Windows 10 Automatic Updates Start Causing Problems

[steven36]

Last week Microsoft confirmed every Windows 10 update will mandatory and installed automatically. This was met with a hostile reception from Forbes readers with over 100 comments on my news article voicing their concern. And now some of those fears have been realised…

With just four days left before launch, Windows 10’s policy of automatic updates has run into its first major problem and it is causing many PCs to stop working correctly.

Dreadful Drivers
The flaw revolves around Nvidia graphics cards with users taking to Nvidia’s forums to report Windows Update is automatically installing new drivers which break multimonitor setups, SLI (dual card) configurations and can even stop PCs booting entirely which pushes Windows 10 into its emergency recovery mode.

“Please pull these off Windows update!!!” writes Nvidia forum poster slycoder. “It makes my second monitor not work and lots of flickering! Please. I roll back and Windows Update reinstalls them :/”

“I second this,” agrees ZabaZu. “For multi screen users, that driver is flat out broken and it is beyond annoying that windows auto updates to it.”




Interestingly the problem has also been experienced by Forbes contributor Paul Monckton who has done some digging and explained to me that the fault lies in a conflict between Windows Update and Nvidia’s own driver and software management tool the ‘Nvidia GeForce Experience’.

“It looks like driver version 353.54 [the latest at time of writing] is available only via Window Update,” Monckton told me. “The problem is the Nvidia GeForce Experience then tried to downgrade that to the previous version while claiming the previous version was actually newer.”

The problem is compounded by the fact that Windows Update doesn’t actually reveal driver version numbers prior to install or warn the user in advance so pinpointing something that has suddenly caused problems can be hard to identify.

In the case of an SLI configuration Windows Update on Windows 10 also currently believes it has to perform two device upgrades when a single driver update covers both, which forces the update to install on top of itself.

Update Clashes
And here lies the crux of the problem: many PC components and peripherals come with bundled software that automatically manages driver updates already. PC makers also often bolt on driver update management software onto their PCs (Lenovo is a notable example) which then has the potential to conflict with driver updates delivered by Windows Update.

Consequently unless Windows Update and third party driver management software receive updates at exactly the same time an ongoing battle of upgrading and downgrading can ensue between them. Third party software can be told to stop, but if the driver problem lies with Windows Update (as it does in this case) there’s no way to stop Windows 10 reinstalling it once removed, which causes the problem to come back again and again.

Interestingly, in previous versions of Windows this wasn’t a problem as Windows Update classed driver updates as ‘Optional’ and prompted users when they were available.
So what is the solution? Right now a couple of workarounds spring to mind…

Short Term Fixes
Given Windows 10 updates cannot be stopped the most obvious solution is to uninstall third party driver management and hand it all over to Windows Update to avoid clashes. This potentially simplifies matters by providing an all-in-one update service, but it does mean taking away control from specialist companies over their own products.

A second approach is something many readers mentioned in comments on my previous post when Microsoft confirmed Windows 10 updates were unstoppable: hack it.

Initially this might work, but in April senior Microsoft product marketing manager Helen Harmetz said during a Windows 10 webinar that users who forcibly stopped any Windows 10 updates would eventually have their security updates cut off. Microsoft has yet to confirm this brutal enforcement policy in official documentation, but if this is the path it chooses that would ultimately make any form of update hack pointless.

The Long Term Solution
To answer the cries of many, an obvious long term solution would be for Microsoft to simply allow users to turn off automatic updates for non-essential categories like drivers – or at least prompt them before driver updates.

Barring a policy U-turn, however, that isn’t going to happen. Instead Microsoft will likely point to its Fast and Slow ‘Rings’ – where users concerned about receiving a buggy update can opt for the Slow Ring which means they get updates up to one month after they are sent to users who choose the Fast Ring.

This is fine as long as a. you’re happy now having all updates a month late, b. you trust Microsoft to have fixed any buggy updates with that extra time, and c) it doesn’t scare off enough Fast Ring users that there aren’t enough guinea pigs to test new updates with. After all, Windows 10 ships with users set to the Slow Ring by default.

Finding A Balance
And yet it is important to be clear here about the potential benefits of Microsoft’s decision to make Windows 10 updates unstoppable. While bugs like the Nvidia issue here are a potential side effect, it is far more common for PCs to be hit with problems because their software is not up to date than because it was updated too quickly.

Microsoft is therefore taking a greater good approach which will see millions of Windows 10 computers around the world be more reliable and more secure in general.

That said, in my opinion, Microsoft is also being overly dictatorial. By all means enable automatic updates by default, but give users the flexibility to change this for non-security related categories or offer the ability to outsource certain driver updates from Windows Update to third party software like the Nvidia GeForce Experience. These companies are specialists in their own products.

Ultimately it all comes down to balance: security Vs flexibility, control Vs choice. For my money, with just four days to launch, Windows 10 hasn’t found that.


Source

[haxzion]

i'd say stay with WIndows 7 until you can uninstall cortana,defender and disable automatic updates.

[Ballistic Gelatin]

Windows 10 automatic updates causing problems? Why, I am absolutely shocked! I always trust Microsoft to do the right thing. :rolleyes:

[rudrax]

Microsoft isn't smart enough to figure out the end user requirement. Now inspired with the W10 release, they have lost their sense thinking they have made history with this OS. What a joke!

Let people choose what they want. Don't force them to accept your crapa when they have better alternatives to choose from.

[Kalju]

Windows 10 automatic updates causing problems? Why, I am absolutely shocked! I always trust Microsoft to do the right thing. :rolleyes:

Do we really have to live like lords are dictating? Or are we also want something of what they must take into account?

Are we back into the serfdom timing?

[coromonadalix]

well done M$hit, well done ....

[Ballistic Gelatin]

Look for Microsoft to be featured in a future episode of "Mr. Robot" as the thinly-veiled E Corp. (Evil Corporation).

What if automobile manufacturers operated like Microsoft? ("No, we will tell you when you can and cannot use your brakes.")

Think it can't happen? (Please, don't get me started on self-driving vehicles.)

[MasterFaster]

How to disable Windows Update, how to enable it in Control Panel etc.

Old guide:
https://4sysops.com/archives/disable-windows-update-in-windows-10/

New guide:
https://4sysops.com/archives/turn-off-automatic-updates-in-windows-10-build-9926/

Note: Read both

[Pete 12]

Yes,tried Win10 also ( made a solid backup first!) ,lost my Canon-printer and my Microsoft(!)-webcam ,both are "not compatible", now this forced update-s*** !!

Do they really expect people are giving up there trusted hardware and buy new for Win10 ??

Went ,very fast,back to my roots (Win7)......

[shorty6100]

THAT really pissed me off. EVGA precision stopped working. Uninstalled-reinstalled Windows Update Driver automatically. Solved this by disabling windows device driver settings. What a PITA. Next clean install I will disable this, Windows Defender through gpedit and disable lock screen.

[psyko666]

Yes,tried Win10 also ( made a solid backup first!) ,lost my Canon-printer and my Microsoft(!)-webcam ,both are "not compatible", now this forced update-s*** !!

Do they really expect people are giving up there trusted hardware and buy new for Win10 ??

Went ,very fast,back to my roots (Win7)......

o noes.. he again... and the same comment again.. please stay with Windows 7 for the next 30 years please.. <_<

[Pete 12]

Yeah, I think will do indeed ,if this Win10 wont get better, will you give me your greetings when YOU go back to Win7 also........?

btw,stay with the subject next time,this forum is about;" Windows 10 Automatic Updates Start Causing Problems"

[psyko666]

[psyko666]

:lol:

[Mandy]

Yes,tried Win10 also ( made a solid backup first!) ,lost my Canon-printer and my Microsoft(!)-webcam ,both are "not compatible", now this forced update-s*** !!

Do they really expect people are giving up there trusted hardware and buy new for Win10 ??

Went ,very fast,back to my roots (Win7)......

I like that

safety first is the golden rule we know when you are ready you would :lol:

[Karlston]

I hope those brave souls whose Windows 7 and 8 PC's are set to be automatically upgraded to Windows 10 at the end of the month do an image backup the day before.

Me, I'm sitting back to watch the end of month fun and games, and will install Windows 10 fresh on a new drive only after the dust has settled and M$ has patched the bugs. It's a dot-zero version that we IT veterans avoid.

Apparently, auto updates can be disabled by playing with Group Policies.

[Son-of-Sam]

Airplane "I just want to tell you Microsoft Good luck, we're all counting on you" :lol:

[shorty6100]

Airplane "I just want to tell you Microsoft Good luck, we're all counting on you" :lol:

And DON"T call me Shirley.

[Son-of-Sam]

I hope those brave souls whose Windows 7 and 8 PC's are set to be automatically upgraded to Windows 10 at the end of the month do an image backup the day before.

Me, I'm sitting back to watch the end of month fun and games, and will install Windows 10 fresh on a new drive only after the dust has settled and M$ has patched the bugs. It's a dot-zero version that we IT veterans avoid.

Apparently, auto updates can be disabled by playing with Group Policies.

Apparently, auto updates can be disabled by playing with Group Policies.

@echo off

::disable service

net stop wuauserv /y

sc config wuauserv start= disabled

pause

::disable service

net stop dmwappushservice /y

sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled

pause

::yep

:P

[CODYQX4]

I hope those brave souls whose Windows 7 and 8 PC's are set to be automatically upgraded to Windows 10 at the end of the month do an image backup the day before.

Me, I'm sitting back to watch the end of month fun and games, and will install Windows 10 fresh on a new drive only after the dust has settled and M$ has patched the bugs. It's a dot-zero version that we IT veterans avoid.

Apparently, auto updates can be disabled by playing with Group Policies.

Apparently, auto updates can be disabled by playing with Group Policies.

@echo off

::disable service

net stop wuauserv /y

sc config wuauserv start= disabled

pause

::disable service

net stop dmwappushservice /y

sc config dmwappushservice start= disabled

pause

::yep

:P

Decapitating Windows Update entirely is no sane solution. You may as well just use XP.

Problem is MS screws the OS up monthly. For the people saying "I'll stay with Windows 7", it's almost always Windows 7 that I hear about getting mass breakage.

[straycat19]

I don't trust Microsoft won't or hasn't already installed some type of backdoor to re-enable updates if the user tries to turn them off. Personally this is a Windows 10 killer. I will not be upgrading and am removing all the windows 10 junk from all my windows 7 machines.

[haxzion]

Decapitating Windows Update entirely is no sane solution. You may as well just use XP.

Problem is MS screws the OS up monthly. For the people saying "I'll stay with Windows 7", it's almost always Windows 7 that I hear about getting mass breakage.

Well my windows 7 setup is rock solid stable and i never EVER got a BSOD

,It has a great start menu which allows me to make custom menus and arrange my programs without any extra tools.

It gives me the option to check and update the OS whenever i want and i can also disable win defender and search indexing.

I don't have to do any registry editing i can just disable or set to manual any service i want.i have 27 processes running at boot with avast av.

When all the above come to Win10 i will consider updating.Until then i will keep rocking win7 :cheers:

[Airstream_Bill]

I believe that there is a Big Stink about Windows 10 installation messing up NVIDA Drivers and the Screen goes Blank. Read that somewhere today. Forbes or somewhere. BIG STINK!!

[Daimaah]

Unbelievable! Such issues on yet-to-be-released OS.... (yes it's already RTM but not GA).

Edit: Sense of irony needed.

[Cerberus]

Updates an issue...then disable them. ;)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX]

"IsConvergedUpdateStackEnabled"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings]

"UxOption"=dword:00000000

if you wish to totally disable auto updates (optional)... or you can disable the update service under msconfig as well.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\AUOptions

put a 1 in its place.

Then run this pwrshl script...or do it manually if you have correct permissions (can be a pita).

Clear-Host

Write-Host "1 -> Never check for updates (not recommened)"

Write-Host "2 -> Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them"

Write-Host "3 -> Download updates but let me choose whether to install them"

Write-Host "4 -> Install updates automatically (recommended)"

Write-Host "Enter any character to exit"

Write-Host

switch(Read-Host "Choose Window Update Settings"){

1 {$UpdateValue = 1}

2 {$UpdateValue = 2}

3 {$UpdateValue = 3}

4 {$UpdateValue = 4}

Default{Exit}

}

$AutoUpdatePath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update"

Set-ItemProperty -Path $AutoUpdatePath -Name AUOptions -Value $UpdateValue

Done. :)