Is it possible to rollback the Win10 1607 Anniversary Update?

[G+_Scott Wilkinson]

Is it possible to rollback the Win10 1607 Anniversary Update?? I had it apply yesterday, and now I can't rename any folders locally, or on my network! I can create them, but not rename them. I get a warning that it can't find the file, followed by an error that the file or folder doesn't exist. Apparently this problem has been around since August, lots of reports of the problem, but haven't found a fix.

 

Unfortunately I listened to the latest Security Now episode a day late, when Steve mentions how to change the update policy to stop auto updates.

 

This is a Retail Version of Win 8.1Pro that was upgraded, and is on a Domain.

[G+_Damien Wessling]

Are there any options to roll back to a restore point or has the update squashed them?

[G+_Scott Wilkinson]

I rolled back to the restore point before the update, but the update still is in place. Some posts say that there is an option to roll back to a previous build in the Restore Settings, but I don't have that option. Wandering if that is for Insiders. I don't use an Insider build, or even a Microsoft account on this laptop.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Scott Wilkinson The anniversary update changed the rollback period from 30 days to only 10 days and it may simply be that the alleged option -- to revert to an early version -- is no longer available because of this change.

 

Also if you went to a restore point before the update was installed -- and the update was still installed afterwards -- that just re-enforces my suspension that you have exceeded the 10 day rollback period and are stuck with it.

 

http://hothardware.com/news/windows-10-anniversary-update-allows-10-days-to-downgrade

hothardware.com - Windows 10 Anniversary Update Allows Only 10 Days To Revert Back To Older Windows Versions

[G+_Scott Wilkinson]

The goofy thing was that the update was showing installed on 2 different dates. The old Control Panel based Programs and Features showed the update being installed 2 weeks ago. But the new Apps based Update & Security interface showed the updated being applied yesterday, when the problem actually showed up.

 

I was able to fix the problem by downloading the 1607 update ISO and reinstalling Windows on top of its self, leaving my docs and apps in place. Interestingly, now when I visit the Recovery settings under Update & Security, I have the option to roll back to a previous build, which was previously showing roll back to Windows 8.1 as disabled. Looks like the 8,1 to 10 update killed the rollback build option, but the in place install wiped out the legacy 8.1 part and made the system behave more like a clean install.

 

So now the problem is fixed, I have changed the group policy to ask before downloading and installing updates, and will be making a system image before installing any new updates.

 

Of course I now had to rehack the registry to make Windows 10 behave in a way I can tolerate.

[G+_Damien Wessling]

Good to see a successful outcome Scott, thanks for the update. Getting Win 10 to a tolerable level will an interesting post to follow... lol ?

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Scott Wilkinson You should read that article I linked to.

The rollback period is now only 10 days instead of 30 days.

 

You should keep that in-mind when installing new updates.

 

There could have also been an issue with the update and the fact that you were on a domain.

[G+_Scott Wilkinson]

My guess is that Win10 quietly downloaded the file in the background 2 weeks ago, but decided to apply it yesterday. I am have never seen the option to rollback a build on this machine, it always offered to rollback to Win8. It wasn't until I did the inplace reinstall that the option to rollback a build appeared. A year later, and Win10 still feels very bleeding edge and unfinished.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Scott Wilkinson A year later, and Win10 still feels very bleeding edge and unfinished.

Unfortunately, and sadly to say, that is how Windows 10 has been engineered -- there will never be another Windows OS everything will come through Windows Update -- as a result, Windows will forever have that unfinished feeling (because it won't be finished).

[G+_Damien Wessling]

Sadly, your reference to 'unfinished' is poignant, it feels like the goal posts are on wheels. Windows will decide what software it deems suitable and will remove that which it doesn't see fit... even if the applications are purchased and legitimate. Driver's aren't exempt from this treatment either. Every major update, like the Anniversary Update, will bring UI changes whereby you'll be finding previously used functions in new locations. Keep you arms and hands inside the vehicle at all times, the roller coaster ride has begun... lol

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Damien Wessling That's why decided to go full Linux....specifically Debian.

I can pick and choose the things to keep and the things to get rid of.

I also have the freedom to do whatever I want with the OS without fear of a lawsuit, DMCA notices, or the like.

[G+_Damien Wessling]

William L. DeRieux IV Yep, I'm hearing you mate, Debian is my Linux of choice too... These day's I tend to use my Macbook Air for day to day essentials. Until Autodesk (Inventor, Autocad etc) & Dassault Systèmes (Solidworks) start compiling for the Linux world, I need to maintain a 'Windows' world.

[G+_Scott Wilkinson]

Quite broken. 3 times now 1607 has borked this machine. The built in imaging software is also borked. I can't backup to a thumb drive, Microsoft doesn't allow that for some reason? I tried backing up to a network share, but then can't restore from the share. So I have had to use Clonezilla to image the machine.

 

Then throw in the occasional Blue Screen, which I haven't seen for nearly a decade on a machine. Win 10 is still beta in my opinion.

 

I would love to be able to go all in on Linux, this machine already dual boots Win10 and Ubuntu. But there are still too many apps that don't have parity on Linux unfortunately for my use case. Perhaps I don't use Linux enough for it all to become second nature, but maintaining a desktop system is still very laborious for me. The more trouble Win10 gives me, the more time I find myself in Ubuntu, but I am very close to formatting this and trying to get Win 8.1 running. Bash on Windows has proven to be a novelty, more than a useful tool.

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Scott Wilkinson

 

usb flash drive not a valid backup location for system image

 

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-update/usb-flash-drive-not-a-valid-backup-location-for/6f146373-3052-46a5-8648-e9a177ea5fca

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Manasa Sirahatti reported that Windows 7 Backup and Restore did not allow USB flash drives to be used for System Image back up.

 

This might be true for USB Flash drives....

But, My parents have Windows 7 and setup a Maxtor OneTouch External drive (320GB) as the backup location without issues.

 

So, you might want try creating the system image on an external USB hardrive (such as the maxtor onetouch, seagate goflex, etc)

 

Also, within the last 6 months was able to restore their Windows 7 machine using that backup when using the Windows 7 install disk -- selecting the option to restore the computer using an ASR image.

The ASR image was created at the same time files were backed up.

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Personally, I think CloneZilla is the best option (it has support for backing up and restoring from SMB/SSH/HTTP/Local drive, etc).

 

 

answers.microsoft.com - usb flash drive not a valid backup location for system image

[G+_William L. DeRieux IV]

Scott Wilkinson

 

Leo Laporte reports that 1607 has broken his system as well -- anytime he tries to use his HTC Vive VR vistor it will bluescreen.