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Just a note on embedded Flash. Often, Flash won’t run on a site unless it’s the current version. It’s a security precaution Adobe has implemented but depends a little on the software being used to author, if applicable.

If there is a problem updating, Flash will be blocked on many sites. But not all, and not HTML5 ones.

I’ll mention a bug with AU on a friends laptop. After AU went in, it send the video signal to the external port rather than the laptop screen, which was blank.
The update ended up rolling back, discovered after this had started when we figured it out. (if you cycle the FN-F5 screen setting, it rotates the display)

A couple of days later it started again. They left it overnight. In the morning, it had the same screen issue and was still churning away. They responded by unplugging it, then removing the battery. The system reverted after they reconnected it. They plan to take it in to a technician next time. In other words, pay to have it install properly.

On my Desktop, AU had not been offered so I decided to download the updater. That failed with an 0x80004005 error. I reviewed driver updates, etc. I then tried Fred’s suggestion and used the Media Creation tool. It seemed to go further but failed with just a message saying it didn’t work. There is no available BIOS update.

Meanwhile, I was running updates on my hybrid tablet. After checking the list and starting the process, it added the AU update to the queue. The update took about 3 hours total but went in smoothly. Happy this didn’t happen when traveling.

In other words, they may have added a bunch more computers to the queue but not all.

This evening, I tried the Update download for my desktop. That failed with a 0x80004005 error. I went through a couple of fix lists to no avail.
I then tried the Media Creation tool. That seemed to go further. In fact it seemed to be being successful. Then expecting a restart notice, I got a failed notice, no reason.

Meanwhile, updating my tablet, I discovered it had added 1607 to the list after I’d started the updates. It then updated Defender. And then began the long shutdown and restart install cycle. And then more updates.

Well, at least this didn’t happen when I was traveling (shortly).

I’ve had the same experience as Fred.
I’d used other Symantec bloatware prior and was very disappointed to hear they took over Norton. We’d used them throughout the office. And indeed, within the year, we’d replaced them. They had turned out to be the cause of lockups, slowdowns and other unacceptable issues.

I get Fred’s point although perhaps his wording was not ideal. Lugh put it well. The issue is people acting like they’re protected when they’re not the way they think they are. Kind of like Mercedes gained a reputation for being a very safe car. Then they got sloppy and built unsafe cars but people where still buying them for the safety.

Ive not seen AU on either of my systems yet.

A friend got it a couple of weeks ago. The first round went in but sent the video to the Dsub port to the TV rather than the laptops screen. As the TV was off, it wasn’t apparent what was going on – just a blank screen. When that got sorted, it was discovered it was rolling back AU, probably due to not OKing it.

On the weekend, it went in again and was left overnight. In the morning, it was still churning away so they cancelled it. I doubt they want to try again.

I’ve had recent Windows lock up like that. Mouse moves but nothing responds. A restart was the fix. No particular software appeared to be the issue and it didn’t repeat itself. I have not however gotten an “application” error like that. I can see where an OS loader may be problematic if its not coded well.

I’ll be continuing to use Classic Shell for a start menu as the AU updates have just made it worse.
Though I may have to reinstall it (again)
AU hasn’t shown up for either of my machines yet. But I have seen it on friends.

I’ve not seen AU on either of my systems yet but it did show up on a friends laptop yesterday. After a good long time, it had rebooted twice but came up with a blank screen.
I restarted again to no avail. I basically discovered by accident it was sending the video to a side port rather than the screen?? And thats when I discovered it was uninstalling the update, apparently because i didn’t verify it.

Nice safety feature as at first I thought it might be a video driver issue. But really goofy it did this. I mention this mainly in case anyone else runs into the issue – no video? Try the Function-F5 or similar to change screens.

Usually, if drivers fail after an upgrade it’s because they don’t support the new OS. In that case, you want to upgrade the drivers. Reinstalling won’t help unless the update process broke something or put in unsuitable ones.

Sometimes, it can be useful to reboot after installing new drivers. That will load them properly.

Have you checked the ASUS web site for your model? You mention ASUS version but not if this was the update. Sometimes large makers do use custom chips or configurations, such as when the audio subsystem is on the motherboard. In that case, you can’t compare generic version #s with model-specific versions.

Another option is what Paul suggested. Uninstall the drivers and either reboot or have Windows check for new hardware. (right click the computer name in Control Panel, Device Manager and select Scan for Hardware changes, then let Windows find a driver.) Windows drivers may be more generic but should get it working.

Although I have a friend who’s mic stopped working after the Win10 upgrade and updating the drivers wasn’t a fix. Generally, such things are addressed over time but not on older systems.

Myself, I never liked the way Windows expects you to organize files so never used the “default” locations. I also don’t like how various software clutters it up. I found Libraries pointless and turned them off.

I have an SSD boot drive with all programs and keep user-saveable data on a separate drive, as others mention here. I also use distinct backup systems – an Image is perfect for the boot drive but for data, I need immediate access if there’s a problem. Buried in a proprietary format is not immediate.

This has served me well for years. And saved my bacon a few times.

But I do agree with the title of the article – moving System folders is a mistake. User files folders are easy to change and handled by most decent backup tools.

Both these are notes programs designed for sharing across devices.
“Security is a bit gray with Keep.” Actually, I’d say it’s rather grey with Chrome as a whole.

If you simply want a free program for Android for notes to take with you, I really like the free ColorNote. It has reminders, sharing, and online backup. https://www.colornote.com/
The last worked seemlessly when I recently changed phones.

On my PC, I use Notepad++ which also includes spellcheck.

I’ve not been offered AU on either of my Win10 machines. However, I have a cautionary re: Win10 Updates.

I was reading an ebook on my hybrid tablet recently. When I finished for the evening, I shut down, only to discover too late that Windows Update was running without notice. (it was after the hours I’d set to avoid this) It didn’t stop but shut down in what I later found out was the 1511 cumulative update.

The update would no longer install so I researched how to fix the issue. I went through a series of tries to restore or otherwise fix things. Should have just done an image restore but thought I could just fix the problem. One old fix was to rename the catroot file to reset updates. Do NOT try this on Win10. It rendered the machine unbootable. Working through the available options, Repair wouldn’t work as it said I had the wrong version (confused during the failed update?), another try said it needed massive drive space. I finally had to run a Restore, keeping files intact.

This means I have have to reinstall all the apps and go over all the annoying defaults again. As Windows is now up again, I may do an image restore although this means running the updates again.

All of this because of no notice or choice of when to update. Stupid.

I got notice of updates today but they where cumulative updates to 1511, not the new AU build.
Based on Woody’s columns, I’m in no rush to upgrade. Happy to take a later version thats been a bit more debugged. He suggested there was some evidence they’ve stopped pushing it out while they polish it more.

I’d be in no rush to install it right away on production systems.

And personally, I don’t consider it an old approach to separate files and apps/OS. If you have a system go down and need access to your files, you don’t want to be dancing with getting an OS up that will support imaging software so you can find and extract the files. Just plug the backup drive into another system and you’re up and running.

I organize my files in a sophisticated folder system that Windows Docs folders are woefully inadequate for. Not to mention the various software that creates their own random folders. I leave Docs for that and manage my files on another partition. Fred’s former advice has served me well for many years and has saved my bacon.

Managing my files based on the latest Windows Fad? Dumb idea. Look how long Libraries lasted.