Skip to main content

Did the Windows October 2018 update delete your files? Microsoft can help

windows 10 october update
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After consumers reported a number of problems with the latest major update to Windows 10 — including deletion of user files — Microsoft has pulled the update entirely to investigate.

“We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating,” reads a note on the Windows 10 Update history page.

Recommended Videos

Microsoft announced that the Windows 10 October 2018 Update was available for download when it announced its new Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, and Surface Studio 2 at a media event on October 2 in New York City. Since then, users have reported a number of wide-ranging issues caused by the update, including lost files, issues with CPU usage, and reduced battery life post-update.

Due to these issues, Microsoft initially delayed the launch of the October 2018 update until the problems were resolved; now it has stopped distribution of the patch. The company had advised those who believe they have been affected by the update to call Microsoft support. Additionally, those who manually downloaded the update have been told not to install it.

There is a bit of hope for those whose files were lost thanks to the October 2018 update. Microsoft’s Dona Sarkar sent out a tweet advising those who lost files to contact Microsoft’s support saying the company had ways of restoring those files. For those wondering if they were affected, it is an all or nothing loss. If you have any files remaining at all in a Documents folder, you can be reassured that you have not been affected by file loss.

https://twitter.com/donasarkar/status/1048612272287834112

The problem with disappearing files has been widely reported on various social media forums, including on Reddit and Twitter, with one user reporting on Microsoft’s community forum that he had lost up to 220GB of data after the update. Affected file types include documents, music, and photos. “I have just updated my windows using the October update (10, version 1809) it deleted all my files of 23 years in amount of 220gb,” forum member Robert wrote. “This is unbelievable, I have been using Microsoft products since 1995 and nothing like that ever happened to me.”

This problem may be caused by OneDrive, Microsoft’s file hosting and synchronization service. Twitter user @coolkevinator noted that if you have locally stored items that aren’t also saved to OneDrive, the Windows 10 update will wipe out the files stored on your computer. “Heads up to anyone updating windows,” the tweet said. “Apparently, if you have documents saved in your user directory, i.e. users/JohnDoe, and not one drive, the update will delete EVERYTHING in that location. So if your ‘Documents’ or ‘Pictures’ don’t have a one drive symbol, MIGRATE IMMEDIATELY!”

According to MSPowerUser, rolling back the install to the previous version of Windows 10 does not bring back the files. If you’re updating to the October 2018 Update, be sure to backup your file to an external drive, OneDrive, or another cloud storage service in case of data loss.

Another issue caused by the update relates to the Intel Display Audio driver. This glitch affects users running PCs with Intel’s 6th-Generation Skylake processors or newer. Users reported excessive CPU usage, which will lead to diminished battery life. Microsoft and Intel both acknowledged the issue, and Microsoft has halted the update to affected systems. “To ensure a seamless experience, we are blocking devices from being offered Windows 10 version 1809, until updated Intel device drivers are installed on your current operating system,” Microsoft said on its support page. “We recommend that you do not attempt to manually update to Windows 10, version 1809, using the Update Now button or the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft Software Download Center until newer Intel device drivers are available with the update.”If your system is affected, you can manually download the Intel Graphics Driver prior to downloading the Windows 10 update. This driver also contains the fix for the Intel Display Audio driver glitch.

Although the October 2018 Update is available now, it’s not an automatic process yet. You can manually check for the update by going to Settings, Windows Update, and then Check for Updates. The update should automatically download for all users starting October 9.

For now, users should hold off on updating their Windows 10 PC until Microsoft addresses all the early complaints from the download. If you must download the October 2018 Update, we highly recommend that you back up all your files and install the Intel Graphics Driver before proceeding.

Updated on October 7, 2018: Updated with the news that Microsoft has a way to recover files which were deleted by the October 2018 update. 

Chuong Nguyen
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature can’t be uninstalled
Recall promotional image.

The Recall saga continues. As it turns out, Microsoft's controversial AI feature cannot be uninstalled, although that was spotted as an option in the latest version of Windows 11 24H2.

The ability to uninstall it was initially observed by Desk Modder as a part of the "Turn Windows features on and off" menu in Control Panel, but Microsoft has now confirmed to The Verge that it was merely a bug. The statement to The Verge says that being listed in that menu is an issue that "will be fixed in an upcoming update."

Read more
Don’t use your Windows PC without using these security settings
The Windows Security app in Windows 11.

Historically, Windows has had a bad reputation for security, and there are far more malware strains that target Windows than any other operating system out there -- largely due to the scale of PCs that exist in the world. With such a vast array of potential threats, it’s more important than ever to keep your Microsoft PC safe and protected.

But doing so doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, you can start right now with just the computer you own, no extra software necessary. And if you do want to supplement your PC with some of the best Windows apps that will boost your security and privacy, you don’t need to pay a penny.

Read more
There’s a scary new way to undo Windows security patches
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Security patches for Windows are essential for keeping your PC safe from developing threats. But downgrade attacks are a way of sidestepping Microsoft's patches, and a security researcher set out to show just how fatal these can be.

SafeBreach security researcher Alon Leviev mentioned in a company blog post that they'd created something called the Windows Downdate tool as a proof-of concept. The tool crafts persistent and irreversible downgrades on Windows Server systems and Windows 10 and 11 components.

Read more