Study shows Windows 10 fails to assist users during the update process

According to a recent research conducted by the University College, London, Microsoft does not care too much about the requirements of the non-Enterprise users as far as the updates are concerned.  In theory, Windows 10 Home should not install any updates while users are actively using their PCs.

The study involved 93 Windows 10 users and proved the following points:

• Windows 10 Home’s Windows Update patching experience is frustrating for most of the users
• Some of the users are even not familiar with using the Windows Update service/tools
• Windows fails to assist the users during the update process
• Windows built-in tools are inadequate to help users in making update decisions
• The unexpected reboots during the update process disrupt the workflow
• Microsoft should offer an alternate for the needed restarts

Some of you might be curious to know how the update process takes place, a flowchart of the Windows 10 Home update process has been published by the authors.

It is worth mentioning that some of the issues that have been highlighted in the study have already been addressed in the recent updates. Microsoft has put an icon in the taskbar indicating the users that they need an update. The feature will be available in April 2019 Update (19H1).

How did Windows 10 Home users respond to the research?

Annoyed by the huge volume of updates

It seems like users are pretty much annoyed with the huge volume of updates that take a lot of time and also chews up bandwidth as well.

This is simply going to lead to a permanent blocking of any updates, anytime, anywhere. I’ve already had to do that for several “Home” users because of the nearly-constant downloading of 4GB updates (taking all available bandwidth for days).

— RELATED: Survey confirms Windows updates trigger bugs for 50% of users

Users prefer to disable updates

While some of the frustrated users even took an extreme step by disabling the Windows Update service permanently.

As a matter of fact, they preferred to take the security risks that are associated with disabling the updates.

This is not surprising. I know someone who actually got fed up of their computer updating that they looked up how to stop it permanently. I found that they had disabled the Windows Update service. Re-enable it and explain why this is a very bad idea.

Lack of testing by Microsoft

While another user stated that Microsoft used to have a quality test team for Windows 7. While now it the number of bugs justify the fact that the tech giant is no longer focusing on quality assurance. It is just testing the products by releasing them to home users.

HOWEVER have in mind that the microsoft that handles Windows 10  isn’t the same that handled Windows 7 when it was in its prime and there used to be a quality test team that made sure updates issues were fewer, Windows 10 doesn’t seem to have that… its home users its beta testers.

The tradition of bugs in the first release

You might run into issues as Insiders are not property testing the builds and most of the times the builds rolled out with potential issues. Notably, Microsoft has a history of having bugs in its first release.

Microsoft has never had the reputation of nailing the first release.  If other Windows versions had forced you to install every update as it came down the pipe, we would have seen the same sorts of issues then as we do now.

— RELATED: Windows 10 October Update causes all these bugs

Downloading unnecessary apps

Surprisingly some of the users also have to delete all the newly installed apps that are of no use for a home user. They should have a feature to install only important security updates.

I would be fine with the updates if they were just for security issues. I’m sick of having to remove all the new Microsoft crapware every time a computer installs its gigabytes of updates. Why the hell does Win10 Enterprise have software for XBox anyway? Fortunately I only have to deal with it at work and at home I can use a reasonable OS where I control the updates but it’s still maddening.

Users lack the required knowledge

While few of the Windows users also blame the users to be lazy enough and lacking computer knowledge. The user states that often people don’t even try to understand the basics and that is the only reason they suffer during installation.

People just need to stop being lazy and educate themselves just a little on the technology that they use on a daily basis. Much of this would be alleviated if they took the time to understand the fundamental ‘how’s and ‘why’s of their computers instead of hitting ‘click click next’ every time something pops up on their screen. Security concepts and updates are not difficult to understand for most people if they just put a teeny bit of effort in.

One of the most important thing that should be considered by Microsoft is that around 28% of the users don’t even know about the Active Hours feature.

This feature allows the users to delay Windows update on their systems by setting a time beyond their working hours.

Microsoft seriously needs to think about creating awareness among Windows 10 Home users regarding its Windows Update service and tools. 

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