeatures Update using wushowhidediag.cab.
I have searched for a solution on the web but nothing has worked, I have run sfc with no corruption of my files being reported, I have used the Updates troubleshooter, all without any success.

This has unfortunately been a very  frustrating experience. Any thoughts on a solution?

(Sorry this is anonymous; I tried to register but keep getting 503 Service unavailble messages.)

Reply | Quote

Well this is the third time that I have installed 1703.  The install goes smoothly. 15 hours later it has completed. I am able to login and everything looks normal. But wait, I open a browser and have no network access. I go to the network settings page and  no indication of no connection. Everything looks normal. I walk through  trying wired and wireless connection using a procedure that I have written up based on a two hour call with Microsoft second level support. Every check comes back with the correct expected and documents answer or result. I completed the procedures step by step and check box off each f them with screenshots for confirmation and documentation. I am forced to conclude that the TCP/IP stack of windows is still not able to connect to the hardware drivers interfaces provided trough the drivers for my Toshiba C-50A laptop. Further to Toshiba indicate that since the machine is End-of-Life 9After only 4 years) I am forced to roll back to 1607. I then block the 1703 update using the documented procedure as supplied by Microsoft. As a result, I will only ba ale to get security updates for 1607 going forward and no further feature updates.

Reply | Quote