Windows 10 October 2018 Update biggest problems and complaints

The October 2018 Update (version 1809) is the second semi-annual feature update and the sixth major refresh for Windows 10 that introduces a new set of improvements and features around productivity, performance, and security, including the highly requested dark theme for File Explorer and new cloud clipboard.

In addition, this release includes two new built-in apps, including Your Phone and Snip & Sketch. Microsoft Edge and Windows Security receive several improvements, and a lot more.

Although this is another significant update designed to improve the overall experience, no every device is upgrading to the new version without stumbling into glitches, as many frustrated users have been reporting many problems with the update.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll highlight some of the complaints users are shouting with the October 2018 Update.

Here are some of the most important problems and complaints from users moving to the newest version of Windows 10:

Install problems with Windows 10 version 1809

As per usual, the biggest complaints with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update are regarding installation.

Missing files after upgrade fiasco

Although hiccups during the early days of a new version of Windows 10 are expected, nobody expected to click the Install button only to return after the upgrade to find out that their files were completely gone.

Shortly after the company announced the availability of the October update, as manually download, a small number of frustrated users started reporting that the upgrade process deleted their documents, pictures, videos, and other personal files.

At the official Microsoft forums, Robert Ziko reported:

The missing files after upgrading bug is perhaps the biggest and most serious problem found in this new version, and it was so significant that even forced Microsoft to stop the rollout.

Thankfully, the problem now has been fixed, and the October 2018 Update should no longer delete files after the upgrade.

The only caveat is that the fixes will not recover your files. If you upgraded to the October 2018 Update before the fixes were available and your files were deleted, you'll need to contact the company directly at +1-800-MICROSOFT or find a local number in your area. Although the Microsoft support team will help you recover your files, the company will not guarantee that you'll get some or all of your files.

If you're planning to upgrade, make sure to backup your files before proceeding.

Intel Audio device drivers

While there hasn't been a lot of reports, as the new version became available, the Microsoft support website started warning users about a compatibility issue with a "range of Intel Display Audio device drivers," which can cause excessive processor utilization and significantly affect battery life.

According to the company's support site, "if you see a "What needs your attention" notification" when trying to upgrade, and the Intel Display Audio device driver (intcdaud.sys, versions 10.25.0.3 – 10.25.0.8) is installed on your system, you should click the Back button to cancel the installation. Otherwise, you will end up with problems.

If you're unable to get the October update because of this issue, Intel already released an update (version 10.25.0.10) that includes a fix for this compatibility problem.

Slow installation

Although there are a lot of factors that can affect the installation process, several users have been concerned about the time that it takes to install this release.

Apps problems with Windows 10 version 1809

In addition to the installation problems, there has been a lot of complaints about apps breaking, disappearing, or not connecting to the internet.

Microsoft Store apps connectivity

While you can fix most app-related problems by reinstalling the app in question, this time around, after installing the October 2018 Update, many users noticed that apps, such as Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Store, and other modern apps could not connect to the internet even though the device had a working connection to the internet.

Microsoft hasn't acknowledged these as bugs with the October 2018 Update, but it appears that modern apps, including Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Store, relies on the Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and if this feature is disabled on the device, then apps won't be able to connect to the



internet.

In many cases, users also reported that switching the network profile to "Private" to "Public" fixes the issue.

Microsoft Edge favorite syncing

Several users also complained about Microsoft Edge deleting their collection of favorite.

Feature problems with Windows 10 version 1809

In the early days of version 1809, a small number of users have also recorded problems with various features, including File Explorer, notifications, Task Manager, and Start menu.

File Explorer dark theme

Perhaps one of the biggest visual changes that you will find with the October 2018 Update is the new dark theme for File Explorer, but it appears that the feature isn't working as expected for many users.

Another bug that seems to be causing headaches is a problem with the notification mechanism. A lot of users have said that after upgrading to Windows 10 version 1809, they stopped receiving toast notifications and notifications no longer appear in Action Center.

Microsoft hasn't acknowledged a problem with notifications, but some users are suggesting to revise the Background Apps page in the "Privacy" settings section and checking apps you want to receive notifications fixes the problem.

Start menu

The Start menu also seems to have a few issues as several users have noted problems with the user interface and search.

Disk Cleanup

Although the legacy Disk Cleanup tool doesn't seem to have problems, many people have been reporting potential accidentally file deletion as a result of the utility introducing a new option to delete the contents from the "Downloads" folder.

The Disk Cleanup tool is now a deprecated feature starting with the October 2018 Update, and it's recommended to use Storage sense to free up disk space.

Settings

A small number of people have also complained about the upgrade process deleting their custom settings.

Although this may seem like a bug (as we've seen reports in the past), in the same thread, another Reddit user suggested that this particular problem could have occurred as a result of a corrupt profile, in which case, Windows 10 ended up applying the default settings.

Login

In addition, there have been various complaints filed about users unable to sign in to their account after upgrading to the Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

Performance problems with Windows 10 version 1809

While most people would expect a new version to perform better than a previous release, some users have been experiencing performance issues after installing the October 2018 Update.

Task Manager

Windows 10 users who recently upgraded to the October 2018 Update quickly started noticing that the Task Manager wasn't displaying accurate processor usage.

The good news about this problem is that Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, and it's working on a fix.

Gaming

Performance while gaming seems to have affected a few Windows 10 users after upgrading to version 1809.

Although some other users suggested the problem was a graphics driver related issue, gitbotv said that after playing around with the settings, disabling Game Mode in the Settings app fixed the problem.

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

After halting the distribution of the new version, Microsoft released an update to fix the data loss problem, but it appears that cumulative update is causing Blue Screen of Death errors on some devices from HP.

According to Reddit users, update KB4464330 that bumps the version number to build 17763.55 is causing bug checks that are not easy to fix:

Wrapping things up

And these are just some of the problems and complains. Across the web, you'll find a lot of reports unveiling other isolated incidents with the October 2018 Update. Again, no everyone is having issues, but it's now becoming evident that Microsoft is having update quality control problems, as the company has millions of people testing pre-releases of Windows 10 and some of these issues could have been prevented.

In the case that the October update isn't available for your device automatically, it's recommended not to install it manually until you know for sure that it's safe to upgrade. You can always block the update using this guide.

If you can't wait, don't forget to create a full backup of your computer or at least a backup of your files before proceeding with the install. In addition, you can also remove apps that may cause conflicts, and disconnecting unnecessary peripherals to prevent problems during the installation.

If you stumble upon issues with version 1809, remember to share them in the comments, or use the Windows Central forums to get help. Also, don't forget to check our comprehensive guide to troubleshoot and fix problems with this update.