Learn how to prepare for this update and how you can control when it reaches your company’s computers.
On January 16, 2019, Microsoft finally started the automatic rollout of the latest feature update for Windows 10. It’s not called the January 2019 Update but rather the October 2018 Update. That’s because this update was initially released back on October 2, 2018. However, less than a week later, Microsoft pulled the plug due to reports of people missing files after it was installed. The software giant fixed the problems and re-released the update on November 13, 2018, but Windows 10 users had to manually initiate the update process.
Now that the October 2018 Update is ready for the masses, it is being dispersed through a phased rollout via Windows Update. It took about 10 weeks for the last feature update to be fully distributed using this method, so it might be awhile before the October 2018 Update reaches your business’s computers.
Things to Do While You Are Waiting
While you are waiting for the update to arrive, it is a good idea to:
- Make sure that your business’s data is backed up and the backup files can be successfully restored. As the initial launch of the October 2018 Update shows, problems sometimes occur. Having restorable backup files can save the day — not only if an update goes awry but also if ransomware or a natural disaster strikes.
- Document your computers’ software licenses somewhere other than on the devices being upgraded. That way, you will have the information you need (e.g., product IDs. product keys) if you have to restore any software.
- Make sure there is enough free space on your company’s computers to accommodate the update. If there is not enough space when the update process starts, you will receive a message from Windows Update. Although the message will guide you through the process of clearing up space, having to stop what you are doing to do so can be a hassle.
What to Do If You Don’t Want to Follow Microsoft’s Schedule
If you do not want to wait for the update to reach your company’s computers, you can manually initiate the update process. One way to do this is to:
- Click the Start menu on a Windows 10 computer.
- Select the gear icon to open the Settings app.
- Choose “Update & Security”.
- Select “Check for updates”.
Assuming that the update can be applied, Windows Update will automatically download and install it. You will need to restart the computer several times.
Conversely, you can postpone the October 2018 Update if you do not want it installed during the rollout period. There are several ways to do this, depending on which version of Windows 10 your machines are running. For example, the Windows 10 Professional and Enterprise editions come with several options that let you delay the installation of feature updates up to a year. We can go over your options if you decide to delay the installation of the October 2018 Update.