Microsoft Pulls the Windows 10 October Update That has Been Deleting Files

Just as I was about to update my laptop with the latest Windows 10 October 2018 Update, known as version 1809, Microsoft has pulled amidst user files being deleted upon upgrade, and its media creation website as it investigates issues with the update deleting users files upon install.

Over the last couple of days, some users who went ahead and installed the Windows 10 October Update have complained that it deleted personal files in their documents folders. Though it looks like that may be delayed since, as noticed by Techdows, it has removed the update from its download site.

For now, until the issue is fixed, the October 2018 Update has been pulled. It is no longer available for download officially, and there is no word on when it will be made available again.

This is the second time Microsoft has had a major issue with a new feature update for Windows 10, the first of which happened earlier this year with the April 2018 Update, which resulted in a three-week delay.

Currently the newest version available to download is the old October update, and there’s the following message on its support page.

Microsoft:

We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.

Over on Reddit, posters have found that you can still download 1809 if you absolutely must have it for testing or just curiosity (make sure your backups are current first — you are making regular backups, right?) from this link. This is a troubling trend for Microsoft, after it also experienced issues with the Spring update earlier this year.

Microsoft also advices not clean installing the new update either. It’s possible that this issue will be fixed in a cumulative update, or it may be a big enough problem that requires Microsoft to compile another RTM build, just as it did with the April 2018 Update.

Microsoft has been struggling to assure quality with its last few feature update releases at launch, which does not paint a positive picture for customers.

If you have already upgraded to the October 2018 Update, you should be able to recover back to the previous update by heading into Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows 10. This will restore your OS to the previous feature update that was running, likely the April 2018 Update.

If you have already upgraded and find that your files are missing, Microsoft recommends you contact their support hotline at 1-800-MICROSOFT.