Microsoft Announces Patch for Critical Windows 10 Anniversary Update Bug

[Batu69]

The company will finally fix the partition bug in Windows 10

Soon after Microsoft rolled out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update on August 2, the firm started getting reports of a potential bug that might impact partitions on computers that upgrade to the new version.

Specifically, users were complaining that after installing the Anniversary Update, some of their partitions were no longer visible in Windows 10, making it impossible to access data that was stored here.

Without a doubt, many thought their data was gone, but Microsoft rushed to acknowledge the bug shortly after that, explaining that it was working on a fix, and no files were lost despite the fact that partitions were no longer visible.

And recently, Microsoft announced that a patch was ready, and it would release it to users as part of the next Windows update patch, without actually providing specifics on when exactly this is scheduled to take place.

“Thanks for everyone’s input and patience. Microsoft is planning to release a fix to address the majority of the misidentified partitions in an upcoming Windows Update,” a company engineer said.

Possibly releasing to insiders first

Furthermore, this message doesn’t state whether Windows insiders would get it first or not, but the chances are that they will given the fact the original post also highlights the steps necessary to get updates as part of the Windows Insider program.

Until the new update ships, it’s important to keep in mind that your data is not lost and Microsoft says that you shouldn’t try to recover partitions by any means.

“Microsoft is aware of this issue and is working on a solution to be released through Windows Update.  Any data you have stored on the affected partition is still there.  We recommend that you not try to recover or otherwise write data to the affected partition, nor should you format the partition,” the company originally said.

The next Patch Tuesday takes place today, so a new batch of updates will be here in just a few hours, but it’s not yet clear if this fix will be included or not.

Article source

[Karlston]

A month ago, Microsoft promised a fix "soon," but it hasn't shown up yet

Among Windows 10 Anniversary Update's more obnoxious bugs is one that erroneously reports certain drives (actually, partitions) are in RAW format and thus can't be accessed from inside Win10.

 

When Win10 encounters a RAW formatted partition, it encourages you to format the partition, thereby wiping out all the data on it. Of course, if the bad partition contains perfectly usable files -- indeed, in most cases, it includes files that are readily accessible in Windows 10 Fall Update -- you may get suckered in, reformat the partition, and lose all of your data.

 

I talked about this, uh, feature of Windows 10 Anniversary Update on Aug. 4, two days after the Anniversary Update/version 1607/build 14393 hit. It's one of the main reasons why installing Anniversary Update is a particularly poor choice.

 

On Aug. 16, two weeks after the bug was unleashed, Microsoft employee maheshrd stated on Reddit:

 

We are actively building and testing an update to fix this issue into Windows.  We'll deploy the update via Windows Update as soon as that process is finished, restoring access to your files on the affected drives. In all of the cases that we have diagnosed, files were safely intact on the drives – so please, don't reformat. You can also access your files by connecting the affected drive to a different machine (not running Anniversary Update), if that is an option for you.   If waiting for an update is not an option, then rolling back will also restore access to your files.  For up to 10 days after installing the Anniversary Update, you have the ability to "go back" or return to the previous build. To uninstall the Anniversary Update: 1.      Open the Settings app. 2.      Select Update & security and then the Recovery tab. 3.      Under "Go back to an earlier build", click the Get started button and follow the instructions.

 

(Note: If more than 10 days have elapsed since installing the Anniversary Update or the "Go back" option is otherwise not available; we ask for your patience until a patch can be released)

A Reddit post earlier today from maheshrd implies that the problem still hasn't been fixed in today's cumulative update for Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Folks, we are still working through all the issues reported. Believe me, the team is working hard in getting the fix out to everyone's machines. I request your continued patience during this time and thanks for your help and support.

Confusingly, Microsoft employee and forum moderator Sharath Srinivasa posted this plan of action the Microsoft Answers forum, dated Sep. 8:

Microsoft is planning to release a fix to address the majority of the misidentified partitions in an upcoming Windows Update.

 

As part of the Windows Insider Program, users can sign up to receive Windows 10 updates early in order to provide feedback.  If you are interested in becoming a Windows Insider, first go to the Windows Insider website and register your Microsoft Account.  Then in Windows 10, open Settings, Update and Security and click on Windows Insider Program.  You will be asked to associate your Microsoft Account.  You can then click the Get Start button.  You may be asked to reboot your PC for the change to take effect.

 

The default setting after joining the Windows Insider Program is to receive early access to updates for Windows 10, Microsoft applications and drivers with minimal risk to your device.  It can take a day or more for the change to begin delivering these accelerated updates. 

If you follow Srinivasa's instructions to the letter, you end up in the Release Preview Ring, which is where Microsoft sends you patches for the Anniversary Update before they're released to the world at large. But there hasn't been a Release Preview Ring release since Sep. 8. In fact, there hasn't been a Release Preview Ring release for 1607 in many weeks.

 

I have no idea what's going on. Perhaps someone at Microsoft can enlighten us. At any rate, until Microsoft fixes this and a handful of additional bugs in Win10 Anniversary Update, I strongly recommend that you block it.

 

Mary Jo Foley posted an article in ZDNet this morning that says the Anniversary Update rollout may not be done until November. Perhaps Microsoft will get the major bugs in Anniversary Update fixed by then.

 

Source: Still no timetable for RAW partition bug fix in Windows 10 Anniversary Update (InfoWorld - Woody Leonhard)

 

InfoWorld - Woody on Windows

 

AskWoody.com - Woody Leonhard's no-bull news, tips and help for Windows and Office

[steven36]

If you need to get files off Raw Partion you can download a Linux distro  put it on a dvd  or usb and boot in it  get the files off and format it to NTFS   then it should work.   Even my drives i bought  back in the 1st decade  of the century came formatted to NTFS  ..The question  is why would  someone put files on a raw drive too begin with?

[Jordan]

Topics merged

[haxzion]

Oh man that OS is indeed very advanced xD

[Karlston]

What's incredible of course is how the much touted Insiders missed this bug, not to mention the other AU serious ones. One wonders if they all missed them or didn't bother reporting them or Microsoft ignored the reports or the North Koreans hacked the updates or...

 

Microsoft has serious fundamental QA testing issues with Windows 10 updates. I guess that's what happens when you sack your experienced testers.

 

At least the AU is finally getting close to being safe, shame it's taken over a month so far. (Yep, I'm aware that many had no problems with the AU, but many did.)

[pc71520]

13 hours ago, haxzion said:

Oh man that OS is indeed very advanced xD

An advanced Alpha version of an OS...