Windows Update in Windows 10: A massive bag of hurt

[neo1911]

Does anyone think forcing updates on everyone is a good idea? 

 

At first I thought it is definitely a good idea to save common users from getting malware due to updated system. But with forced driver updates, it automatically kills gamer's enthusiasm. The Nvidia driver which was forced on us few days back messed up good systems. So even if users installed an older working driver, Windows 10 forcibly installed the faulty driver again and again. 

Geeks like us had to download and run Microsoft tool to disable specific driver or system update package manually.

This itself is huge and one faulty driver can knock out millions of perfectly working PCs. PC gamers like to tinker around with drivers to try and get the maximum possible fps performance. Sometimes newer driver degrades performance in older games. So in such specific scenario, we need the old driver.

Microsoft should make driver updates optional. 

 

What does Neowin think about it?

[Studio384]

Driver updates are optional, there are settings for it.

[bawz]

when ya getting Windows10 update for nothing i wouldnt be complaining

[Xerxes]

Don't see how it's an issue at all. Most gamers will be running Win7 or Win10 Pro (which allows control over updates). I think it's a good idea, makes sure your average Joe keeps their system up to date. Granted that is a generalization and some gamers will be running Win10 Home, but this might be incentive for them to update to Pro? unless they are ok with forced updated. either way, there is a simple solution and I think for 90% of the people out there it's going to be a non-issue. Well my 2 cents anyway...

[neo1911]

^^ My settings didn't allow for drivers to be downloaded and installed. Yet they are forced on you.

Techradar confirms this.

BTW Windows 10 Pro too does not offer any control over updates apart from deferring them for 30 days.

Only Windows 10 Enterprise offers such control.

[spaceelf]

I think it makes me have to do less micromanaging on other machines.  Potential issues?  Sure.  But I'll take it.

[Odom Member]

I also don't like it. I'd rather be notified and install the updates when I choose. The past years Microsoft has been releasing quite a few buggy updates that caused lots of issues. This is why I'd rather wait a couple of days and then install updates instead of getting them on the same day, as soon as possibe.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Nvidia is having issues with it when it downgraded a driver, and WU on 10 tp was re-updating it.

[123456789A]

If you're running Windows 10 Home, I don't know what you're doing on a site like Neowin.

[kaotic]

Does anyone think forcing updates on everyone is a good idea? 

 

At first I thought it is definitely a good idea to save common users from getting malware due to updated system. But with forced driver updates, it automatically kills gamer's enthusiasm. The Nvidia driver which was forced on us few days back messed up good systems. So even if users installed an older working driver, Windows 10 forcibly installed the faulty driver again and again. 

Geeks like us had to download and run Microsoft tool to disable specific driver or system update package manually.

This itself is huge and one faulty driver can knock out millions of perfectly working PCs. PC gamers like to tinker around with drivers to try and get the maximum possible fps performance. Sometimes newer driver degrades performance in older games. So in such specific scenario, we need the old driver.

Microsoft should make driver updates optional. 

 

What does Neowin think about it?

The latest driver that was 'forced' on us was actually a big fix for me. Before this driver update, I was having lots of tearing in game, low fps, and blue lines on my my second monitor. I'm completely okay with driver updates as long as they're not beta drivers. 

[xendrome]

Driver updates are optional, there are settings for it.

Nope, the option in System Properties does not work anymore. You have to use the Tool to block them from the MS KB Article. If you don't do that they will auto install.

If you're running Windows 10 Home, I don't know what you're doing on a site like Neowin.

99% of all consumer systems bought at any online retailer/big box store is running the Home edition of the OS.

That's a pretty ignorant statement, especially knowing myself the differences between Home and Pro editions of the OS.

[TAZMINATOR]

99% of all consumer systems bought at any online retailer/big box store is running the Home edition of the OS.

That's a pretty ignorant statement, especially knowing myself the differences between Home and Pro editions of the OS.

Right. Most people don't read what edition of Windows being featured on the price tag...  

For example, "Oh I like this computer.. good specs"   They don't realize it is a Home edition until they took it home and realized it is.

 

I fix the computers from home and I have asked customers, "what edition of Windows you run?", they usually say, "I don't know." ... That's why I asked them to bring it to me for the fix.

/face palm

[greenwizard88]

You can't please everyone. In this case, the majority of users are home or work users who surf the web and have intel graphics. Those are the people this "feature" is targeting. Aside, the new dX12 driver model should help make running older driver versions a thing of the past.

[Osiris]

Of course its a bad idea, its as bad as the idea of launching Win8 without giving users the option to launch straight to the desktop...who would have thought and low and behold they had to add it in later after it annoyed everyone.

Everyone understands and agrees with the issue they are trying to fix.  The problem is they could have resolved this in so many different ways, the most obvious of which is to
 

1.  Remove the option from the install setup or OOTBE and set it to automatic updates by default, period so the regular users will prob never change this and will automatically get their updates.

2.  Keep the option there for people who don't want it to automatically run wild with their system.

This would have addressed the problem they were targeting whilst giving the best outcomes to all parties, instead now we have tools from MS to download, and no doubt 3rd party software soon, just to restore features that have been in every damn version of windows for as long as anyone can remember.

At least the  issue is providing a great way to detect fanboys, the idea that a gaming enthusiast should be running Win10 Pro just to change some update settings is the biggest crock yet.

[kozukumi]

To be honest I see my Windows machine as more of an appliance than a "personal computer" these days. I am fine with treating it like I treat my phone with silent updates, etc.

I have my Linux machines for what I consider as my "real computers" now.

[neo1911]

 

At least the  issue is providing a great way to detect fanboys, the idea that a gaming enthusiast should be running Win10 Pro just to change some update settings is the biggest crock yet.

Good one. But Windows Update treats Home and Pro users the same way when it comes to forced updates. Pro users can defer them for 30 days but that's that. The updates will still install after that no matter what.

BTW I am running Windows 10 Pro.

Edited July 29, 2015 by d5aqo

[theyarecomingforyou]

The issue I have with auto-updates is that Windows 10 automatically installs new graphics drivers and every time that happens it disables SLI, which is rather annoying. My computer restarts way more with Windows 10 than it did with Windows 8.1 and even then it was annoying enough.

It wouldn't surprise me if we see this policy altered when people start complaining.

[Dadwen]

For the last few months I kept seeing people on here saying if you don't have the pro version you're not a tech and you don't deserve to manage your updates but from what I can tell now the Pro version of update sucks too. (not that much better than the Home version)

*I have not had a chance to install my Pro computer yet so please correct me if I'm missing something.

[torrentthief]

my annoyances of windows update:

1. you can no longer see the filesize of any updates unlike in previous versions of windows

2. There is no link to the KB article for each update for you to click on and view the changes in your web browser.

3. you can't see the total size of all the updates.

[Pam14160]

. . .seems some of you don't know about the patch Microsoft put out a few days ago that would allow all users to decide what updates that they may or may not want. . .this patch may be in the final release that will be out today. . .so chill until the final hits your computer. . .

Off topic. . .nice work to Neowin on their new format. . .really like. . .

[xendrome]

Final release that was out today, is the same as the 10240 that has been out for awhile now. It just gets ZDP Zero Day Patches, the existing 10240 people have already gotten these ZDPs. And I have heard nothing about this "patch" you speak of or any indication that MS is changing course on allowing Home/Pro to be able to cherry pick updates.

[neo1911]

^^ At the moment, WU is half baked.

I actually hate this new Microsoft where they copy Apple and dictate the way you use Windows. "You can do anything you want but ultimately you will do whatever we want"

[LimeMaster]

This tool was released specifically to block faulty updates: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3073930

Sure it's not as configurable as previous versions of Windows, but it'll have to do for now.

[Dadwen]

. . .seems some of you don't know about the patch Microsoft put out a few days ago that would allow all users to decide what updates that they may or may not want. . .this patch may be in the final release that will be out today. . .so chill until the final hits your computer. . .

Off topic. . .nice work to Neowin on their new format. . .really like. . .

I know a few days ago they released wushowhide.diagcab but it's not really a install you run it each time you want to manage your patches (hide) but it's not built into windows.

Had to use it a Intel video driver update kept installing was buggy.

[MikeM97]

Only Windows 10 Enterprise offers such control.

The simple Enterprise won't have more than Pro's defer option for an amazingly bigger amount of days... (probably more than 30 days)

The Enterprise LTSB will,but,if you haven't bought it along SA,you'll not be able to join the nLTSB. (next LTSB)

Be careful with Defer while you are on CBB (Current Branch for Business) - 30 days x 8 will result in a blow for no more updates.

As much as I can't see someone using Pro/Ent/Edu for CB (Current Branch) - that will not get penalties in a case of 8+ months delays;let's be up for Home & Microsoft's WUSHOWHIDE tool for it.