Windows 10 October 2018 Update is Deleting User Data For Many (windowscentral.com)

New submitter CaptainPhoton writes: I updated my test PC using the Windows 10 October Update (1809). That seemed safe enough, so I proceeded to upgrade my production PC. I just encountered an issue where everything in the Documents folder was deleted, even though I had clicked the option to keep my files. Everything else in my user profile remains intact. I am curious, how widespread is this issue? Has anyone else here encountered this issue? Some articles are starting to crop up acknowledging this failure. Citing complaints from several users, Windows Central reports: Sometimes, when you perform an upgrade to a new version of Windows 10, the setup may move the user files to the previous installation backup located inside the "Windows.old" folder. However, according to those users experiencing sudden data loss, they looked everywhere, and their personal files are nowhere to be found.

Comments

Well it's your own fault.

[hey!]

You're supposed to be keeping your files on Microsoft Cloud. If you insist on using a product in a way other than the manufacturer intended, that manufacturer can't be responsible for the results.

Re:Well it's your own fault.

[hey!]

In a way, I'm half serious. I run Linux and only boot Windows occasionally, just to keep abreast of what's happening in that world. But I prefer Linux because Windows, like so many other digital platforms out there today, has an agenda: to shape my behavior as a consumer.

While Linux may not be perfect, and it comes with occasional hardware compatibility headaches, I value the ability to create the user experience *I* want, to orchestrate the kind of work flow *I* prefer, not take what Microsoft wants me to take. It's a tradeoff, but every operating system is a tool; the question is whose hand is it in?

Microsoft has always tried to leverage its desktop position to sell its other products and services. And they understand the day of the market dominance of the desktop has passed so they really do want you to use the cloud services. I don't actually think Microsoft would screw up its desktop OS deliberately, but for most people if MS does screw up, they don't really have any choice but to continue using Windows. In the long term entrusting their data to Microsoft's cloud services will almost certainly be the path of least resistance for those people.

I just prefer to stay well out of that.

Re:Well it's your own fault.

[Lonewolf666]

It could be argued that the initial fault was using Windows 10 at all ;)
But the part about the cloud backup was obviously sarcastic...

And to get serious for a moment, things like these are why I back up my files from time to time. I also have them outside the usual, Microsoft-designed scheme for storing user data. The original reasons were
      - I want them close to the top level of the file system, not down below three more layers as in C:\Users\Lonewolf666\Documents.
      - I want them on a separate partition I can copy as a whole, and that is not impacted if I nuke my C:\ drive for some reason.

But now I see they are much less likely to be hit by stuff like this as well. One more reason.

It used to be a joke, but...

[msauve]

It's now a fact that Windows is malware.

Re:It used to be a joke, but...

[CaptainDork]

I'm running a Windows XP machine (security camera duty only) with a registry hack that makes it think it's a goddam ATM and I receive security updates pretty regularly.

I'm betting that, by now, hackers at large don't consider it low hanging fruit.

Windows XP registry hack keeps security updates rolling for the dead operating system

Re:It used to be a joke, but...

[lgw]

That only works for computers with internet access. Why would someone put an ATM on the internet?

Many, perhaps most, ATMs (all the shitty little ones no run by banks) still use dial up. They are vastly less secure! The security is a joke, because no one took the threat of an attacker discovering the ATM's phone number seriously. Remote "jackpotting" has been a real attack for almost a decade now as a result. The fact those ATMs mostly ran WinCE actually didn't matter, the security was so sloppy (built-in admin accounts with standard passwords, etc.) it didn't even rise to the level of old Windows security.

Banks tend to worry about the threat from technicians with the keys to the ATM more than random internet attackers, and rightly so given the statistics. Better to have it internet connected for firmware updates than send a technician to every ATM in the world. Sure, an ATM needs security just like the bank's web page needs security, but they're both going to be internet connected.

Why do you try new install instead of update?

[Anonymous Coward]

[...] "even though I had clicked the option to keep my files. [...]

As far as I remember, this option is available only when you start system installation from scratch...

Why would you overwrite running production system with "fresh" install?

We did 25 Pros update so far and no sign of trouble. Using Windows Update of course. Systems are being updated like that since 1607 and it never failed.

Enterprise version will likely get update over the weekend as it is, as usual, delayed a few days.

It happened to me!

[rhanoudi]

All of the content in the documents folder were deleted. In addition, the recycle bin was empty! Luckily I had a backup from the previous week.

WIndows 10 is unusable junk

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously why would anyone run Windows 10 ? It's full of spyware, it comes with crapware that you can't uninstall (Cortana, Edge, Telemetry etc.) takes away your control over updates, it phones home providing who knows what information about your supposedly personal data, and now it deletes your files.

Coupled with its grotesque sub Fisher-Price interface ("is it a tablet ?, it is a phone ?, is it still Windows 98 ?") it's an absolute, complete and utter, complete train wreck. Utter garbage like something thrown together by an idiot who's had 1/2 hours computer training.

Sadly I've got some Windows specific programs I need to run so I'll have to stick with Windows 7 until there are suitable alternatives on Linux (i.e. probably never) but I'll not allow a sigle Windows 10 device in my house.

What a shame. It used to be a good home operating system.

Re:Is this sarcasm?

[hey!]

I run a small form-factor server running FreeBSD with ZFS, set to do daily snapshots. I never worry about Windows ransomware.

I'm surprised more people don't use some kind of snapshot-capable server. It's not exactly rocket science.

Confusing,

[CaptainDork]

this is.

We're not sure if these are just a few isolated cases and how many users are affected, but this should be taken as a reminder of the importance of creating a backup of your computer before going through any upgrade .

They are going back and forth using the terms "updates" and "upgrades."

Also, there's a reference to an "Update Assistant tool."

Ransomware without the ransom

[WaffleMonster]

Might be useful to start keeping a list of Windows 10 features.

1. Installs and enables RAT (Remote Access Trojan) by default with full access to your data and enabling privacy agreement authorizing extraction of user content without notification or asking first.

2. Installs unwanted applications not part of the operating system without permission.

3. Deletes your shit (NEW!)

4. Cyber stalking that can't be disabled and what little of it can be disabled is only temporary thanks to conveniently forgetful privacy settings.

5. Injection of advertisements into operating system's UI shell

6. Perpetual beta quality software updates

7. Installs updates and reboots whether you want to or not without explicit consent

8. Issues scary warnings during third party software installation for self-serving anti-competitive reasons.

9. Tricks users into creating accounts they don't need and steals credentials via typography and WiFi.

10. Transformation of minesweeper and solitaire classics into adware unless you are willing to pay a monthly fee.

Re:ridiculous

[Alain Williams]

Many, many years ago, when I was new to computers and didn't know very much, it occurred to me that I should make regular backups of all my data. Nobody told me to do that, it just seemed like common sense.

Congratulations for having the insight, the intelligence to do backups. Most of us who hang out here will also have the insight. There are however, unfortunately, many who do not understand the need of backups - some of these will be distraught by a loss that is avoidable.

Re:Is this sarcasm?

[hey!]

Definitely not rocket science but how many snapshots can you hold especially once all the data has been encryption with ransomware?

Millions, probably. After the data has been encrypted, you can't change it, so additional snapshots (which only record changes in copy-on-write filesystem like ZFS or BTRFS) will take up only metadata storage space. Meanwhile you'll still have at least dozens of good snapshots from before the attack to fall back on. Honestly Windows is at least fifteen years behind in filesystem technology, most people just don't *know* that.

I agree snapshots are not a backup solution, because if something happens to the server you lose them too. But running a tightly locked-down BSD fileserver on a private network is certainly a low risk for ransomware attacks.

Re:Is this sarcasm?

[lgw]

There's no storage technology that's any more exotic in the "Windows world" than anywhere else. This isn't he 20th century.

But how long does your snapshot last is the question? They're usually not set up to be kept for more than a few days, as that's all you need when a user calls and says "oops, I accidentally deleted/corrupted/messed up that file" - which is something like 85% of restores.

Also, ransomware will totally screw up your COW snaphot system unless you've seriously over-provisioned it, as it will change 100% of files, where usual daily file change may be 1%. Sometimes that's how you lean of ransomware spreading - suddenly your backup server is pinging you that it's getting full. At least then you're probably notified in time to make a difference.

Re: ridiculous

[Anonymous Coward]

One of the theories floating out there is that it has something to do with being domain joined. Another theory is that it has something to do with OneDrive. The only resolution I've seen on forums is to run undelete software, otherwise the recourse is restore from last backup.

So the entire system is needlessly complex, otherwise these three things (local files, domains, a cloud service) wouldn't be tied together in such a way.

On my Linux systems I'd have to REALLY go out of my way to entangle those three things to that degree. And I still wouldn't have files going *poof* for mysterious reasons that can't be tracked down. Certainly nothing as trivial as a system update would cause something like this. This isn't something where you can say "ah well I see how a mistake could have done this". It's mind-blowing. What is the Windows updater doing that even allows this to be possible?

On Linux here's what a system update entails: unpack some archives, copy their files to the right places, update the package manager's DB. Maybe generate a new bootloader configuration, which happens automatically and is only necessary if there was a kernel update. The whole process can be put into the background and ignored while you continue using the machine like normal.

Apparently this process is FAR more complicated on Windows systems. That's remarkable considering the scope of Windows updates is far smaller (core system only) compared to what Linux package managers are updating. Amazing. Is the design of Windows really this broken?

LOL

[JThundley]

"Sure he beats me sometimes, but I know he does it because he loves me!"