• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

TweakHound

Computer stuff...

  • Home
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 10
  • Linux
  • Tweak Guides
  • Site Info
    • About
    • About Me
    • TweakHound’s World
    • Contact
    • My Computers
    • Old Articles
    • Privacy Policy
    • Old Index
    • Advanced Search

Lessons Learned

October 7, 2018, 11:54(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

This week Microsoft pulled the Windows 10 October 2018 Update because peoples personal files were being deleted. The Windows 10 April Update was delayed by almost 3 weeks due to a “blocking bug”. These are just 2 examples of Win10’s broken update model. With Win10, software quality is as bad as it has ever been. This despite the extensive Insider Program that was supposed to alleviate this problem. I’ve never been bitten by these updates and much of the advice I pass out on this site is designed to help you to not get bitten either. I will try and put that in a convenient list:

– Keep current system image backups.
I use Macrium Reflect Free. Other programs include Clonezilla (free) and Acronis True Image (not free).
I store recent copies on the same computer and older copies on an external hard drive.
You MUST create a boot disc or flash drive.
Use this before EVERY patch Tuesday and Feature Update.

– Keep current personal files backups (docs, pics, etc.).
I either use copy/paste or Microsoft’s free SyncToy.
I store them on an external hard drive, an old laptop hard drive, and burn to DVD.
I also store my music and pics on Google Drive.
I have a copy everything off site too.

– Separate your personal files from your OS (move your pics, docs, etc. folders).
Guides in every Tweak Guide.

– Delay Windows Updates. With Win10, consider skipping release altogether.
If you are using Windows 10 Home consider switching to Windows 10 Pro so that you can control your updates. You can by a legit key very cheap. Contact me if you cannot find one and I will point you in the right direction.
Security Updates for each release are provided for approximately 18 months so there is no rush to update to the latest release.
Win10’s changes and new features have come along at a pitifully slow rate. The only welcome change for me since Win10’s initial release is the Dark Theme.

– Advanced, Make a rescue flash drive.
Multiple tools to save yourself, friends, and family from disaster.


External Hard Drives at Amazon. Prices current as of 07OCT18

WD 4TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive – USB 3.0
List Price: $159.99 – Price: $99.99 – You Save: $60.00 (38%)

Seagate Expansion 8TB Desktop External Hard Drive USB 3.0
Was: $149.99 Price: $139.00 You Save: $10.99 (7%)

Tagged With: Backup, Windows 10

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    October 7, 2018, 12:59(EDT) at 12:59

    Luckily mine hadn’t updated.

    • Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound) says

      October 7, 2018, 13:39(EDT) at 13:39

      I think you had to manually check for updates.

  2. Allan says

    October 7, 2018, 15:34(EDT) at 15:34

    Eric,
    I do a move of my folders per your Tweak Guide (Pics, Docs, etc) off the C drive to a different set of drives. By moving these folders, would that have prevented the deletion of those files or would the update have navigated to the moved folders and deleted the files regardless?

    • Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound) says

      October 7, 2018, 15:44(EDT) at 15:44

      Everything I have read refers to stuff in C:\Users being affected. I’m gonna say yes. Stuff like this is why you should separate data and OS. A separate partition at a minimum, a separate drive is ideal. I’ve never understood why Microsoft doesn’t set a PC/laptop/tablet like that in the first place. Their answer would be you should store everything in the cloud. Like that is exactly where I want my sensitive files…

  3. Nick Swarfega says

    October 7, 2018, 17:28(EDT) at 17:28

    I have always moved my user folders off C: since at least Windows 7. I also backup to a NAS drive twice weekly.

Primary Sidebar

Popular Posts

Tweaking Windows 10

Software I Use – 2021 Edition

Timer Tweaks Benchmarked

Win10 – Get Auto-Login Back

Recent Posts

  • Weekend News
  • Review and Pics: The Stadium Tour 2022, Washington DC, 22 June, 2022
  • Playlist: The Stadium Tour 2022
  • Patch Tuesday
  • Weekend News
  • TweakHound’s Playlists
  • Playlist: Outlaw Country
  • Playlist: Full Attack (No Rest For The Wicked)
  • Tuesday News
  • Rockin’ The 70’s Playlists
buywin10th2

Tags

  • Android
  • Backup
  • Beer
  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer News
  • Cool Tools
  • Freeware
  • How-To's
  • Linux
  • Off Topic
  • openSUSE
  • Playlists
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Software
  • This Site
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP

Catagories

  • Android
  • Backup
  • Beer
  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer News
  • Cool Tools
  • Freeware
  • Freeware Machines
  • How-To's
  • Linux
  • News From The Web
  • Off Topic
  • openSUSE
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Software
  • Tweak Guides
  • Windows
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows XP

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

TweakHound - Optimize Your Computing Experience! TweakHound - Optimize Your Computing Experience!

Copyright 2002-2022 by Eric Vaughan All material contain here is the property of the materials owner. Windows, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Seven, Windows 8, Windows 10, Microsoft, and all associated logos are trademarks/property of Microsoft. You may not use or copy any material from tweakhound.com without expressed written permission. Hotlinking to any material within this site is forbidden. Privacy Policy