Beware of turning on 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available'

It should be fairly innocuous, shouldn't it? With 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' enabled you're just getting the optional Preview updates installed automatically, right?




Well no, actually. It's not just the optional updates for Windows you're going to get - apparently it's all optional updates, whether from Microsoft, or delivered by MS on behalf of your OEM. I really wasn't expecting (or wanting) to get a bios firmware update installed without my say-so!

Has there been enough update cycles to tell; if WU sees that it's been turned off that WU will turn this setting back on?

I have received notices of firmware updates available with and without this setting enabled. But they have never been installed automatically. So I don´t thing the automatic install and the setting being enabled are directly related.

I have only seen bios updates through WU if the user allows WU to update drivers. Not saying it doesn't happen with that setting you referred to turned on.. Just that I haven't seen it.

I generally stay weary of MS updates... for years on many occasions they have f'd rubbish up in multiple ways.

Well, I have noticed that if I leave "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" "On", as soon as an update is available, WU takes over my laptop. Once it starts, it drives the disk usage to 100%, and I can't do anything until it is done. I don't mind a update appearing, but I don't like it installing without my consent and taking over my computer.

Over a month ago, I turned it "Off" and everything was fine. However, the last update WU turned it back "On". Two days later, WU started another install and locked up my laptop while I was working. Of course, I turned it "Off" again once it was downloaded.

I noticed another oddity when a update shows up. While an update is waiting to be installed, I can no longer pull up the calendar/notification window from the task bar. I thought this was odd the first time it happened, but it has happened twice since. Only after I install the update and restart, does the calendar/notification window operation return.

Anibor_11 said:

I have received notices of firmware updates available with and without this setting enabled. But they have never been installed automatically. So I don´t thing the automatic install and the setting being enabled are directly related.

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I saw the setting in question a few months ago and turned it off b/c of what CSharpDev said, I to have seen an update SNAFU my machine(s).
There is another setting below where you can pause WU from 1 to 5weeks, I have that set at 2weeks the thinking here is the CU will eventually get installed but I want to wait to see if there is any feedback in 11F about it screwin' something up related to my machine so I can hold it longer, I didn't see anything and the CU (KB5033375) was installed today.

glasskuter said:

I have only seen bios updates through WU if the user allows WU to update drivers. Not saying it doesn't happen with that setting you referred to turned on.. Just that I haven't seen it.

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I had KB5033375 and an Acer firmware sitting in Optional updates, KB5033375 got installed today and the firmware still awaits my interaction. I'll look into that later.

CSharpDev said:

I generally stay weary of MS updates... for years on many occasions they have f'd rubbish up in multiple ways.

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Amen CSD, amen.

K7MEM said:

Well, I have noticed that if I leave "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" "On", as soon as an update is available, WU takes over my laptop. Once it starts, it drives the disk usage to 100%, and I can't do anything until it is done. I don't mind a update appearing, but I don't like it installing without my consent and taking over my computer.

Over a month ago, I turned it "Off" and everything was fine. However, the last update WU turned it back "On". Two days later, WU started another install and locked up my laptop while I was working. Of course, I turned it "Off" again once it was downloaded.

I noticed another oddity when a update shows up. While an update is waiting to be installed, I can no longer pull up the calendar/notification window from the task bar. I thought this was odd the first time it happened, but it has happened twice since. Only after I install the update and restart, does the calendar/notification window operation return.

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IIRC, I experienced the "WU Takeover" before I changed the auto and delay installs to no and 2weeks I also have my restart set to inactive hours between 10pm and 8am. I got on before 8 this morning and I had a restart waiting b/c of KB5033375, I worked with a file and minimized it then clicked on restart and it went on to finish the CU, when I saw the file was only minimized I said a muffled damn, b/c back in the day if I did that updates showed a notice and were paused to correct the problem, not this time WU went on to finish the update and when done the file was closed and I didn't lose the added info. Now that was somethin' new!

My auto setting was turned off a few months ago and has remained off after each successive CU's, maybe it's my 2week pause?

I don't fuss with the calendar or notification area much so I haven't notice your 'oddity' but I'll check next time, is this while the CU is in the que or during the install? Your description sounds like while it's in the que.
I can say I don't have the oddity while its sitting in the que and I haven't been able to check it during the update process b/c I'm not around to do so.

Anak said:

I don't fuss with the calendar or notification area much so I haven't notice your 'oddity' but I'll check next time, is this while the CU is in the que or during the install? Your description sounds like while it's in the que.
I can say I don't have the oddity while its sitting in the que and I haven't been able to check it during the update process b/c I'm not around to do so.

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Yes, it happens while it is in the que and continues during the install. It doesn't become usable again until I restart the computer.

I've disabled driver installing through WU and don't see this issue.

In conclusion: Beware of Buying DELL Laptops!!!

Firmware updates are usually a good thing. If released on the update channel - the OEM deemed them stable (even official updates). Or at least - i don't remember ever seeing a Beta Firmware Update - downloadable/installable from Windows Updates (seen that only on the OEM site). I've seen dozens of firmware - released on the Windows Update channel - especially while install Win the first time on a new/fresh system. And they were always the same updates - same version as the ones recommended on the official site.

The thing is Windows joined hands with almost every OEM (if not all) - and this days (compared to the old ways of doing things) - you can get a machine that never had Windows on it - and it Windows update will accurately detect the motherboard ID (same goes for GPU) - and correctly install all the latest updates deemed stable by the OEM (even using the last "official version" - despite of being couple of years old since the OEM never released newer updates). If anything, if you own a laptop released last week - then you might encounter situations where the Windows Update lags behind (latest driver being a week older compared to OEM - if not released on the Windows Update channel - "yet" - cause eventually it will get there).

If deemed Critical Firmware Updates - they might even get released on main channel (not optional). The only bad thing i can think of - this updates are usually aimed at security. And sometimes - this security patches can disable core feature (as was the case with Plundervolt) or even lower the performance. From an OEM/Security persepctive - they're a must - as a way to secure a system. But some would prefer the performance of vulnerable machine.

neves said:

latest driver being a week older compared to OEM - if not released on the Windows Update channel - "yet" - cause eventually it will get there).

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This is true, but it sometimes takes many months for new OEM updates to get on Windows server.I do not trust WU to manage my drivers, especially UEFI bios. If it ever gets bricked, I want to be the one doing the bricking, not MS. At least I am in control of everything the computer is/is not doing when a new bios gets applied, not sit down at my desk some morning and can't figure out what happened during the night that killed my PC deader than a doornail..

glasskuter said:

This is true, but it sometimes takes many months for new OEM updates to get on Windows server.I do not trust WU to manage my drivers, especially UEFI bios. If it ever gets bricked, I want to be the one doing the bricking, not MS. At least I am in control of everything the computer is/is not doing when a new bios gets applied, not sit down at my desk some morning and can't figure out what happened during the night that killed my PC deader than a doornail..

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A firmware update is kinda impossible to miss (doesn't work quite the same as the usual Windows updates). And, as much as i agree with you - being rather old school myself. The IT world is changing, correction... the IT world already changed for quite awhile now. Microsoft is simply catching up - with the times we living, even among the last and rather slow at it. Since they too (main devs at least) - are still rather old at heart (and mind) - and old habits are hard to give up. Then again, as the old saying goes "you can't teach an old dog new tricks..." And slowly but surly - the older timers from Microsoft or getting replaced. I mean, look around you - at all the other devices - like your Smarthphone - who gets an automated firmware update, like your TV - who this days also get automated firmware update - or why not - like the competition - an Apple Mac update same as the phone. Now, it's also true - Microsoft is just one piece of this puzzle - the other being actual OEM. But, by the way things are going (and have been for awhile) - downloading a firmware and copying it to a fat32 formatted stick is an old practice that's sure to be replaced (sooner than latter - i presume). Especially since the automated processes can be safer and also simpler (no knowledge, no formatting USB stick to fat32, no booting from the USB stick, no need to check if system has enough power to do that - cause the system can do a self-check on its own - there's automated safe-BIOS revert - in case of any issue).

What can i say, old scholl way of updating a BIOS - might be reserved for older system - whom are still rather primitive in this regard ("remove the CMOS battery - to reset BIOS" - was/is trully a square wheel aproch - something that should have died in the '80s or '90s).

By the way, since i forgot: when exactly was this feature introduced (Get the latest updates as soon as they are available)?! I ask this - because I'm aware of updating the firmware through Windows Updates - for quite some time now (way way way longer before this feature was even enough). I do agree that it was less common (in most cases had to download it from the OEM site) - but still, i'm talking Windows 10 and around 2015 (if not earlier). Didn't really think much about it (or at all - to be honest). Tho, i'm 100% sure not a single System/Bios got bricked - while updating it using Windows Updates. On the other hand... did have some bad luck with the old school way of doing things, correctable... but at my own expanse (time costs money so to speak). Worst case scenario - you'd have to remove the BIOS chip - to be able to reflash it (that's hours of wasted time). And i'm talking High-End motherboards recently released (which had some trouble with factory BIOS) - so besides being expensive asf - you couldn't even find a Chip for sale to be able to replace it. The stress levels in such situations - are undescribable. So hey, if they end-up on Windous Update (Broad Channel) - then at least you know that BIOS was testes more extensivly - as in - less chances for a Firmware Update to brick your system. Not like some "rushed" update from the oficial site.

At least with Dell computers, a visit to the Dell Forums will convince you that WU BIOS updates should be turned off. Moreover, the consensus with Dell computers in their Forums by their Forum experts is that any new BIOS release should not be installed via SupportAssist or Dell Update. The Flash Update method should be used to maximize safety.

Of course, each new Dell BIOS update, and I have two Dell computers (desktop and laptop), messes with at least some of your custom BIOS settings, including re-enabling UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates that you have disabled, so after each update, you must go into the new version BIOS and reconfigure it to prevent Windows from messing with your settings and allowing WU back into the game of updating your BIOS unbeknownst to you.

I am firmly with @glasskuter 's post. If anyone is going to mess up my BIOS, it is going to be me. I take every precaution to ensure that I minimize the chances of a BIOS update gone wrong and borking my computers.

And I did have a bad experience, even with the Flash Update method, because Dell issued a buggy BIOS that affected some computers just over a year ago. Luckily, @RoHe, an expert Forum member there, guided me through the BIOS recovery method so I could roll back, but until that happened, it was not a happy day. Thankfully, I had my laptop, so I could seek assistance on the Dell Forums to recover my desktop.

Just my two cents and experience. YMMV. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

Never had an issue with any Dell update, whether issued by Dell and installed by Dell, or installed by Windows Update. Never lost any custom settings or had an issue with the system after the updates.

I have been using Dell systems personally and corporately for more than 30 years and at one time was responsible for the support and operation of more than 30,000 end user devices and almost 2000 servers.

@wimorrison ,

I am happy for you. Being a regular in the Dell Forums and having experienced a borked BIOS update that Dell subsequently pulled has convinced me beyond all doubt to err on the side of caution and safety.

I have no experience in the corporate environment managing PCs.

Unless you check the updated BIOS, you never know what was changed. I very clearly stated that what I was relating was my experience and the current consensus of the Forum experts at the Dell Forums.

YMMV and yours obviously did! Good for you. I really am pleased for you sincerely because a borked BIOS update that renders your computer unbootable is not a happy place.

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

Have 5 HPs (3 desktops, 2 laptops) where quite a few firmware updates have been available over the years but there's never been any problem whatsoever. Mainly because I pay attention, and don't just go clicking wildly to install updates. I always review the updates, and in the case of firmware, install them separately knowing that a reboot and BIOS application probably will apply.

Can't really see where there's any blame on Windows/Microsoft, this type of situation is now normal and just all part of a user's/owner's responsibility - owning a computer now is no longer a passive endeavour, it's very much an active one with responsibilities. And if a user/owner fails to understand those responsibilities then, of course, problems will occur.

Prime example of why I use GPOs to disable auto updates and use WuMgr portable to check for/install or hide updates that I, and I alone, choose. If you hide them they won’t show or install unless you unhide them.

glasskuter said:

I have only seen bios updates through WU if the user allows WU to update drivers. Not saying it doesn't happen with that setting you referred to turned on.. Just that I haven't seen it.

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For custom built systems, where you buy your board (in my case Gigabyte) you don't get BIOS updates through Windows Update. If you want the BIOS updates, you'll have to download them from Gigabyte and install yourself. Or if you install their App Center software, maybe you get driver and BIOS updates through it, but I don't know as I don't install App Center.

That's Gigabyte, can't speak for Asus, or others. For laptops and pre-built systems such as Dell, yeah, you might see firmware updates via Windows, but I've never seen a Windows BIOS update via my Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga X1 laptop either. Those come via Lenovo's Vantage software.

All that said, I thank Bree for pointing out the pitfalls of having "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" enabled. Mine is now disabled as I wish to determine which "Optional" updates get installed and when.

For those of us with a Dell XPS 8930 desktop computer, the Dell Support Website is now listing a new BIOS Update Version 1.1.31. I successfully installed it via the F12 Flash Update method and then had to go back into the new BIOS version to again disable UEFI Firmware Capsule Updates and re-enable BIOS auto recovery and BIOS Update Integrity Checking.

New Dell XPS 8930 BIOS Update 1.1.31 Successfully Installed | DELL Technologies

Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil