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Windows 10 Anniversary Update Rollout May Not Be Done Until Early November (zdnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the slow-rollout dept.

Microsoft released Windows 10 Anniversary Update last month. But the trickling of the company's latest major update users could take as much as three months, the company has said. Many users have been complaining about not seeing an update pop-up on their system. When ZDNet's reporter Mary Jo Foley asked Microsoft about this, the company confirmed that it hadn't seeded the update to all Windows 10 users. From the report: Microsoft began rolling out the latest version of Windows 10, the Anniversary Update, on August 2. At that time, Microsoft officials said the rollout would be staggered, but didn't get too explicit as to how -- or how long it might take the company to push Windows 10 Anniversary to consumers and business users who are on the so-called Current Branch of Windows 10. It's worth repeating that those who really want the Anniversary Update immediately have options to proactively go get it. I received a Microsoft blast email just over a week ago that included a footnote that mentioned it might take up to three months for Microsoft to push the Anniversary Update to those set up to get it. That means those currently waiting may still have another month and a half to wait.

45 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Noooo!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I want more government spying now!!!

  2. constantly broken updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I haven't been able to update since day one. It constantly downloads, reboots whenever it likes, installs, fails, rolls back, reboots, then tries all over again. I'm glad i don't use it for anything but playing a game and some work related stuff else I'd be even more disappointed. Maybe one day I'll try to reinstall it but for now I just don't care

    1. Re:constantly broken updates by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Are you using GRUB to boot? Temporarily switch to Windows Boot Manager instead, install the update, then switch back to GRUB. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I'm fairly sure this is the fix.

    2. Re: constantly broken updates by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I tried WBM, but then three guys burst into my house, held me down, and gang raped me for three hours. I'm pretty certain these events were related.

    3. Re:constantly broken updates by The-Ixian · · Score: 2

      This happened to me at one point. I was using an insider build and was on the fast update ring.

      I had to do a clean install. I went back to the stable build when I did that.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    4. Re:constantly broken updates by kruug · · Score: 2

      You can care less? Wow...I thought /. was a place of people who couldn't care less about Windows... What prompted you to join this discussion that has no importance to you?

    5. Re:constantly broken updates by kruug · · Score: 2

      Yup, that's the thing about beta (Insider) builds...they can break.

    6. Re: constantly broken updates by beastofburdon · · Score: 1

      It's called Windows Butt Monitoring. It's a new part of their standard telemetry where they assess size, shape, and pliability in order to better serve you.

  3. Lack of QA in Redmond? by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe Microsoft wants to roll it out slowly because it did not do enough QA on the release to assure it would be a smooth release cycle. So the early ones to get it are likely the real-world testers.

    1. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      its not untrue. there have been 4 additional patches already.

    2. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      More like NO QA in Redmond, they were all laid off. The SDLC concept for Windows 10 seems to be:

      • * Insiders are the alpha testers, but at least they volunteered for that.
      • * The general public are unwitting surveillance subjects and beta testers. Microsoft will Do The Needful to your computer whether you want it done or not. These mandatory patches can make your computer stop working, blue screen, lose data, or somehow fuck up previously perfectly working peripherals at any time. You can't decline a patch even if you know in advance it's going to fuck you up!
      • * Only Enterprise users get the finished product and they have to pay through the teeth for that privilege. Whatever patches didn't fuck up millions of consumer PCs may eventually make their way here.

      My take is, Windows 10 isn't ready for prime time at all. It may never be, because it's a constantly moving target. Unlike every prior edition of Windows, with 10 you can't lock-in a working system with known good drivers. You wake up one morning and suddenly your computer is broken because Microsoft decided to push an update, and there's no option to decline it, you're just fucked. Microsoft broke millions of peoples' webcams last month with a botched update and they still haven't fixed that. Meanwhile they're pushing more updates causing more new problems and more pain.

      Add in the telemetry/spying and there's just no way. Windows 10 isn't worth it. The only winning move is not to play.

    3. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Like I mentioned above, aside from being good, since Windows 10 is supposed to be the last version of Windows, and everything thereafter is an update, that too a rolling one, they should be under no pressure to have periodic releases, but just release an update after exhaustive testing - whether by beta testers or internal engineers

    4. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by Creepy · · Score: 1

      That wouldn't surprise me - I had two cousins testing for them for a long time (at least 20 and 16 years) and both got new jobs within the past two years without mentioning why. I also had a release critical defect for one of my company's products that only happens on Windows Anniversary, but that was deferred because we only support Windows Pro and it won't be forced onto Pro for 3 months (I tested it on my home machine that didn't have pro, as well as work machines with it - it is technically supposed to work everywhere, but until the bug moves to pro my company doesn't care).

    5. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by Creepy · · Score: 1

      That isn't to say they don't have product testing - I believe they have product testing in India and Romania, possibly other countries. Everyone I know that worked in Redmond works different jobs now, so I assume they were let go.

    6. Re:Lack of QA in Redmond? by RicktheBrick · · Score: 1

      Why must I relearn everything after every upgrade? There is no minimize on this firefox browser. To minimize it I must hit the windows key since clicking on the icon on the task bar does nothing. There is now only a icon for all apps so I have to click it to get all apps. There is an icon for settings but it just another thing that must be learned. Microsoft games do not work right either. Some of the time when I click on say minesweeper it just show the initial screen and than does nothing. I either have to restart the operating system or I have to restart the game several times. Four days seem to be the maximum I can get away without rebooting. There are two games adventure and treasure hunter that can not show the last part of the game unless one magnifies the screen so much that one can not see the overall picture so one must memorize it and than magnify the screen to find the exit point. It is curious since the games failed to work than they started to work and than after an update went back to failing again. I can not find the command prompt. It used to be on the start menu but it is not there anymore and is not on the taskbar. I have read instruction to type a command on the taskbar but there is nowhere to type it. I have more than one computer and the problems are the same on all of them. If I touch the pad while typing this comment the computer will go crazy and I will have to spend some time getting back to where I was.

  4. Still can't get it to work -- total system freeze by flarb936 · · Score: 2

    Despite an update to the update Microsoft claims fixes the system freeze, I have yet to get Anniversary update to work correctly. Freezes my entire machine a few minutes after login. Here's hoping there's an update to the update to the update.

    --
    ralphbarbagallo.com
  5. Gee, these Windows users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    First they complain about the update popup bugging them, now they miss it.

    1. Re:Gee, these Windows users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Typical Slashdot, anything Microsoft does is bad, even when it's the exact opposite of what they did previously.

  6. Ok, we have until November by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Get your ass into gear and migrate to Linux, we only have 2 more months before our computers get bricked.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Ok, we have until November by The-Ixian · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I run Linux on my personal laptop. Always have. My gaming rig runs Windows 10 and is perfectly fine; It runs like a top.

      Operating systems are just tools, use whatever makes the most sense for the job.

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    2. Re:Ok, we have until November by kruug · · Score: 2

      Your computer won't get "bricked". There are no reports of a computer getting "bricked" due to Windows 10. Please stop with the FUD.

    3. Re:Ok, we have until November by chipschap · · Score: 1

      Operating systems are just tools, use whatever makes the most sense for the job.

      Finally, a breath of fresh air.

      I'm an unabashed Linux fan and use it for everything. That's my choice and preference.

      If Windows or Mac or WhoKnowsWhat suits you better, that's your choice and preference.

    4. Re:Ok, we have until November by CptLoRes · · Score: 1

      Operating systems are just tools, use whatever makes the most sense for the job.

      The problem is when the OS stops being a tool for your benefit.

    5. Re:Ok, we have until November by WallyL · · Score: 1

      And starts being just a tool.

    6. Re:Ok, we have until November by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      This isn't entirely fair. People have to use Windows if they want certain applications to run. That's like saying it's your own fault that you got arrested for smoking pot, could've moved to Amsterdam.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    7. Re:Ok, we have until November by kruug · · Score: 1

      If you've gotten those machines back up and running, they're not bricked.

    8. Re:Ok, we have until November by kruug · · Score: 1

      Reports like where? Please provide legitimate sources to your claims.

    9. Re:Ok, we have until November by kruug · · Score: 1

      Dell does not officially support Windows 10 on the Inspiron 14Z, so why should Microsoft? They didn't build the hardware, they didn't write the firmware, they didn't sell the product.

    10. Re:Ok, we have until November by kruug · · Score: 1

      Source on those?

    11. Re:Ok, we have until November by chipschap · · Score: 1

      I can see how you read that into my comment, so perhaps I should have been more clear. I didn't distinguish between "choose to use" and "have to use" but in retrospect of course I see they're different things.

      So let's just say if you want or need to use Windows (or whatever the case may be), then indeed that's consistent with the original comment about using the right tool for the job, where "right" may derive from absolute necessity on down through merely preference or familiarity.

      In other words, while I'm (as I said) a big Linux fan, I don't pretend that it solves every problem and is right for everyone and everything.

    12. Re:Ok, we have until November by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      OK, now I got you.

      The comment just ruffled me the wrong way 'cause I have a few friends (non-technical friends) who keep bugging me for a way to get away from Windows and into Linux, unfortunately they both are shackled by the necessity of using it due to certain things still not working well in Linux, notably gaming and certain special software packages only available in Windows (and of course not working right in Wine).

      We have arrived at the point where Windows managed to piss off people who never really bothered thinking about whether their current OS is the "right" OS for them because, to them, it's not a matter of religious devotion, they don't give a shit about the "must be free, only FOSS is good enough" creed, they just want to use their system. And these people are now asking how to get off Windows.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Password protection on wakeup? by sims+2 · · Score: 1

    Anyone figured out where they moved the "Password protection on wakeup" setting to in the AU?

    I have a lot of computers with no password so the prompt is just a PITA.

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  8. Rolled out first on modern hardware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It was rolled out to newer systems with UEFI and Secureboot first. My new laptop got it day one.

    If you use the media creation tool it will create a windows 10 ISO/DVD/USB drive with the anniversary update (Version 1607) already installed.

    The big releases are pretty much a reinstall anyway - The entire OS get swapped out during the update. One of the reasons they are going these "big" releases is so you don't end up with the problem of previous windows versions - IE the latest official media (Win7 sp1, win 8 RTM, or win 8.1 RTM) All have 150+ updates or more after a clean install.In win7's case you end up downloading 2x more data than the original size of the win7 media itself.

    Another problem with all those updates is you run in to platform constancy issues. After hundreds of updates something can go wrong, and you end up with situations like windows update being broken out of the box. Big releases are a periodic refresh that gets everything back to a reference point. Do that at least once a year and updates are easier to deal with.

    1. Re:Rolled out first on modern hardware by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      It was rolled out to newer systems with UEFI and Secureboot first. My new laptop got it day one.

      Not at all. Many Surface users waited for a good month with no rhyme nor reason between their delays. UEFI, Secureboot, TPM, and Microsoft frigging customised hardware to boot (pun intended).

      There really seems to be very little pattern here.

  9. Does it (still) delete Linux partitions? by emil · · Score: 1

    I would really prefer that this not happen.

    I run grub, which has killed previous updates. Microsoft needs to have greater respect for the operating systems that I have installed on my PC. If I have to lose one, I'd prefer it not be Linux or BSD.

    1. Re:Does it (still) delete Linux partitions? by Baloroth · · Score: 1

      It's not even just Linux partitions, the update resulted in windows no longer recognizing the existence of an NTFS (non-boot) drive. All the data was still there, Windows just messed up the partition structure enough that it couldn't mount it. 3rd party recovery tools reconstructed it just fine.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
  10. Re:that's a good thing right? by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

    This is the version that has an optional GNU/Linux subsystem, so personally I prefer it to the older version. I'm not aware of any ways in which it is more "evil" than the predecessor - at one point they said Cortana would be mandatory, but if you enable search, while technically Cortana might be doing the leg work, it works the same way it did previously for those who had Cortana turned off.

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  11. Why not call them SP's or even windows 10.X then? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2

    Why not call them SP's or even windows 10.X then?

    Just to make things easier for people to do a quick check to see what ver they are running?

  12. Birthday NOT Anniversary by Camel+Pilot · · Score: 1

    We are not married to Windows 10 you know.

  13. Re:Waiting Until November to Continue Not Upgradin by kruug · · Score: 1

    Why not not upgrade now?

  14. it was ok until the last update by BLToday · · Score: 1

    I have the Anniversary running on 3 computers since the first week of general availability. After the last update, one of the computer's task bar would be unclickable if I left the computer running more than 3 hours. Haven't had time to track down the problem but I'm going to guess it's because of GeForce Experience. GE has been so problematic for me. If I started after running a game it would fail to start.

  15. Re:that's a good thing right? by unixisc · · Score: 1

    That's what I thought. Besides, since Microsoft ain't introducing a new version, why would they be in a hurry to introduce anything? Updates can now be done when they're ready, not when marketing announces their availability! Particularly since they have no QC anymore

  16. Who's @ fault: MS or MBs? by unixisc · · Score: 1

    That wouldn't be a conspiracy theory. All these machines are made by Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers like Asustek, Gigabyte, Compal, Quanta, Foxconn, et al. They do their best to cut costs by cutting corners - like on the firmware, which would explain some of the issues

  17. Update now by Frederic54 · · Score: 1

    Just by going to Microsoft site and download the update, I did it, it works fine. A quick google search gives me:

    https://support.microsoft.com/...

    --
    "Science will win because it works." - Stephen Hawking
  18. Nope. by EnsilZah · · Score: 1

    After several occasions where windows decided to update itself without giving me any other options, installing faulty drivers that required removing the driver and all settings for the device, wasting time and money, then proclaiming triumphantly that all my files are where I left them, as if not destroying all my files is some sort of fucking achievement and not the least you can fucking expect...
    No Microsoft, I'm not installing your fucking updates, hopefully disabling the update service will take care of that problem.
    And I'm definitely not using that piece of excrement OS for anything that actually matters.