Windows 10 October 2018 Update Finally Re-Released
- Mehedi Hassan
- Nov 13, 2018
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53
Windows 10’s latest major update, the October 2018 Update, has turned out to be a big mess for Redmond. To bring you in line with everything that’s happened so far, here’s a quick breakdown: on October 2, Microsoft started rolling out the update, users then started submitting reports of a data deletion issue on October 4, forcing Microsoft to pause the rollout and pull the update on October 6.
Over the last few weeks, Microsoft has been working to fix the data deletion issue and completely investigate the reason behind it. Today, the company is finally re-releasing the update to the public after weeks of silence.
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Microsoft said in a blog post that the company has carried out extensive testing to ensure the data deletion has been completely resolved, stating “in addition to extensive internal validation, we have taken time to closely monitor feedback and diagnostic data from our Windows Insiders and from the millions of devices on the Windows 10 October Update, and we have no further evidence of data loss.”
Redmond will continue to roll out the update slowly as it does with major Windows 10 updates, meaning the update won’t arrive right away for your device. The company says it will launch a new Windows Update status dashboard next year that will provide the public with frequent updates on Windows 10 update rollouts.
The update is available for commercial customers of Windows 10 starting today as well, including users of Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server Version 1809.
Microsoft knows the company has made a huge mistake here, so it’s trying to make users aware of all the testing it does to ensure good quality of the software it makes. The software giant detailed its approach towards making sure Windows 10 works perfectly for everyone in a blog post, claiming that the data deletion bug was a “small but serious issue.”
Microsoft continues to boast about its testing process with Windows 10 — the company says it uses Machine Learning and other data-driven techniques to identify and resolve issues in the OS, as well as using feedback from Windows Insiders. The company said that the Windows 10 April 2018 Update had the highest Net Promoter rating so far, which is essentially the rating users give Windows 10 when it randomly annoys them with a notification asking how likely they are to recommend the OS to their friends.
Although Microsoft claims the quality of Windows 10 is improving with every new release, it’s clear the company’s testing approach still needs a ton of tweaking, especially when such a serious data deletion issue makes it through to the public after months of testing.
“We will up our effort to improve our ability to prevent issues and our ability to respond quickly and openly when issues do arise. We intend to leverage all the tools we have today and focus on new quality-focused innovation across product design, development, validation, and delivery,” the company said.
The update should be available for download here.
Conversation 53 comments
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#365959">In reply to NT6.1:</a></em></blockquote><p>700 million devices</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366050">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>"Wipe the machine and install one of several Linux distros. "</p><p><br></p><p>No problem for the tech-savvy. Never going to happen for average users.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366226">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>See my reply to your other reply.</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#366050">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>My Linux VM's constantly need updates.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366195">In reply to pachi:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's hard to evaluate Windows vs Linux for the average person, since the former comes pre-installed on their PC, and the latter almost never. Not to mention that non-tech users of desktop Linux are very rare, with just a handful on anecdotal stories to use as evidence.</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#366225">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>You have been coming to this site for years and years. You used to be a crazy Microsoft fan boy. Now you loathe them pretty much and praise Google for everything they do.</p><p><br></p><p>Why even hang around? You practically post daily on this Microsoft focused site.</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#366225">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>I just re-booted from my Windows updates. I had 1809 already so I got the .134 update, plus a few Office updates.</p><p><br></p><p>I do not use Edge but I opened it up just now. Opens as fast or faster than either Chrome or FireFox on my desktop computer. I could immediately enter a website.</p><p><br></p><p>Do you need help with your Windows 10 computer?</p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#366364">In reply to pachi:</a></em></blockquote><p>Seriously I hit ctrl-t while in edge and I can type in "asdfjkl" as fast as I can. Choosing those keys because they are where my fingers sit at the time.</p><p><br></p><p>Not sure what they heck you are doing??? This is a computer with 1803 and 1809. </p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366225">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>The average non-tech-savvy consumer simply buys their PC, brings it home and uses it. Not every consumer buys from Best Buy, and most of those who do don't use the Geek Squad to set them up.</p><p><br></p><p>Does every discussion have to ramble into a Linux promotion? </p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366829">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>No, I don't have any numbers but you implied that <em>all</em> non-tech-savvy users use the Geek Squad without any evidence, so who is making broader assumptions?</p><p><br></p><p> I'm basing my opinion on statistics on other post-purchase spending. For example, a survey from last year found that about 70% of consumers didn't buy a service contract. I realize that it's not the same thing but I believe it reflects a desire on the part of most consumers to not add additional cost to their purchase price. This would particularly apply to the many consumers who have been using Windows for years and wouldn't have any expectation that they needed extra help. </p>
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Stooks
<blockquote><em><a href="#366028">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>I am getting KB4467708 which is a cumulative update for 1809.</p><p><br></p><p>So no re-install over the top of 1809.</p><p><br></p>
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skane2600
<p>"We shifted the responsibility for base functional testing to our development teams in order to deliver higher quality code from the start."</p><p><br></p><p>Developers have always been the initial software testers, but the perceived inadequacy of relying primarily on developers to test their own code was the raison d'être for QA testing policies.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366656">In reply to wright_is:</a></em></blockquote><p>I would say you never let a dev be the <em>only</em> tester of thier own code. They, at least, should believe their code works before submitting it to others for testing.</p><p><br></p><p>Many devs believe it's important that test cases be written before coding, but many others don't. There's still no definitive evidence that one is superior to the other. There's really no connection between writing code that follows the specification and when test code is written.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#366691">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>Pair programming is an Agile methodology in which two developers write the code together, I'm not sure if paired testing is really an Agile practice. In any case, it's not equivalent to using a testing team.</p>
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pargon
Premium Member<p>I had gotten the 1809 build after they pulled it since the news wasn't anywhere to be found that it got pulled, so I jumped in insider to grab it, thinking windows update wasn't pushing yet. But now I think maybe they moved from "skip ahead" to pushing 19H1 builds to "fast ring" since the update tool paul posted says "Thanks for upgrading to the latest version of windows" instead of providing me the latest stable release bits. </p><p><br></p><p>I am on Build 18277 now, did MS just decide not to have a "Magic Window" this time? I was watching this website since Paul normally posts about it, guess maybe he just got caught up in bashing Microsoft and didn't post about it like normal; I would have set it to cancel insider preview otherwise. </p><p><br></p><p>Do I need to blow away my install? It's easy to do, I have a 16TB raid 10 with all my data and just windows and photoshop/lightroom on the SSD.</p>