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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : DON'T INSTALL THE MARCH WINDOWS UPDATES AT ALL!
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| Paul_L Guru  Joined: 03/03/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 769 |
The March Windows updates continue to create windows BSOD shutdowns with certain printer drivers. DON'T INSTALL THEM! Wait until the April updates which are due out about April 13th have settled down. That means waiting until about April 27th. If you have installed the March updates and you are having no problem leave them installed, you got lucky. If the March updates are creating problems either 1. go to Settings, Update & Security, View update history, Uninstall updates and remove any of the updates released in March then defer future updates for at least 30 days, or 2. restore your system drive from the image backup you made immediately before allowing the March updates to install. (YOU DID MAKE AN IMAGE BACKUP BEFORE UPDATING, DIDN'T YOU???? USE MACRIUM REFLECT BEFORE THE NEXT UPDATE. YOU HAVE UPGRADED WINDOWS 10 HOME TO PRO HAVEN'T YOU????) ------------ This kerfuffle is not really Microsoft's fault. The problem seems to be related to some oddball printer drivers .... like Dymo label printers, and some older Lexmark and HP consumer printers. I doubt that even Microsoft can test each update with every 10 year old printer driver out there. The number of combinations and permutations of available processors and peripherals is mind bogeling. Still, a BSOD shutdown is something to be avoided. Windows is way too complicated. It tries to be all things to all people. The Linux kernall is relatively simple and bullet proof. Many of the Linux distributions suffer from the same problems ... they are way too complicated. The really reliable operating systems are those that are tied to specific equipment. IBM mainframes are paired with specific operating systems but you can't hook up just any peripheral. If you use an Apple Mac you have to stick with known Apple friendly peripherals. Paul in NY |
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RetroJoe Senior Member  Joined: 06/08/2020 Location: CanadaPosts: 290 |
I would bet that 80% of the problems people have with Windows has something to do with printer drivers. It has always been thus, and apparently always will be - I just bought my wife a brand new Canon printer, and it and its driver have done nothing but complain. But to your point, it's not Windows' fault - frankly, I am shocked at the poor quality of everything in the printer world. I've used HPs, Epson and Canons, and the software for all of them has always been awful - like it was written for a high school project. Now, even the build quality of the printers has taken a deep nose dive - I'm disappointed at how "cost reduced" my Canon feels, albeit it was pretty cheap to buy. Maybe I shouldn't write this and jinx the wireless setup that I finally got working! Edited 2021-03-27 05:37 by RetroJoe Enjoy Every Sandwich / Joe P. |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9610 |
"Ahhhh. Windoze. We meet again." Problem is that with W10 HOME, you CANNOT refuse updates - they are rolled out weather you want them or not. At least with W10 PRO, you can defer updates. So all W10 HOME users will likely get screwed by this latest update - thanks for the post, as now I can be prepared for the plethora of phone calls I will likely get. Totally agree.  I use Puppy Linux in most of my Linux builds now. WHY? It is so simple, it is small, runs totally in RAM(does not need an HDD/SSD for install, only a USB drive), and is still really quite customizable. I admire the likes of Ubuntu, but it is HUGE. I do like MINT, and have that on a couple of machines. I recommend MINT for a more powerful install then Puppy, but not as convoluted as a full Ubuntu install. My current go-to for light-weight is still the latest Puppy, but for a full-install on an SSD, then MINT is the way to go IMHO. Interesting that under Linux - ANY flavour - you don't have many of the W10 issues. You DO have to learn a few essential Linux things, such as the Linux file-system and how it works and how physical peripherals are mapped to folders in that same filesystem tree, but once you get the hang of that..... Well.....  Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Paul_L Guru Joined: 03/03/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 769 |
Upgrading from W10 home to pro costs $99 US at the Microsoft US store. You can find lower prices in some other countries. You can convince W10 home to delay upgrades by telling it you have a metered connection or by disabling updates completely. I just bought a refurbished Lenovo I5 desktop with a 2 TB HDD and W10 Pro installed for $196 US. If I subtract out the $99 upgrade differential for pro that means I paid $97 for the computer! When you go shopping make sure the OEM has installed pro! If you have an old product key for Win7 or 8 pro or ultimate that product key will activate a free upgrade of Win10 home to pro. If you just don't want to spend the money to upgrade to pro then when you first start up a new Win10 home machine don't connect it to the internet. This will force it to default to a local user sign in without getting involved with a microsoft account. Then set the internet connection to metered connection and set it to not update during active hours (maximum 18 hours per day). Then shut down the internet connection (turn the wifi off or pull the eternet plug) during the inactive hours, or shut down the computer for 6 hours a day. You probably don't need the computer up and running while you're sleeping. You can permanently stop all windows updates using Start > Administrative Tools > Services > Standard Tab > Windows Update > Windows Update Properties (Local Computer) > Startup Type > Disabled > Apply. If you do this make sure to turn updates back on a few weeks after crtical updates are pushed out. Paul in NY |
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hitsware2 Guru Joined: 03/08/2019 Location: United StatesPosts: 719 |
*********** DO NOT CONNECT WINDOWS P.C.S TO THE INTERNET ***************** If for some reason You need Windows : At the first boot You are given the option ' no internet hookup ' Use something else for internet .... Saves a lot of grief  my site |
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| Paul_L Guru Joined: 03/03/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 769 |
@hitsware2 .... Hi Michael. That's correct, when you first boot a new computer don't connect it to the internet. Windows will become very distressed because it wants to call home and convince you to log on with a Microsoft account. Ignore it. It will eventually let you log on with a local administrator account. After you're up and running you can connect to the internet. You can avoid forced updates by limiting the hours during which updates will be downloaded and by telling windows you're on a metered connection. If you use a WIFI connection you can turning the wifi off with the tray icon during the download hours. If you use a wired ethernet connection to your router you can still turn off the connection. Get your network name with NETSH INTERFACE SHOW INTERFACE Create two icons on the desktop, one calls disable.bat and the other calls enable.bat. Create an enable.bat file containing: NETSH INTERFACE SET INTERFACE "NAME" ENABLE and a disable.bat file containing: NETSH INTERFACE SET INTERFACE "NAME" DISABLE NETSH is one of the most complicated commands available in windows. Be very careful with it. Check out NETSH /?. There are 22 subcontexts available, namely advfirewall, branchcache, bridge, dhcpclient, dnsclient, firewall, http, interface, ipsec, lan, mbn, namespace, netio, p2p, ras, rpc, trace, wcn, wfp, winhttp, winsock, and wlan!!! Each subcontext has its own help .... NETSH INTERFACE /?. Paul in NY |
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| hitsware2 Guru Joined: 03/08/2019 Location: United StatesPosts: 719 |
>> After you're up and running you can connect to the internet. Better to use something else for the internet . If you need a file from the internet , download on something else , put on a stick and xfer ... A little effort , but worth it . my site |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5089 |
This is the constant battle between Windows and Linux. I have been using linux for the last 10 years, even ran a business on Puppy Linux (on all PC's) for 5 years. After that 5 years of (L)ubuntu. And recently turned back to W10 (with the purchase of new equipment came W10, I decided to give it a go). W10 is actually quite good. It is annoying that you cannot control the update (with HOME edition) but in general it works quite well. And most free software is also available on W10. Commercials are more anoying, that is a fact. Linux also has it's quirks. If your hardware complies to the drivers in the kernel build you are fine. If not, you have a lot of terminal typing to do, and chances of instability increase. Some distro's (like Lubuntu 14.04 up to 18.04) are rock solid. But some are not. And bugs also exist. I remember a unbuntu version that did not have a WIFI icon in the taskbar. Try fixing that on a chromebook (no wired ethernet). Typing from W10 now. But my old stuff is still up and running too. PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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