A few months ago, Microsoft announced that there will be two major updates for Windows 10 every year, in March and September. These are the big updates that bring Exciting New Features™, in addition to the regular monthly or more-than-monthly security updates. Microsoft said it is committed to making the update process “predictable.” So you know we can count on it! Like clockwork, March rolls around, bang, big Windows update. September, bang, big Windows update. Microsoft is so excited about the idea that last month it announced that it will also release feature updates to Windows Server twice-yearly.
Funny thing about that. It’s not really working that way. It’s already obvious that Microsoft can’t stick to that very aggressive schedule.
The first major update to Windows 10 was scheduled for its one-year anniversary in July 2016. There were no big new features but there were noticeable small changes and improvements throughout the system. The “Anniversary Update” began to roll out on August 2, 2016, and almost immediately reports began pouring in about problems caused by the update – bluescreens, dead devices, and more. Microsoft shifted gears to damage control and stopped distributing the update until it could get a handle on the problems. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, Microsoft began to update drivers and patch Windows so more computers could install the Anniversary Update safely.
It took months. Almost everyone had forgotten about the Anniversary Update and were taken by surprise three or four or five months later when their computers launched into a 30-60 minute update that always seemed to happen at an inconvenient time.
Microsoft forged on, though, and last fall confidently announced exciting new features aimed at artists, musicians and creative professionals that would be included in the next major update in early 2017, the “Creators Update.” There was a long list – mixed reality headsets for interacting with 3D objects, “Groove Music Maker,” a new interface for contacts called “My People,” and more.
And then in the next six months, those features were yanked from the Creators Update, which wound up having nothing for Creators. In fact, it has nothing that matters to almost anyone. But it’s still a major update to the operating system and Microsoft was under pressure to avoid the problems from last fall and roll it out smoothly. Microsoft started distributing the Creators Update in April 2017.
It has gone smoothly! There have been almost no reports of problems caused by the Creators Update.
The reason is almost no one has actually gotten the Creators Update. A recent report from AdDuplex shows that three months later, only half of the Windows 10 PCs in the world have gotten the update. That’s significantly behind the deployment rate for the disastrous Anniversary Update last fall. One of the more embarrassing statistics: fewer than one in five of Microsoft’s own Surface Pro 3 devices have gotten the update. Apparently Microsoft cannot even make this update stable enough for its own devices.
We are barreling through July and into August. Half the world has not gotten the last major Windows 10 update supposedly released three months ago. But Microsoft committed to releasing feature updates twice per year and time flies, so Microsoft is polishing up the next major update for Windows 10, cleverly named the “Fall Creators Update.” When will you get that? Good lord, who knows? It’s obvious that the announced release date for these updates has nothing whatsoever to do with the date that it will be delivered to anyone’s computer.
There is a distinct feeling of deja vu about the Fall Creators Update. Also, there is a distinct feeling of deja vu about the Fall Creators Update. Once again, Microsoft announced a variety of new features and improvements for the upcoming update that have since been pulled out and will not actually be delivered. Paul Thurrott goes through the list here. A new app named “Story Remix” for transforming photos and videos – no sign of it. A feature named “Timeline” for going back to the previous state of programs and files – not being delivered. A cloud-powered clipboard that allows you to copy items on one device and paste them on another – dropped. Mixed reality (again) – nowhere near being ready.
The Fall Creators update is not final yet but right now it appears there will be nothing in it that you will notice. In some ways that’s good, if installation goes smoothly and Windows 10 is slightly more solid than it was before. My fear, though, is that Microsoft’s frenzied quest for new “features” is only making Windows 10 more confusing and perhaps less stable.
There’s one more promise that I don’t believe in.
Yesterday MSPowerUser reported that the Fall Creators Update will improve the way Windows 10 installs updates to make the experience less disruptive – less time spent on the “Installing updates” screen when the computer restarts.
Great. That will be swell. But I’ve heard that story before. The last update (the one that half of you haven’t gotten yet) was also supposed to improve future updates by reducing the number of reboots, “which will reduce the likelihood that an update will be installed at an inopportune time,” according to Microsoft.
I installed the Creators Update three months ago and I haven’t seen a reduction in the number of reboots for updates. In fact, if anything, I’m seeing more restarts than ever now that Microsoft is more or less ignoring the predictable once-a-month Patch Tuesday schedule. Every security update seems to require a restart.
There are two things that have become very clear in the last year.
(1) Microsoft has developed a bad habit of over-promising and under-delivering.
(2) The last word anyone is using right now to describe the schedule for getting major Windows 10 updates is “predictable.”
SIGH, Updates win 10 updates, not enough memory WHAT I have already got win 10, so delete some stuff install win 10 24 hrs later 85% finally done, Oh no checking for updates again downloading updates got to 99% and then restarted and then it said installing updates, another 3 hrs passed its on 58%. My Grandchildren said when can we use the laptop again I said come back next weekend. I think I should have stayed with XP I loved that software.
I had been a loyal Windows user for 25 years, both home and office. I swore for decades I’d never switch to Macs. Everyone I ever talked to about computers I would defend the Windows environment. This Windows 10 update situation is SO BAD, it has me vowing to NEVER purchase another MS product. It’s bad enough that Windows 10 is terrible software that removes a lot of classic Windows functionality and replaces it with bloated junk. But now it also periodically makes your computer either off-limits or crippled for an entire day. Well that’s just GREAT for anyone who uses them for work or business. I can hardly believe how badly MS has mismanaged their core product.
I feel everyone’s pain — at least those who have had trouble. I had Windows 10 Home Edition running quite smoothly on my shop computer — use it to manage my repair business. Then the dreaded “Creator’s Update,” started and for over three weeks now, I can get the blessed thing to update properly. I have spent over $300 seeking technical support and just spent $99 for an upgrade to Win 10 Pro in the hopes that if I made an offering to the demigod that is Microsoft, they would take pity on me. The upgrade went fine, but now we are receiving the latest version update and after 3 hours, only 62% of the file(s) have downloaded. I’m using a business class internet connection, and still, only 62% after three hours. I’m prepared for yet another freeze up at 81% installation progress and fear that when I reach out to support they’re going to tell me I have to do a “clean install.” BS!
I’ve also noticed that everyone in support, and not just at Microsoft, has an Anglo-Saxon name even though by their use of the English language you can tell it’s not their native language. That to me is an insult to the Technician and to me the User. They really do think we’re that stupid obviously.
I would switch to Apple, but my shop manager won’t run on MAC OS.
I write this on my work laptop while my home laptop does endless hours of updates. I have known it update for most of the day in the past. Very tiresome. In the very old days of Windows 3.1 [is that what it was called?] PCs became useless because there was no software or internet. Then there was a bit in the middle, where PCs were useful and quite quick. Now PCs have become largely useless gain. I suppose it is different if you have top-of the range processors etc. But the majority of people have low or middle range machines, and just want to do basic ‘stuff’. And the groaning mass of software layers that are lumped into these operating systems are just too much. Software technology has, again, overtaken the ability of the average machine to update/rune properly. So all the machines most of us have are basically bin-ware. All the VHS, CDs, DVDs, Hard Drive Files, Cloud files [photos, videos, CVs, letters, etc] I have from over thirty years are all now a cumbersome burden to manage, migrate, convert, import, etc etc. I have had enough really. I just cant be bothered keep changing. And I cant be bothered with PCs any more. They just keep changing to support the doing of things I have no desire to do. And every time they change it is more trauma and wasted time, and eventually perfectly good laptops consigned to the scrap because they cant run the software fast enough. Well done Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and the rest. I bet you didn’t see that one coming. Or maybe you did? Either way, a lot of us have given up, and instead of using computers as tools to inform, educate, entertain, etc – all we now do is use them to look at pictures of cats off the internet. And they aren’t very good for doing that either, because the global computing infrastructure is all too slow and bloated.
Finally succumbed to the constant nag to update. I use 7 on all my business computers, have successfully avoided the 8/10 debacle except for my single home machine. An hour in and i’m at 54%, givingvme time to research and post this whine. Glad I waited until Sunday before 1st of the year.
Microsoft has always made mediocre software. It is only consistent that the updates are equally mediocre.
12-18-17
Just bought a new HP Win 10 Home laptop.
Manually started Windows Update.
12 hours later, it is sill updating. Been stuck at, “Preparing to install upates 7%” in the Windows Update dialog box. The Task Manager shows that everything is being used – processes and usage are changing. Disk is at about 100% constantly.
I will let this run overnight and maybe a day or two longer. After that, I am going to return this laptop to HP and wait until laptops work again before buying one. I am still using my tower PC with Win XP from 2009, while my laptop updates.
Microsoft: Screw you. This is completely ridiculous. You have a monopoly, you had an OS that worked (XP), and now EVERYTHING is broken. Shut down, start from scratch, and get back to us. Butt holes.
After 3 hours mine is at 23%, it uninstalled my power over Ethernet driver and forced me to update as I had no internet in my tower, now it’s stuck because my computer has no internet and can’t download the update… seriously windows? STOP REMOVING MY PERFECTLY FINE DRIVERS!!!
Brand new laptop, 12hrs and counting, working on updates 15%, nothing else installed yet.
3 hours long and still going…good thing I still have my old Desktop…
Well, I tried to reset my preferred time for 3 days hence, and I see it did not work, so like others I am very discouraged now. When the my computer is finally released, I can probably look forward to my personalized settings not being reloaded as well(had that problem in the past)–very, very frustrated now since it looks like I will be shut of my computer all morning.
12-7-17 cumlative update win 10 version 1703 for x64 …4 hours into it…OMG…. Why why so long! Get with it Microsoft.
After postponing the update several times, I finally relented today and allowed the update to commence on a Sunday morning. It’s been over an hour with that obnoxious rotating circle and I’m still getting a message that the configuration is 0% complete. Is Microsoft a company that was just started yesterday? Is this their first update ever? (Note sarcastic tone in my questions). The very least you could do is give people some kind of warning as to how long this update is going to take. And all of those computer geniuses should figure out a more efficient way of getting these updates installed. This is ridiculous!
A little late to this party, but Microsoft has finally driven us from their fold. I’ve been with Microsoft since the days of DOS and such programs as Visicalc and dBase III Plus. Beginning with XP I got heavily into the system building and everything that encompasses. But enough is enough. My wife and I have guzzled the Kool-Aid and we are now fully within Apple’s universe. And we could not be happier with our Macs, iPads and iPhones. We do have a Windows 10 computer but seldom use it. As usual, your mileage may vary and you may loathe and despise Apple; we’re both good with that … it’s your life. But Windows is now an oddity with us; a relic of what once was good but no longer is worth the hassle.
Seriously, re: Windows 10 update: couldn’t we be informed as to how long the update takes to install? I did not see an option to download the update and install later. I only saw the “install later & choose a preferable time” however when I clicked it, it disappeared. I tried to do a Microsoft help/chat but I was #21 in wait line & then had to leave. It’s been 8 hours so far and I cannot believe this update is taking this long. Upright citizens who rely on pc’s for work, NEED TO KNOW the duration of this waiting game. Also, it would be nice if we consumers/PC uses were informed re: What is contained in update & If we could have a choice to update or NOT. I’m saving up for a MAC, for sure.
strange as two hof my PC updated less than how, Surface Pro took 15 minute, Old Toshiba Laptop took 35 minutes, by annoyance is how slow the download is, you can continue working but hell I have fibre so downloads at over 100MB/s from capable servers (Linux?) it takes forever to download, so install not my issue (fingers cross as updating my Main PC now)
I’ve been 24 hours without my computer due to this crappy update!! Not impressed and when this piece of crap reboots again I will be taking it to my computer friend and wiping my new laptop clean and getting windows 7 installed. At least that never gave me half the headaches this crap called windows 10 is doing!!!
I have been working on this update for 24 hours. Arrgggg Microsoft. Get it together. Been sitting here that long hitting the buttons to keep going and that’s all I’m doing.
Seems like Microsoft is being run by its marketing department–big promises, rushed development, and keep your fingers crossed. What happened to at least a little bit of testing before unleashing these buggy updates on the public? My other thought is that the R&D department is being run by corporate moles from Apple. How else to explain the poor judgement and disastrous results?
So I got a notification that my system would be updated. It said click here to set your preferred time. I wanted to set the time for 11 pm but when I tried that the link disappeared. I was just redesigning my web site and BAM the update began. So my website is down, my updated is at 54 percent after two hours. I have no idea how this update is supposed to help me since I’m not a Creator or Developer. Pretty discouraging when I’m just trying to get the job done.
This ticks me off. I let the boyfriend use the computer yesterday, and it asked him to do the update-no mention of it being a day-long process of course- and he tells it to remind him later, not a word to me. I get the same request to do the update, and I tell it to remind me in 3 days. I go to shut the computer down for bed and the wretched, unwelcome update starts downloading. 12 hours later, I am watching the same 5 white dots going in a circle. I agree with the people who say this is ridiculous. No one wants their computer unusable for an entire day. No one wants to start an all day process without any warning. I seriously thought the boyfriend had downloaded malware until I found all these posts all over the web about this.
I just talked to a client who’s watching her computer update ever so slowly this morning when she thought she would be doing work. This month it’s the “Fall Creators Update,” which is time consuming to install and unfortunately has very little in it that is interesting. Frustrating!
Mine took all afternoon. On a brand new HP Pavilion. This is absolutely ridiculous and Corporate Suicide.
Microsoft is TOAST. Sell it’s stock now, when computer works again.
I’m sorry to say, two failed updates later and I have now downloaded the update and it’s only been doing it for 8 hours so far.
yep
I really can’t relate to what you talk about. I just updated to the Fall Creators Update this morning. The update was downloaded automatically out of my active hours and when it was ready for installation I had the option to install it when I wasn’t using my PC. No forced updates whatsoever.
At this point I don’t see much of a difference except from a few UI changes. The OS is once again snappy and stable, and I really don’t have a reason to complain. For those of you who had problems with the timing of the update, just set your active hours correctly.
I mean, there must be a point where you don’t use your computer right? Don’t you ever have to sleep, eat, or anything? Use that time to update your computer. Set your active hours correctly and everyone will be happy.
Yeah, right! Microsoft may have shot their self square in the foot on this one. So what, are we all supposed to have a backup computer for when the updates happen? They would love that wouldn’t they…we would all have to buy double the software. This really is not acceptable. I have no idea how Ubuntu works, but I just got it up and running and it ain’t half bad.
My laptop is currently updating. It started last night 24 Sept 2017 at about 23:00; said it would take a while so left it to continue and went to bed. Switched on this morning at 9am expecting ‘all systems go’. It’s still updating – it’s 9:50 and nowhere near completion. This is a nightmare.
Great. My computer is currently updating and taking forever. I was hoping an hour would be enough but no. This is beyond retarded and rest assured my next computer will an iMac. Am I downloading a whole new OS??? Why don’t you tell me this? I don’t have time for this garbage and if it doesn’t work properly when it is finally done (tomorrow?), bye bye Microsoft and PC) on Monday.
I have Work to do. Thanks for wasting my time.
Oh no!! Mine is updating as I write – been going on for at least an hour. Does anyone know a way to stop it?? Or, if it finally finishes, but as you found, it mucks up the works, does anyone know if it’s possible to uninstall the update ??
I have just been updated, my computer was ok before the microsoft compulsory medicine, now it is very ill and works so slowly I can hardly use it. I suppose I will have to go and buy an apple device…