WINDOWS UPDATE SURVIVAL GUIDE
How to delay Windows updates
It’s becoming increasingly popular for users to delay Feature updates. Concerned by problems with previous updates, they’d rather wait a few weeks for Microsoft to release a more stable version.
On Windows 10 Home, you can permanently delay Feature updates by setting your PC to ‘metered’, which is intended for mobile pay-as-you-go internet connections. To set this up, go to Settings, Network & Internet, Wifi, then click on your wireless connection. In the next window, scroll down and turn ‘Set as metered connection’ to On (see screenshot right).
High-priority security updates will still be installed, but a metered connection might also slow down software that needs to transfer data over the internet. Therefore, we recommend turning metered connection on only until you’re happy problems with an update have been fixed.
On Windows 10 Pro, you can delay updates more easily. Go to Settings, Updates & Security, then click Advanced Options. Turning ‘Pause updates’ to On will delay updates (including the October Update if you don’t already have it) for up to 35 days. Further down, under ‘Choose when updates are installed’, you can delay all Feature updates by up to one year - other minor updates, such as security patches, will continue to be installed as normal.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE INSTALLING
If you haven’t yet installed the October Update, or want a better experience next time, here’s what you should do.
Review your backups
Put aside a few minutes to check that your backup includes all personal folders, then run one last backup before installing the update. Make sure you don’t store the backups on your PC’S hard drive. Instead, use an online service such as Google Drive or an external hard drive.
Check your hardware manufacturer’s website
Computer manufacturers often test their most popular models with the latest Windows update and report any problems. Dell, for example, has a page dedicated to test reports for all recent Windows updates ( www.snipca. com/29342), as does Lenovo ( www. snipca.com/29343). We expect other
manufacturers to provide test results in the coming weeks.
Disconnect devices
Some devices (such as webcams, printers and USB hard drives) can cause problems during the update process. To give yourself the best chance of success, disconnect everything apart from your monitor, keyboard and mouse. When the update has restarted, plug the devices back in one by one, making sure each works before trying the next.
Free up space
Windows will check whether the bare minimum of hard-drive space is available before updating, but by giving it extra room you can prevent potential problems.
In the Settings app, select Apps, then uninstall any programs you no longer need. Next, go to the System section of the Settings app, select Storage, then click the ‘Free up space now’ link under ‘Storage sense’. After scanning your PC, Storage Sense lists all the ways you can save space, such as deleting files from your recycle bin and any left over by Windows installations. Tick those you want to delete, then click ‘Remove files’.
Be careful when using this feature if you’ve installed the October Update because Storage Sense now offers to delete everything in your Downloads folder (see screenshot opposite top right). While this isn’t selected by default, if
you’re used to the old version it’s easy to tick all options without thinking about it.
WHAT YOU MUST DO AFTER UPDATING Check System Restore
Windows updates have a nasty habit of changing your System Restore settings. On one of our computers, the October Update left System Restore switched on, but on two others it decided to switch it off. Even if System Restore is left switched on, you’ll most likely find Windows has deleted your old restore points.
To check the status of System Restore, click Start, type system restore, then press Enter. If System Restore is set to Off in the Protection Settings section, click Configure to set it up (see screenshot below).
Review your privacy settings
On two of our computers the October Update left our privacy settings unchanged, but on the third we had to apply them again, as you do when installing Windows 10 fresh.
During this, it’s easy to accidentally select the defaults and share all type of data with Microsoft and its partners. Whatever your update experience, we recommend immediately reviewing your privacy settings. Go to Settings, Privacy, then check all settings under the ‘Windows permissions’ section.
Check your backup is active
Windows updates can cause problems with some programs, particularly early on in its release schedule. Once your update has finished, check that vital programs, such as your backup and antivirus, are running normally. It’s also worth checking on the developers’ websites to see where there are any known or suspected problems with the latest update.
Check for updates (again)
Regularly scanning for updates in the weeks after a major update means you’ll get any bug fixes from Microsoft faster. Go to Settings, ‘Update & Security’, then click ‘Check for updates’.