Windows 10 Spring Update - Embrace Or Delay? - Comments Page 1

I did this "Go to Settings > Update & security > Advanced options. You will see three options.

Option 1 lets you defer updates until Microsoft declares them “business ready.” That’s usually about four months after an update’s initial release. To enable this deferment, simply change “Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)” to “Semi-Annual Channel.”

I do not see three options. I get some options but none like you mention. The options are for other MS products and one for over metered connections. Nothing about business ready or semi-annual.

Since Windows Update Version 1709 will not install on my laptop computer (I have tried everything a hundred times over), I guess this update is not for me.

Hi Bob
I followeed your steps, settings/update & security but no advanced options. I clicked on Windows Update to see what was there, clicked on Check for updates, and blow me, the Spring 18 update was immediately downloaded - whose blasted computer is this Microsoft?
At least I have deferred installation, but no doubt Win 10 will shut down when it darn well feels like it, regardless what damage it will do to programs running at the time.
I keep saying to myself that I should switch to Linux; I should listen to myself!
Please keep up your good work.

W10 has become an administrative nightmare. Our private school system has 300+ computers (mostly laptops); the efforts of our 3-person IT team to keep them all updated cleanly and quietly have been in vain. Updates arrive without notice and render the machine useless for some interval between twenty minutes and three hours - and we techies bear the brunt of the complaints. Updates have been anything but automatic; we still find machines where 1703 failed / stalled and must be nursed through manually before 1709 can be applied. I just finished coaxing a lab's worth of laptops through 1709 - and now another cycle looms.

Our next round of replacement machines will likely be chromebooks. We are finished with MS.

Under Advanced Options, I do not see three options. I get options for downloading other Microsoft products and to automatically download even over metered connection, but none like you mention.

Same situation as BillF, Under Advanced Options, I don't see three options, just options for downloading other Microsoft products and automatically download even over metered connection but none of the three options you mention for deferring installation. I've checked winver and it shows I have download 1709 installed. ?????????

Dan, if it is so painful, turn updates off completely. I know, there is no official options for that, but it's a piece of cake for a professional, like you - a couple of basic commands. Essentially it's a hack, but through legitimate Windows commands from context menu. The version of Windows I'm writing now from is 1607 and I didn't have any problems since.

I wonder, just how many people really read what Bob wrote and told us?

I see several comments by some of his readers, that they are unable to "delay" the updates. Per chance did anyone really read that if you have Windows 10 Home. . .You will not be able to "delay" any updates.

This option is for the Pro, Enterprise and Educational versions, only. Note:

"If you have the Home Edition of Windows 10, you cannot postpone major updates. Only users of /b/Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education Editions/-b/are allowed to delay major updates, presumably because their IT departments carry more weight with Microsoft than your family does."

The article also explains why these versions are allowed to "delay." These 3 versions usually uses IT departments and there has always been latitude for the IT Departments, to be able to update all of the computers within the score of their department.

Please check your version of Windows, by going to Settings, click on this, then select System, then select About. This will tell you what version of Windows 10 you have. I have Windows 10 Pro, since I upgraded from Windows 7 Pro.

Just a small note, if you have a fairly new computer, the chances are it is a Windows 10 Home version. Most retail computers are sold with Windows 10 Home. Now, the companies like Dell, HP and the like, have a Business side to their computer company. These Business computers are usually sold with Windows 10 Pro.

Bob takes his time to write to us and tell us how to do things. It really does behooves us to read what he writes.

Advanced Options worked for me as Bob describes. However it does not use the terms "Option 1, 2, 3".
"Option 1" starts with "Choose the branch readiness...". It has a pull-down box with the options of Semi-Annual Channel or Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)
"Option 2" starts with "A feature update..." It has a pull-down box that lets you select a number of days between 0 and 365.
"Option 3" starts with "A quality update..." It has a pull-down box that lets you select a number of days between 0 and 30.

Okay, NB, make us all look like fools, lol.

Sorry - it was MmeMoxie that said that we can't read. ;)

Please, forgive me for sounding harsh, that was not my intent.

I see people not reading articles or comments thoroughly and then either complain about what they can not do or wanting more information, when it is usually all there for you.

I know that many of Bob's readers are Newbies or computer illiterate. I was at one time myself, but I read with Bob had to tell us and learned. I attribute my good knowledge of computers from Bob's Newsletters throughout the many years I have read them. Bob is the Geek's Geek, in my book.

Since Version 1709 won't install on my PC, I can't get too excited about later versions either.

"Sharing files, printers, and other resources with a group of known or unknown users is better done with cloud storage and other modern solutions."

No, no, and no. Homegroup was all about sharing resources in a *Local* area network - not over the Internet and certainly nothing to do with cloud storage. It was an easier way to share things introduced with Windows 7 for both Home and Pro versions. And now it's gone.

I guess we have to go back to 'Workgroups' introduced in Windows XP. Home networking is hard, Microsoft just made it harder.

My laptop is running Win 10 V 1600 or something. Went to MS to download the latest update 2 weeks go. My internet is pay by the MB, but hey, I should do this right? It took 5 hours to download the 6.5 GB update, but it wouldn’t install. An error message said I should shut off my antivirus and try to download again. WHAT? Checked on the net for this error message and MS had 3 pages of tech geek of what to do to TRY to get it to download and install. Not happening. Did a full back up and will take my chances. Very soon, will be buying a Mac Book. Enough is enough.

HomeGroup RIP Adding other folders (besides Pictures, Videos, Music, and Documents) to the HomeGroup cannot be achieved w/o going thru additional hoops and more caveats (gotchas such as coordinated system time on all devices, and default being read-only access, etc.).
A FREEware (for personal use) called TeamViewer maybe a much better alternative. TeamViwer is also OS-agnostic, at LAN as well as WAN levels without going cloud(y), as Mr. Rankin prefers/recommends.

I delayed installing the Fall Creators Update and had reason to regret doing so. One of my frequently used programs, Irfanview, had started crashing frequently in recent months. When I described the symptoms to the program's author, he immediately recommended making sure I had the latest Windows 10 update. Sure enough, installing the update cured the problem completely.

So, be aware that these major updates may include important bug fixes as well as the advertised features.

I agree with Dave. I think you are wasting my time.

@Ron,
Those are some very harsh and unnecessary words to post against Mr. Bob Rankin. I am hoping that your post was directed towards "Dave", as you cannot possibly be directing them against Mr. Rankin, himself.
Tsk, tsk!

May I recommend frequent backups, especially if you are, or are not, installing updates? :)