What you must do before and after updating

If you’re not sure whether you already have the May 2020 Update, go to Settings, System, About, then scroll down to ‘Windows specifications’.

The May Update’s version number is 2004, so if it says anything else here (such as 1909 – the previous version), it has yet to install.

We advise backing up your personal files before installing any Feature Update. We’re not aware of any major problems with the May Update, but previous ones (like the disastrous October 2018 Update that deleted some users’ files) have taught us to be cautious.

Also, while Windows will check to make sure you have the necessary free harddrive space before installing the update, it’s worth running the Storage Sense tool to delete temporary files and free up as much space as possible (search storage sense in the Start menu, click ‘Configure Storage Sense or run it now’, then scroll down and click ‘Clean now’).

When you’re ready to install, go to Settings, ‘Update & Security’, then Windows Update. Here, you should see a message about the update, along with a ‘Download and install’ option. If not, you can install it using the Windows Update Assistant at www.snipca.com/35077 (click ‘Update now’, then follow the instructions).

The update takes around an hour to complete. Make sure you don’t interrupt it once started - on one of our PCS, it got stuck at 75 per cent for nearly half an hour, before proceeding through the remainder of the installation.

And finally, as with other Feature updates, the May Update turns off System Restore. Whatever its reason for doing this, Microsoft should at least warn you. To carry on using System Restore, search for it in the Start menu, click Configure, then ‘Turn on’.