Windows 10 Version 1903 – What’s New
Technology Tips – Published November 2019 in the Guide and Digest
By Don Trauger – Kennett
Microsoft’s support for version 1803 will end on November 12, 2019. Version 1809’s support will end on May 12, of 2020. For 1803 users Microsoft is busy downloading version 1903 to your computer. You may already have it. You can check to see what version you have by clicking Settings, (the gear icon above the Power icon after clicking Start) then click System and scroll down and click About. Scroll down to Windows specifications to view your version.
If you have version 1903 click Home at the top left corner to return to the main Settings window. Next, click Update & Security. You will see a major change in the way Microsoft handles updates.
For some background on this change read my December 2018 and July 2019 articles dealing with Windows Update problems. Go to our web site hersheysmill.org and type windows update in the search field and press Search. The articles will help you better understand why Microsoft is making a change with Windows Update starting with version 1903. Don’t implement any changes mentioned in the articles. If you still have the changes mentioned in the articles, restore your computer back to its original configuration. The new 1903 version will be able to be configured to mitigate Microsoft’s reliability problems with updates. Users with version 1809 may or may not see this new Windows Update feature. Microsoft has stopped offering 1809 as a version upgrade and instead has moved directly to 1903.
Updates are issued generally every Tuesday starting at 1 PM except for high priority security updates that can occur at any time. The timing for these updates does not mean you can get them automatically at 1 PM. Depending on the load for Microsoft’s servers it could be as late as Thursday or Friday before you get them. The first Tuesday of the month is the biggest and consists of the major updates for the month. Weeks 2,3 and 4 may consist of patches to correct any errors made with the first Tuesday patch.
It’s very easy to see that Microsoft issues updates in the beginning of the month then spends the rest of the month figuring out how to fix them. Let me guide you away from this scenario.
Here’s how to configure Windows update to avoid Microsoft’s mistakes. In Settings click Update & Security. Move down to and click Advanced options. Scroll down to Pause updates. Assuming you get your updates in the first week of the month click the down arrow in the field and select the last Friday of the current month (at the earliest) or the first Friday of the following month. Microsoft limits you to a 35 day maximum delay. Whenever you receive your updates then you get a new 35 day delay window.
You can see this feature will always delay updates up to 35 days. However, the first time you use it depends on receiving stable updates during the first week of the month that don’t require patching during the second, third or fourth week of the month. Be alert to any system problems that occur after an update. Click the Resume updates button located in Update & Security under Settings and download the fix. It may take a week or longer to download a stable fix.
Our PC Club meeting is on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 PM upstairs in the Community Center. You’ll get answers to your questions regarding this article and any other issues that you may have.