Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Due to Missing Personal Files
Microsoft is pausing the Windows 10 October 2018 Update until it can fix an issue that causes personal files to go missing.
During Microsoft’s Surface event this week, in addition to new Surface devices, the company also announced the rollout of Windows 10 October 2018 Update, version 1809. After the release, several users have been complaining about personal files going missing after updating their computers. Microsoft has blocked the availability of the update until the missing files issue is resolved.
Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 1809 Update
On its support site, Microsoft notes the following:
“We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.”
If you have experienced issues and got the update via Windows Update, Microsoft wants you to contact the company directly by phone or its support website. If you manually downloaded the update but haven’t installed it yet, Microsoft says don’t install it and wait until new media is available. Microsoft will provide an update when it fixes the issue and starts rolling out the update again.
If you have been affected, you should be able to revert to version 1803. Head to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows 10. For step-by-step instructions, check out our article on how to roll back Windows 10 to the previous version.
It’s reasons like this that it’s essential to ensure you have a solid data backup strategy. We also urge everyone to hold off on new Windows 10 feature updates for at least 30-days. That allows you time to see which issues pop up and for the company to fix them. For more, read our article on how to delay the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. In addition to the missing files, users have also reported problems with drivers, Task Manager, Microsoft apps, and more.
The problem could be fixed with a cumulative update for users who already updated. We will update this article once we know when Microsoft releases an update and begins rolling it out again.
8 Comments
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Ziggy
October 6, 2018 at 4:23 am
Installed on three machines. Only issue on one of them was Edge not being able to connect to the internet – although Firefox and Internet Explorer were able to connect. After support from Microsoft, the fix was to reset Network Settings.
DebbyS
October 6, 2018 at 8:55 am
Two YouTubers who post videos on computer-related topics both suggested that missing files may have been put in “windows.old” but not returned to their proper places. I guess it’s good that I tried to update last weekend but it failed (MS admitted that it failed; I guess it downloaded what it needed but couldn’t install). As everything is working, I’d rather not change anything (or lose programs I like to use, Paint and Snipping Tool, which contributors to this site have chatted about earlier). I’m on: Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.165)
Ziggy
October 6, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Hi Debby S. Window’s Old does not contain copies of Documents, Pictures, Video or Music. They definitely are there but they will always be empty folders. Before you get an unpleasant surprise from Microsoft I suggest that you backup all your important data to an external usb drive.
DebbyS
October 7, 2018 at 3:29 am
Thanks, Ziggy!
Robin Window
October 6, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Don’t Microsoft test these flipping updates first for gods sake??
DebbyS
October 6, 2018 at 5:55 pm
One would think they wouldn’t try to do so much with each update, considering there thousands if not millions of different configurations out there that have to be catered to… heck, I’d be happy if they just asked us what we wanted, but we’re not qualified to know that, I guess…
Ziggy
October 6, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Yes, Robin, they do test them and have a team of insiders that test the newer versions before being released to the market. Maybe that’s where the flaw is – beta testers – who, combined with Microsoft staff, seem to get their wires mixed. The three machines that were updated for me were all on the Home edition – so i didn’t get much of a choice. There are programs that can stop these forced updates, but I always prefer to be on the latest version. My dilemma is how much longer can my older machines keep on taking a beating with these version updates. And as Debby S has mentioned before what’s wrong with older programs (such as Paint and the snipping tool) that have either been taken off or re-morphed into something else which is not as user friendly.
Heinz
November 12, 2018 at 10:42 am
No Problem i detach my hdds, and update then. Please i need it, they better pulled 1803 with this crazy file properties bugs, Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s what’s causing it…