New Windows 10 update has been causing headaches for users

The “October 2018” update for Windows 10 was being treated as one of Microsoft’s highlights for the second half of the year, but since it was released at the beginning of the month, it has been causing headaches for many people. First, a bug caused the sudden deletion of files from important system folders, which caused a pause in distribution; then it released a fix, which later brought problems on Dell and HP machines; and now the update is having content problems again, in a bug associated with decompression using the Zip utility. The new bug is not as serious as the first, but it is dangerous and can cause inconvenience to unwary users because it can cause the user to delete the .ZIP file believing that the decompression action has been performed correctly, causing data loss due to an action that should be basic. When trying to copy or simply drag compressed files in the format, Windows is not displaying the necessary alert if there are files with conflicting names and performing the action correctly. Microsoft has already acknowledged the problem and promises that a fix will only be released in November. Until then, it is worth being careful with your .ZIP files: if you use Windows’ built-in decompressor, it is worth extracting all files to a new folder and only then selecting their destination, or use an alternative program like 7-Zip. The problems are putting Microsoft’s new policy that forces users to install new updates on Windows 10 in check. In previous versions of the operating system, it was possible to choose between automatic updates or manual updates, where the user chose what they wanted or did not want to install. In Windows 10, the mandatory updates install all updates released by the company, without the user’s filtering. Microsoft took this measure to try to protect its users, ensuring that all Windows 10 PCs have the latest bug fixes and security patches installed. The problem is that sometimes the updates themselves carry some bugs, which means that forced Windows 10 updates can hide some pitfalls. Source: Olhar Digital  - Tech Mundo

Frequently asked questions

What caused the problems in Windows 10's October 2018 update?

The Windows 10 "October 2018" update, positioned by Microsoft as a highlight for the second half of the year, first triggered the sudden deletion of files from important system folders, forcing the company to pause its rollout. After releasing a fix, new issues appeared on Dell and HP machines, and more recently a separate bug tied to unzipping compressed files surfaced.

How can the Windows 10 ZIP bug lead to data loss?

When copying or dragging compressed files with conflicting file names, Windows fails to show the necessary warning and may not complete the extraction correctly. This can lead users to believe the decompression finished successfully and delete the original .ZIP file, losing their data. Until Microsoft's official fix, expected in November, it is safer to extract files into a new folder before moving them, or use an alternative tool like 7-Zip.

Why does Windows 10 force updates onto users even when bugs like this happen?

Windows 10 removed the choice between automatic and manual updates that was available in earlier versions, installing every update Microsoft releases without letting users filter them. The stated goal is to keep every PC current with the latest bug fixes and security patches, but the October update itself shows that forced updates can also introduce new bugs.