Windows 10 1903 Update

sparky · Oct 16, 2019, 15:59:13

There's so many conflicting messages out there online.

Her indoors has an HP Pavilion Laptop running Windows 10 1803. It is not automatically offering me an update.
If I check under Updates, there is an option to upgrade to the new version 1903.

Question is, should I take it? Or do I hang on until I'm forced to take it?

Any opinions appreciated. Thanks.

Simon · Oct 16, 2019, 17:04:56

Unfortunately, there is a certain horrible inevitability about Windows 10 updates. Some people like to delay them until the bugs are ironed out by other involuntary testers (users), and I count myself as one of those, however when the updates are eventually forced on you, I found that they tend to take longer because Windows has to catch up with the ones that you've delayed.

sparky · Oct 16, 2019, 20:12:42

Hi Simon,

Thanks, Yes. I've read that maybe the best time to install is just before the next release so that you get at least another 6 months before an upgrade is required.

Maybe have to try it this weekend.

Hey Hum. Glad I've switched to Linux for my Home Desktop.

zappaDPJ · Oct 16, 2019, 21:20:28

It's a bit of a conundrum.

Do you want to risk a dodgy update or risk having your computer compromised by an unpatched security issue? I lean towards keeping my PC secure but I have had two Windows 10 updates that caused me a great deal of trouble. This particular update did contain some important security updates but it also broke the start menu for some people.

Toss a coin?

Simon · Oct 17, 2019, 11:44:10

If you have a half decent anti-virus product, should you be unduly worried about potential Windows security compromises? I would suggest that if you are only using Windows built-in security, then it would be an issue if it wasn't updated, but if you have a stand-alone security product, which is is fully updated, then I would argue that you don't need to worry too urgently about Windows own security patches.

nowster · Oct 17, 2019, 11:46:19

Quote from: sparky on Oct 16, 2019, 20:12:42
Hey Hum. Glad I've switched to Linux for my Home Desktop.

I switched in the late 1990s. I switched the rest of the family's computers in the mid 2000s. Far, far less hassle than supporting Windows. (My sister's laptop has a Win XP virtualbox for some of the specialist craft stuff she does.)

zappaDPJ · Oct 17, 2019, 16:22:04

Quote from: Simon on Oct 17, 2019, 11:44:10
If you have a half decent anti-virus product, should you be unduly worried about potential Windows security compromises?

Unfortunately unpatched security holes in software often allow malicious parties to install all manner of horrors which fly past anti-virus products. This is exactly what happened with a recent Windows iTunes update and the payload from that was Ransomware.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2019/10/10/critical-new-itunes-warningusers-urged-update-now/#5a671814417c

Simon · Oct 17, 2019, 17:43:17

Mmm...

zappaDPJ · Oct 17, 2019, 19:33:23

And just to rub more salt into the wound, never assume your anti-virus software doesn't have its own security issues because most do. For example Bitdefender Antivirus Free 2020 currently has a security flaw that could allow a hacker to take complete control of your computer.

https://www.techradar.com/news/security-flaw-in-bitdefender-antivirus-free-2020-leaves-millions-at-risk

Simon · Oct 17, 2019, 20:01:10

I've never relied 100% on one security product.

zappaDPJ · Oct 17, 2019, 21:50:16

I tend to use my iPad to browse the Web and open emails these days, and I wear a tinfoil hat when I'm at my PC

Simon · Oct 17, 2019, 23:27:59

I thought you always wore the tinfoil hat anyway!

zappaDPJ · Oct 18, 2019, 00:40:16

nowster · Oct 18, 2019, 08:57:18

Are you sure your hat is real tin foil and not the less effective aluminium?

zappaDPJ · Oct 18, 2019, 09:26:37

These days, less effective aluminium but triple ply of course

Den · Oct 19, 2019, 20:44:38

I always update Windows 10 on my desktop and laptop as soon as it is released and tend not to have problems.

A couple of weeks ago I updated my iPhone 7 and had to restore the previous IOS as the battery kept running down before midday.

So it's not just Microsoft but Apple as well.

sparky · Oct 20, 2019, 20:42:06

Well,

2 hrs later on a Sunday evening after a few glasses of of wine to build up courage, its worked!

It did take a while, but am now on 1903 and all seems to be OK.

Phew!

Simon · Oct 20, 2019, 23:31:18

zappaDPJ · Oct 26, 2019, 12:42:11

My tinfoil hat seems to have failed

I got a weird message via the notification system to say my up-to-date version of Windows 10 was soon to be unsupported and needed to be upgraded. I couldn't find anything meaningful on Google so I flipped a coin and sat nervously for around an hour while it updated.

I'm still trying to fix a number of issues which I'd describe as fairly minor but I'm still bewildered by the original message.

Simon · Oct 26, 2019, 19:23:05

I received that message before the upgrade as well. Perhaps they're just trying to scare us into compliance? The most irritating thing for me is that it reset all my fonts, and I had to re-pair my Bluetooth devices, but other than that, I've not had any issues to speak of.

zappaDPJ · Oct 27, 2019, 02:46:26

Quote from: Simon on Oct 26, 2019, 19:23:05
I received that message before the upgrade as well. Perhaps they're just trying to scare us into compliance?

I really don't know what to make of it. I generally let my PC update without any intervention so I would have expected it to be running the same version as everyone else who does the same.

To be honest I do prefer the way things are. Trying to keep multiple versions of any operating system or software updated and secure is fraught with problems. It's just a pain when something breaks.

I've had another update tonight but I'm still seeing the version report as 1903. I hope it's a bug fix and not an unfix for the stuff I've already fixed! $:-\$

zappaDPJ · Oct 28, 2019, 09:00:38

A graphics card driver release fixed a really weird issue I was having with a greyed-out cursor and Firefox seems to have fixed itself. It was randomly jumping to the bottom of a page. The only thing I haven't been able to fix yet is I can't get the OS to see either of my DVD drives

Simon · Oct 28, 2019, 14:17:15

I've got a similar problem but it only seems to be happening with one program. My laptop is definitely seeing my DVD drive, but when I try to use Adobe to edit audio files, it just won't recognise it.

steve195527 · Nov 24, 2019, 00:19:25

Quote from: Simon on Oct 28, 2019, 14:17:15
I've got a similar problem but it only seems to be happening with one program. My laptop is definitely seeing my DVD drive, but when I try to use Adobe to edit audio files, it just won't recognise it.

change properties of adobe to launch with admin privileges as standard ,it should then work ok

Simon · Nov 24, 2019, 11:07:20

Quote from: steve195527 on Nov 24, 2019, 00:19:25
change properties of adobe to launch with admin privileges as standard ,it should then work ok

Oh, OK, I'll try that.