Is there any known probability?

I had a failed Windows Update leaving me with not a single item such as files, programs, or emails, or anything else.. I did recover, but only with the fine assistant of a technician from one of the best computer stores in town. He had never encountered this, so it took the two of us some time to figure out what and how needed to be done to remove the failed install and install a new, clean copy.

I had tried to get the computer to read the rescue disc I had created and which seem to be working. adding to the panic on my part as it it seemed as though I might have lost everything in my computer setup. Curiously, when the tech booted the rescue disc, it functioned. I had a copy of the free Macrium Reflect X which would not read the disc therefore, I purchased a copy of the program, and eventually my computer was restored.

Are there any statistics as to the frequency of failed Windows installs?

For me, a web install can crash explorer and corrupt the user profile. I have to login via a fresh user profile in safe mode and restore it and remove the user profile I'm logged into before I reboot. Clean fix.

Not Myself said:

Are there any statistics as to the frequency of failed Windows installs?

Click to expand...

Basically no but it is infrequent.

You have already worked out making image backups is your best protection.

@Not Myself

Update failures happen at different times, to different folks, for different reasons.
It would be hard to come up with a meaningful "update failure" statistic.


You have plenty of storage...



With the backup software's bootable rescue media... nothing except fire, theft or the IRS can stop you. ^^

TIP: Never leave the backup software's bootable rescue media IN the computer.
Only put it in when you need to use it.
And after every update, make sure you can boot from it.

Not Myself said:

Are there any statistics as to the frequency of failed Windows installs?

Click to expand...

No statistics AFIK because Windows update works correctly for the majority of people.

I've had 4 computers on 11 since 2021 and have had no monthly updates fail on any of them, nor have I encounterd any major problems as a result of any update. I did have one PC fail to upgrade once which ended up being a corruption issue with my user account that prevented migration. I did a clean install that time but never lost my personal files because it was all backed up. Re-installing all my apps, settings, and tweaks was the killer, not the clean install which was easy.