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The Internet and Social Media have changed the development process for many of the products we use. Windows 10 in particular has embraced the benefits of these modern day platforms to help improve and bring new releases to market approximately every six months. When I participated in Microsoft Beta Programs (remember Microsoft Betaplace and Connect) more than a decade ago, it was sort of an exclusive club of maybe few thousand or more. Although both had its benefits, with the significant growth of Windows and Office, there had to be change to make feedback represent the billions of users who use both. Since Windows 10 launched in October of 2014, Microsoft has made submitting suggestions and problem reports about Windows open to the general public and not just a controlled group. Instead of just getting an acknowledgement your bug has been received, there is tremendous opportunity to actually have engineers act on your problem and to engage with them intimately. This results in timely fixes not just in the next release but also the interim. Submit a Bug Report About a Problem in Windows 10 In this article, we show you the basic steps to submit a bug and get it acknowledged and potentially fixed in a cumulative update. Included with Windows 10 is an app called Feedback Hub. You can launch it by opening Start, type: feedback or scroll down to ‘F’ then click Feedback hub. After launching Feedback hub, click the Feedback tab. Choose the kind of report you want to send to the Windows Engineers. This is important, because there is a difference between tweeking something versus fixing a bug. A suggestion could be add the option to have different mouse pointer colors. A bug could be, every time you click the Start button, it does not open or the Microsoft Store app presents an error every time you launch it. Error codes and the ability to reproduce the error you are experiencing is important. Some issues you might experience in Windows 10 could be attributed to anomalies or network problems. So, make sure you have exhausted all the troubleshooting options before you submit a report. For instance, if you are unable to connect to the Internet, make sure your drivers updated; you have ran the built in troubleshooters (Start > Setting > Update & security > Troubleshooter) and even Restart the device. When you have decided which one you would like to submit, choose the appropriate radio box. For this article, I am going to submit a ‘Problem’. Below that, enter a descriptive title for your problem. Next, click in the details box and enter some details of the problem. Be clear about the problem, what happens when you click XYZ. Include the error code if there is one. Along with that, include details about the system you are using, such as the make and model. Here is a basic run down of what you can provide to help engineers diagnose the problem: What is the exact make and model of your computer? Open Start, type: system information Hit Enter Click System summary Look in the right pane What have you done so far to troubleshoot the problem? How long has this been happening? Have you installed any new software or hardware drivers since you started experiencing this problem? If so, what are they and are they designed for Windows 10? Have you checked the manufacturers website or contact support to find out about compatibility, updates or support for Windows 10? Do you have a system restore point created you could go back to? Does the problem occur in other user accounts on the computer? Which version of Windows did you upgrade from: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709? Please avoid rants, off topic discussion, profanity and insults – be respectful. Engineers are reading your feedback and instead of telling them about your history in computing and personal problems, they would rather know about the problem concerning Windows 10 at hand. You will also have the opportunity to provide follow up replies. Choose the category the problem relates to. Since my problem affects the desktop, I will choose the ‘Desktop environment’, specifically ‘Windows Spotlight’. If your issue relates to Microsoft Edge, choose that and the area of Edge affected. Next, add evidence of the problem. The Feedback Hub makes it easy to add examples of the problem you are experiencing. This is especially great for reproducible bugs. You can attach a screen capture, file or recording. For my bug, I will go with with Recreate my problem. When you are ready, click Start capture button, then go through the steps to reproduce the problem. When complete, click Stop capture. The information will be attached automatically. You can still remove or review the recorded screenshots used in your recording. You can also keep a copy of the feedback if you want or go ahead and immediately Submit it for review. If you want to review your report, click the ‘Continue using Feedback Hub button’. Click the My feedback tab, then click on the report, which should be at the top of the list. Get Your Bug Report Some Attention Here is how you can make some noise and give your report the attention it deserves. You can share the report with family and friends or even key folks on the Windows Engineering team. Click the Share menu at the top right hand corner of the Feedback hub screen; a Short Link will be generated. Click Copy Link, which you can send in an email or instant message; or click Share for more options. If you have Twitter installed, you can launch that app. You can tweet the problem to key folks on the Windows Engineering team or find folks who work on specific parts or apps bundled with Windows such as Photos. Not everyone is on social media, so this is completely optional on your part. https://twitter.com/donasarkar https://twitter.com/brandonleblanc https://twitter.com/jenmsft https://twitter.com/northfacehiker https://twitter.com/windowsinsider Enter a short description, a few hash tags and Tweet it out. Get a Windows Insider MVP on Your Side If you know a Windows Insider MVP, you can share your feedback with them and let them vote on it for you too. Windows Insider MVP’s are considered as customer advocates and represents a small group of enthusiastic Windows 10 users who love helping fellow users get the most out of Windows. There you have it, an easy way to get your Windows 10 problems acknowledged and potentially fixed.

A new version of Windows 10 is upon us containing exciting new features to make users more productive and secure. The Windows 10 Spring Creators Update version 1803 builds on the Fall Creators Update launched last October. New features include: Time Line for managing apps and activities across devices; redesigned settings app, new user experiences for installing fonts, using Bluetooth, Audio and whole lot more. In this article, we look at how to upgrade from a previous version using Windows Update. Its not that different from previous versions, but users will note how much faster and stable the process is. Anyway, lets dig in. Step 1: Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update then click 'Check for Updates' Step 2: Windows Update will scan for a new version then begin downloading the feature update. Step 3: The download can take some time, so be patient. If you don't see any progress after an hour, try disconnecting from the Internet temporarily, then reconnect to see if it progresses. If not, restart your computer then try again. Step 4: After the update is finished downloading, it will begin installing. Step 5: When the installation is ready, Windows Update will notify you and ask if you would like to install now, choose a time or set a reminder. If you are not ready to install yet, click 'Pick a time'. This will open the Restart options setting in Windows Update. Proceed to choose an appropriate time and day that is suitable for you. Check out the following article to learn more about how to use Active Hours and Restart Options to manage how and when updates are installed: Step 6: When you are finally ready to install the feature update the update will begin automatically or you can open Start > Settings > Update & security > Windows Update then click Restart now: After the restart, this will be your screen for a while: When complete, you can sign into your account and check Windows Update. Thats it, you don't even see the old installing apps screen anymore. Backup Before Upgrading Please be advised some devices might experience issues upgrading to Windows 10 1803. Here are a list of things you can do to ensure your upgrade is successful or you can return to your previous version. Make sure you backup before attempting to upgrade: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/create-windows-10-system-image-best-free-alternatives/ How to block it if you don't want to upgrade: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/block-windows-10-feature-update-why/ What is the make and model of your computer? Have you checked the manufacturers website to determine compatibility? Check this List to Determine if Your Computer is Compatible with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update 1803 Perform the following tasks: 12 Things You Should Do Before Installing Windows 10 Creators Update (Version 1803) Let us know in the comment how your upgrade goes.

If it has a lock screen status, that sounds like ransomeware. Could you post a picture?

Give the following a try first: Power on and off your computer three times On the third time, your computer will boot into the Advanced Recovery environment Click Advanced Options Click Troubleshoot Click Reset this PC Click Keep my files Choose your account Enter your password Click Continue Click Reset If the above does not work, go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy: Download Windows 10 ISO Files Directly Using Your Web Browser Boot from the install media then perform a custom install: When you arrive at the Windows 10 setup screen, choose Custom (Advanced) Select the Primary Partition then click Next You will receive the following warning: The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows Installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will be able to use your previous version of Windows. Click OK When setup is complete, you can recover your personal files from the Windows.old folder at the root of the drive.

Microsoft published an official (albeit complex) work around for fixing the issue: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/ramazancan/2017/10/16/cumulative-update-for-october-inaccessible-boot-device/

My preferred method would have been to create a User folder on the hard disk, then individually redirect each personal folder (Documents, Music, Pictures etc) from the properties of the folder > Location tab > Move. This is cleaner method than actually moving the user folder itself. You are gonna have problems especially with future feature updates not being able to find the user folder.

Did you follow the instructions as described on groovypost? https://www.groovypost.com/howto/block-windows-10-feature-update-why/ I am not aware of Microsoft ending current branch, where is your source? I know they revised the name of the releases.

Below are direct links to vendor support pages where you can check the make and model of your computer to find out if it is compatible with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update or earlier versions. If its not, don’t force it, stick with your current version, contact the vendor by telephone or support forum to find out about support.The list will be updated as soon as other OEMs update their support pages. Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (1709) Toshiba Panasonic Hewlett Packard (HP)/Compaq Dell Inc Lenovo Samsung If there are no plans to support the a Feature Update, your options includes: sticking with the current version of Windows 10 or backup then attempt a clean install. Some users have reported a clean install works sometimes, even though the manufacturer does not support it; or you can downgrade to the original version you were running such as: Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 Update 1. Both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 with Update will continue to be supported until January 2020 and January 2023 respectively. Microsoft also noted systems with Intel Clover Trail processors can use and receive updates for Windows 10 1607 until January 2023.

I mostly see this when I setup Windows 10 in a virtual machine before I install the additions. Are you using the tab key when this happens? Also, is your graphics adapter updated? Open Start > Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot Scroll down then click Keyboard Click Run the troubleshooter When complete restart and see if it stops happening. If it doesn't disconnect the keyboard, restart then reconnect it.

I updated it with instructions how to change the user agent string so you can still access the ISO. I'm sure I had updated the article previously, but the instructions were not saved it seems.

Check out the following article to see if it can help you overcome some of the issues you are experiencing with Black Screen: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/fix-black-screen-windows-10/

Earlier today, some users started reporting issues trying complete Windows 10 setup during the Out of Box Experience. If OneDrive is selected as the default location to save files, setup becomes non-responsive. Microsoft said in a tweet they are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it. They recommend users experiencing this problem file a report at the given link: https://t.co/SWI0nIX0Pz In the mean time, If you are setting up/signing into a Microsoft Account during installation, we recommend you setup a Local Account instead, then connect to a Microsoft Account after setup in Start > Settings > Accounts > Your info. Users will need to perform a cold reboot in order get Windows 10 responsive again. https://www.groovypost.com/howto/setup-configure-new-windows-10-pc-clean-installation/

I suggest you perform a repair upgrade: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/perform-repair-upgrade-windows-10/

Do you have access to another location and computer you could perform the download from?

See how you can upgrade to Windows 10 again:

As a precaution, what you can do is create a recovery drive, then proceed to delete the 350 MB partition partition, then proceed to right click C:\ then click expand.

When you connect your cellular phone, you need to set it to MTP mode, so it will be recognized by the computer. What type of cellular phone is it? Usually you have to configure this setting by either dragging down notification menu then choosing that mode.

I recommend you perform a custom install. Configure your BIOS to boot from the USB thumb drive: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/bios-uefi-setup-guide-boot-from-cd-dvd-usb-drive-sd-card/ The Windows logo will appear on screen, this might be here for a while, as long as you see the indicater, everything should be ok. Select your Language, Time and Keyboard method then click Next. Click Install now Wait while Setup starts. Accept the license terms then click Next Click Custom Select the Primary Partition then click Next You will receive the following warning: The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows Installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will be able to use your previous version of Windows. Click OK Wait while Windows installs You can then recover your files from the Windows.old folder.

See: How to Downgrade Preinstalled Windows 10 to Windows 7/8.1 You might want to consider dual booting instead.

What is the make and model of your computer? Have you checked the manufacturers website to determine compatibility? See the following article with links to the manufacturers website for popular make and models: How to Block a Windows 10 Feature Update and Why You Might Need To perform the following tasks: 12 Things You Should Do Before Installing Windows 10 Creators Update (Version 1703) If the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant becomes stuck or unresponsive at various percentages: 0%, 32%, 62%, 87%, 99%, please wait at least 4 to 7 hours. If you are updating through Windows Update, when the download reaches 99% disconnect from the Internet LAN (Ethernet) or Wi-Fi then proceed with the installation. If setup does not progress, close the wizard then restart your computer. Follow the instructions to upgrade manually using the Media Creation Tool or the Windows 10 ISO file. How You Can Upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update Right Now

Click View tab > Options > View tab > click restore defaults. Under folder views, click Reset folders. If the problem persists, I recommend you update your video drivers.

Thanks for letting us know that helped Andy!

Why would they jeopardize your installation? There is no risk in trying any of them.

In early April, Microsoft launched the Windows 10 Creators Update for desktop PCs. The mobile version was delayed while Microsoft continued development to refine some features. Today, the company launched the RTM build for select devices. On the Microsoft Community forums, an article was published detailing instructions how to upgrade and which devices are supported.

Microsoft’s line of computers consist of several form factors: Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Studio launched in October of 2016. The company has been pushing the innovation button regularly, introducing major designs, inspiring and encouraging hardware vendors to push the limits of the PC form factor into new experiences. Now it looks like Microsoft is expanding the family by going back to a familiar design. Pictures of the new laptop, which looks almost like a MacBook Air, showed up this evening, thanks to serial leaker walkingcat on Twitter. Below are some pictures of the new device. Update: You can now pre-order the new Surface Laptops here. The new Surface laptop comes in several colors: graphite gold, burgundy, colbalt blue and platinum. Using a tapered design, the Surface laptop features a standard USB A (no USB-C unfortunately), mini-display port, audio jack and SD card reader. Rumors suggest the Surface laptop has a 13.5 inch pixel sense display. It's likely Microsoft will include support for standard Windows 10 hero features such as Windows Hello, Touch Support and inking. Its a part of the family, so, users shouldn't expect anything less. Sparking of Windows 10, the new Surface laptop is expected to come preinstalled with a special edition of Windows 10 based on the Creators Update called Windows 10 Cloud. This release is engineered to compete with Chrome OS in several areas such as fast boot, long battery life and easier management for school administrators. Yes, the Surface laptop is expected to target the education market, where Google Chromebooks have made significant inroads since their launch in 2010. Unique to Windows 10 Cloud is its inability to run classic desktop apps out of the box. Instead, users will be directed to the Windows Store to download apps only. Users not receptive to the change will be able to perform an Easy Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for more functionality. There still some unknowns, yes, it will likely come standard with flash storage, but how much? Price is always an issue and Chromebooks have been very attractive due to their pricing. Microsoft will live stream tomorrows education event revealing all the details. The laptops look good and it further shows Microsoft’s commitment to hardware and I don’t blame them in an industry where once loyal OEMs now produce Chromebooks. This is Microsoft showing that Windows 10 laptops can look just as good, include innovative features and offer more value in comparison to a MacBook.