Newsletter Archives

• Upgrade from 1703 to 1709 hoses one admin profile

  Posted on October 19, 2018 at 06:10 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Oh dear.

  Those of us running 1703 will have to move to a new version pretty quickly. I’ll be weighing the options and making a recommendation in the next week or two.

  This report came as something of a surprise:

  Dell XPS 8920, Intel Core i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz, 16 Gb RAM, Windows 10 Professional.

  2 administrator profiles ME, HER. 1709 update pushed while in ME profile. HER profile also signed in. ME profile seems to be working, but HER profile will not open. Sign in to HER profile, desktop appears for a couple of seconds then goes to the picture display before the sign in screen.

  No matter how many times you try, the same happens. Roll back to 1703 and everything works like it should. Delay 1709 for 365 days.

  10/18/2018 signed in to HER profile and 1709 is pushed again. Same issue as a year ago. ME profile works, but HER profile does not.

  Figured the problem would have been fixed by now…HA HA HA…snicker…oh…sorry. Have not find anything on the web to fix this.

  Anybody else see this?

  Windows Patches/Security Win10 1703, Win10 1709

• How to upgrade from Win10 Pro 1703 to 1709 — and not 1803

  Posted on August 28, 2018 at 07:37 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  There are some interesting discussions in the forum, kicked off by CyGuy, about the precise nature of the “feature update deferral” setting in Win10’s Updates Advanced Options.

  If you’re on 1703 (my production machines are all on 1703) and you want to move to 1803, it’s easy – just set the feature update deferral to 0 days, and run through Windows Update once. As long as you do that before 1809 is released, you’ll end up on 1803.

  But zero2dash has conducted some experiments with VMs that make me wonder if it’s possible to move from 1703 to 1709 by setting the “feature update deferral” to a number larger than 48 but less than 221 (give or take a day or two, as time marches on).

  Can any of you confirm?

  I have a copy of 1709 stuck on a USB stick and can upgrade from 1703 to 1709 that way, if worse comes to worst. But it’d be a whole lot easier to just set “feature update deferral” to 200 days and let Windows have its way.

  Windows News Win10 1703, Win10 1709, Win10 1803

• Eight new entries in the Update Catalog – appear to be metadata changes

  Posted on July 18, 2018 at 06:24 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  On the 17th, Microsoft re-released eight patches in the Update Catalog.

  They cover Win10 1803, 1709, and Server 2016.

  As best I can tell, there have been no changes to the patches themselves, so it’s likely these are “metadata” changes — adjustments to the installation logic for the patches.

  The KB articles now have correct build numbers listed, by the way. But only at the top of each KB article. The slider on the left still has the incorrect build numbers. For example, the latest Win10 1803 patch is listed at the top as build 17134.167, while on the left index it’s shown as 17134.166.

  A foolish inconsistency.

  Windows Patches/Security Server 2016, Win10 1709, Win10 1803

• You still have time to get a copy of Win10 1709

  Posted on April 30, 2018 at 11:41 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Per a tweet from Paul Thurrott, the Download Windows 10 site is still offering version 1709. I just checked and it’s still there.

  If you think you may need a copy of 1709 in the future, hop over there and download an official ISO.

  Whatever you do, don’t burn it on a CD and then sell the CD as if it were a “genuine” 1709 CD.

  Update: as mentioned in the comments, the page is now offering version 1803. Sic transit gloria.

  Windows News Win10 1709

• Patch Lady – 1709 KB 4093105 newly out

  Posted on April 24, 2018 at 00:24 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Windows 10 1709 got another update today in the form of KB4093105.  Based on my read I think it’s fixing the pen issue that was introduced.

  There are a couple of issues that admins may be both glad that it’s being fixed and scratching their heads over what took Microsoft so long to fix:

  Addresses an issue that causes modern applications to reappear after upgrading the OS version even though those applications have been deprovisioned using remove-AppXProvisionedPackages-Online.

  Addresses an issue that prevents Autodiscover in Microsoft Outlook 2013 from being used to set up email accounts when UE-V is enabled.

  That one where modern apps come back after upgrading …. I’m honestly surprised that at this late stage of release of 1709… after all we’re just about to get the next feature release… and just now Microsoft is fixing an issue whereby modern apps are getting reinstalled after a feature update to 1709 after the admin has removed the app through a process that affectionately refer to as deconsumerizing Windows 10.

  For those admins looking for more ideas how to get rid of the candy crush apps off the Windows 10 that you are rolling out check out these posts:

  https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2015/11/11/removing-windows-10-in-box-apps-during-a-task-sequence/

  https://community.spiceworks.com/scripts/show/3977-windows-10-decrapifier-version-2

  Remember that for ultimate control and customization you need Enterprise version

  More observations: Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security KB 4093105, Patch Lady Posts, Win10 1709

• Microsoft admits that it forced Win10 1703 machines to upgrade to Win10 1709, even with updates blocked

  Posted on March 12, 2018 at 07:44 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Third time they’ve pulled this “Gawrsh” garbage in the past four months.

  Computworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows Patches/Security forced upgrade, Win10 1703, Win10 1709

• Patch Lady – getting 1709 TO install

  Posted on March 11, 2018 at 01:14 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  While everyone else is wanting to keep 1709 at bay, I was wanting to get it to install on a small 32 gig hard drive.

  I had previously tried a usb flash drive, purchased and installed a SD card and neither one worked.  A good (geek) friend of mind recommended that I try using an external usb hard drive during the feature install process. I initially said to him that I had already used a flash drive and he kindly pointed out that he didn’t say to use a flash drive, he said to use an external USB hard drive.

  

   

  While everyone historically swears that external usb powered hard drives and flash drives are the same, clearly in this feature release update process it’s not.  When I was attempting to use either the flash drive or the SD card, I would get to a point in the install process where it would say I didn’t have enough room and I would have to prompt the system to use these devices.  When it would attempt to use them, it would fail and roll back the install.

  When I used the usb external hard drive, it never prompted me for the need for additional storage.

  After installing the update it immediately began properly installing unlike all of the previous sessions where it would stop and roll back.

  

  The moral of this story?  If you are like me and you DO want 1709 to install, you have a hard drive tight on space and you are having issues, go get a usb external hard drive and see if that does the trick.

  Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, Win10 1709

• So how DO you block the upgrade to Win10 1709

  Posted on March 9, 2018 at 00:18 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  More than a few people have asked, what with Win10 1703’s new-found ability to upgrade to 1709 all by itself — no Windows Update required — what does it take to make sure Microsoft doesn’t change its mind again and pushes you onto whatever version it likes?

  @abbodi86 has an interesting observation:

  Windows Update in Windows 10 is a lost cause without intervention

  some steps are obligatory to keep the current version:
  – set connection to metered
  – set Automatic Update policy to disabled or notification
  – disable UpdateOrchestrator and WindowsUpdate schedule tasks
  – use wushowhide.diagcab or WUMT to check for updates and hide the upgrader-updates

  which seems to be a whole lot of work just to stay with what you have.

  Comments?

  Windows Patches/Security forced upgrade, Win10 1709

• Report: Win10 users being pushed onto 1709 even if they have Feature Updates deferred

  Posted on March 8, 2018 at 11:31 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  UPDATE: See Computerworld Woody on Windows.

   

  Hey @woodyleonhard , it seems Microsoft is now forcing Windows 10 1607 and 1703 users to upgrade to 1709, even if Feature Updates have been deferred. This notification just popped to my laptop, which is running 1703.
  Couldn't stop it upgrading.
  More info:https://t.co/9hgphP7QI9 pic.twitter.com/IYBouieDl0

  — Juzu Operatzija (@juzuo) March 8, 2018

   

  Windows Patches/Security forced upgrade, Win10 1709

• Problems with yesterday’s Win10 1709 patch, KB 4090913, starting to appear

  Posted on March 6, 2018 at 07:26 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  I’m seeing some reports of problems with yesterday’s Patch Monday single-purpose cumulative update for Win10 1709.

  Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  UPDATE: We have a report of the “reboot to black” bug in the Win7 Feb. Monthly Rollup KB 4074598.

  Windows Patches/Security KB 4074598, KB 4090913, KB 4090914, Win10 1709

• Microsoft claims it’s solved the USB problem with Win10 1709 cumulative update KB 4090913

  Posted on March 5, 2018 at 20:15 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Welcome to Patch Monday!

  A few hours after I posted my diatribe in Computerworld, taking Microsoft to task for not fixing Win10 Fall Creators Update, version 1709, wouldn’tcha know it, but Microsoft released yet another cumulative update for 1709 that claims to fix one (not all) of the admitted problems with Win10 FCU.

  KB 4090913 brings Win10 version 1709 up to build 16299.251.

  According to the KB article its sole raison d’être is fixing the USB bug introduced in the last cumulative update.

  Addresses an issue in which some USB devices and onboard devices, such as a built-in laptop camera, keyboard, or mouse, stop working. This may occur when the Windows Update servicing stack incorrectly skips installing the newer version of some critical drivers in the cumulative update and uninstalls the currently active drivers during maintenance.

  That’s all she wrote. The other bugs are still there:

  • Windows Update History reports that KB4054517 failed to install because of error 0x80070643.
  • After installing this update, some devices may fail to start, and return INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE.
  • Because of an AD FS server issue that causes the WID AD FS database to become unusable after a restart, the AD FS service may fail to start. / There is no way to undo the database corruption. To return your AD FS server to a functional state, you must restore it from a backup.

  There’s also an out-of-out-of-band Servicing Stack update, KB 4090914.

  I suggest you hold off until we find out if this patch actually fixes the problem, or if some other ogre jumps out and bites.

  Windows Patches/Security KB 4090913, KB 4090914, March 2018 Black Tuesday, Win10 1709

• Patch Lady – Not enough space to install 1709

  Posted on March 3, 2018 at 23:53 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  Susan Patch Lady here – writing an online letter to Microsoft:

  To whom it may concern at Microsoft:

  I am concerned that in your zeal to make your vendors happy you are “vista-fying” Windows 10. 

  Let me explain:

  Recently I purchased a cheap laptop because I needed another one since I am lately using a computer connected to my TV to watch online videos.  Because I still needed a laptop to look up items, remote into computers and various other tasks, I needed a computer – not a tablet or an ipad – and I needed a Windows based computer.  I reviewed my options for a cheap small laptop and I saw one online for a low price and purchased it.  Knowing in advance it had a small SSD drive I figured that I would have fun keeping it updated and keeping the drive cleaned out.  But I’m a cheap geek, and knew I had options so I purchased it.  The computer came shipped with 1703 Windows Home and soon after I turned it on it started attempting to update.

  The first thing I noticed after the system started checking into Windows update was how sluggish the machine had become. In reviewing the task manager both the CPU and the drive was pegged at 100% utilization causing the device to respond slowly.  Please ensure that when a machine is first turned on and checking in for updates that sucking up 100% CPU and disk drive isn’t the norm.  I’m seeing more and more people complain about this.  Please make sure that when either Windows update or Windows Defender is operational they aren’t taking all of the resources of the system.

  Then you need to make sure that a 32 gig hard drive is really suitable to handle Windows 10 semi-annual feature releases. In my case it’s not and demanded that I have some sort of external storage available to have enough room to handle the update.

  Yes, Microsoft I know that I got what I paid for, but my point is like Vista you are causing undo harm to a platform by letting vendors install it on price points and platforms it shouldn’t. When you shipped Vista, the driver ecosystem wasn’t ready and you had vendors install it on hardware that couldn’t handle the operating system. If one installed Vista on the RIGHT hardware it actually worked just fine.

  I’m seeing in the consumer space of Windows 10 that multiple vendors have selections in this 32 gig space that will have issues getting any feature update installed.  After I get this laptop upgraded to 1709, there’s an HP Envy tablet that a friend of mine has that I have to help it up to 1709 as well.

  I’ll be filing a bug on this, but please don’t “vista” any more vendor offerings. Any windows device should be able to handle a feature update without any external storage – at least in my opinion. And I’ll bet many of your frustrated customers think that way too.

  To anyone else suffering from this issue, evaluate your options. In my case I’m ordering a MicroSD card to add a bit more space. For the Envy tablet I’ll be recommending we purchase that as well to give it breathing space to get this 1709 feature update installed.  Remember you can evaluate the files and storage on the machine and even turn off hibernation temporarily to gain a bit more space as noted in this blog post.  Microsoft does make it obvious during the upgrade to 1709 that it needs additional storage space and gives a various obvious GUI interface indicating that it needs more storage space. After the install remember you have 10 days before it automatically deletes the prior version so check your applications to make sure there are no issues.   1709 is now the most broadly released version, but if you are stuck back on 1703, I would recommend going to the Software download site and trying to install from the update now link at the top of the page and have a MicroSD card on hand should you get stuck.

  Windows Patches/Security Patch Lady Posts, Win10 1709
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