Windows updates are a frequent, time consuming, and annoying occurrence with Windows 10. Microsoft releases periodic (usually monthly) security and reliability updates, and semi-annual feature updates. The feature updates are versioned for the month and year of expected release. For example, the most recent version is 1803 which had the intended release date of March 2018, but was not released until April 30, 2018 due to last minute programming issues. The next feature update is version 1809 expected in October 2018.
Microsoft states that Windows updates are "simple, predictable, agile, and transparent". Most of our collective experience contradicts this description. I have encountered many issues with Windows 10 where someone describes some strange Windows behavior to me, and I ask "Did the computer recently complete a Windows Update?", and the answer is in the affirmative.
If you have a similar experience, you can use Windows’ System Restore feature to restore your Windows installation to a prior point in time. This will affect the operating system, programs, and registry, but will not alter your data.
How to perform a system restore:
Once the system is restored, it is quite likely that the original problem will reoccur after the next windows update. As long as you have an antivirus/anti malware program installed that updates itself, you might choose to disable Windows Updates. To do so, download the program StopUpdates10, run it, and click on the “Stop Windows Updates” button. Ignore the popup box that appears when the task has completed.
It would be a good idea to keep your operating system current with every second or third feature update once you are confident the release is stable. To do so, search for "Media Creation Tool". Download it directly from Microsoft, run it, and create the installation media on a flash drive (minimum size 8GB). Back up your data, downloads, software keys, etc (a best practice prior to an update). Then run the setup program from the flash drive. Make sure that you choose to keep your files and programs. This process may take some time. Once completed, run Stop Updates 10 to make sure windows updates are still stopped.
October 19, 2018: The recently released Windows 10 version 1809 feature update has been recalled due to several problems users found after installation, the most severe being that somes users found that some of their files had been deleted during the installation. This is the second consecutive Windows 10 feature release that has been recalled. The process outlined above, stopping Windows updates, will ensure stability of your operating system. When you do decide to install a feature release, make sure it has been out at least a month to ensure stability.
