Windows 10 Home Users can now take control of Feature updates
The eagerly awaited new version of Windows 10 began rolling out on May 21st and I will begin by giving a brief explanation of the code names. During the development and Insider preview stage this version of the Operating System was know as 19H1 or 2019 Half 1. The official code name is actually version 1903 because the intention was always to release it in March 2019 and then finally it is announced as the May 2019 update because as always it appeared late.
There are relatively few major changes in this incarnation of Windows 10 but the changes that are there are eagerly awaited because they will make a difference to everyone's experience. The most important differences revolve around speed and the updating process and I will focus on those improvements in this article.
The big difference is that Feature updates (once every 6 months) will no longer be forced upon you if you are a Windows 10 Home user. Windows 10 Pro users have always had an element of control whereas Windows 10 Home users suddenly found the update happening and this could lead to disastrous consequences (such as last year's data deletion) when a specific set of conditions weren't met. Microsoft are supposed to check that your Computer is fully compatible before rolling out the update but let's face it there are always going to be some problems and it's no fun if you are the one that is left with a black screen with 'Startup Repair failed' all over it. When a major update now takes place you will be offered it and you can happily decline and continue running on the previous version of Windows 10 for up to 18 months (three further Feature updates). This is quite interesting because after 18 months your version of Windows 10 is officially no longer supported and yet at present Windows 7 which arrived in 2007 is still supported and Windows 8 will be supported until 2023.
The phased rollout of the latest version will still take place as always but you can bring forward your update by clicking the Start button and searching on 'check for updates'. If you click on this you will either see the latest Feature update listed underneath the 'check for updates' button or if not you can click 'check for updates' and see if returns the new update. If this does not work Microsoft suggest you reboot and then click 'check for updates' again. Customers who have worked with me in the past will know that I always recommend caution in this respect and my personal advice wouldn't be to go to great lengths to get the update as early as possible. I would wait a couple of months or wait until you are offered it. This is because the early adopters are actually carrying out the testing for Microsoft and if you get something too soon you will be the one experiencing and helping to resolve all the problems. Just let somebody else do this and get it later when the problems have been ironed out, this especially applies to people with AMD Processors and a RAID configuration where there have already been problems. As described above even when the update does appear it will no longer be forced on you and you can choose when you install it and this can be anytime during the next 18 months. Other updates will still take place to protect the version of Windows 10 that you are running but the Feature update will just sit there waiting for your approval.
There is also another bonus in terms of normal windows updates. Windows 10 Home users will be able to pause them for up to 35 days. Windows 10 Professional users have always had the ability to delay updates for up to 365 days but this is a welcome bonus for home users who might be really busy and just not want the delays associated with running updates at an inopportune time. You will only be able to delay for 7 days at a time and then you will need to delay for a further 7 days. Once you have done this 5 times (35 days) you will be forced to carry out a Windows update before you can begin pausing again. To access this feature you just click Start and search for 'check for updates' as above and you will see the 'Pause updates for 7 days' option.
The final subject for today is the speed increase in Windows 10 v1903. Many people will be aware of the Meltdown and Spectre CPU design flaw and that changes were made to protect against this; those changes effectively slowed down the running of all but the latest Computers. Changes have been made again to the latest version of Windows 10 that effectively return the lost speed to your Computer whilst still providing full protection against the flaw. I could expand further and will do so in the Churchdown Computers Facebook Group if anybody is interested but all you really need to know is that your Computer will run faster. This speed increase will not be available to Windows 7 users (even though they experienced the slow down) as Microsoft do not wish to make the necessary changes to an Operating System that reaches 'end of life' in a little over 6 months.
Further new features will be covered in future articles and you can request details of any of these in the Churchdown Computers Facebook Group if you can't wait. As always if the updating process to v1903 causes you a problem then call Mark on 07557 483438, e-mail mark@churchdowncomputers.co.uk or fill out the form at the bottom of theContact page.
