[suggestion] Please read before performing updates

sri369
sri369 ACE Posts: 2,623 Pathfinder
edited September 2019 in Predator Laptops
Given the rate at which people are facing issues with updates of late, I felt it might be nice to offer a few suggestions regarding updating their systems.
These are aimed at users like me who do not want to be early adopters (aka scapegoats) and not inclined to grab whatever MS or device manufacturers offer right the very instant they are released.

Updates can be categorized into two broad categories:
1. Windows updates
2. Driver and BIOS updates

1. Windows updates:
These are divided into two - feature updates happening twice a year, and security updates happening once a month.
I would suggest deferring feature updates by atleast 60 days to give it some time to set in and to allow windows to iron out any bugs.
And when it comes to security updates (or the cumulative updates windows releases monthly), defer by atleast 15 days.
This would tell windows to defer these until the time you mentioned. Personally I have mine set to max limits - 365 days and 30 days. I apply a feature update manually (by clicking check for updates manually) once I feel the update is all fine.

2. Driver and BIOS updates
You do not need to keep drivers up to date as they roll in. Of late these driver updates are doing more bad than good. What I can suggest is, update drivers on an as needed basis - as long as they work, do not update. Infact I would recommend even disable windows update from auto updating drivers and BIOS. Even in the case you need to update a driver, skip the latest and go to the version before the latest if the latest is under a couple weeks old.
And when it comes to BIOS updates, it would be best to disallow windows from updating it, and to rely on Acer to release the BIOS firmware on the product support page. Also, if your system is working fine with current BIOS, why update it to latest version? Only exception would be some kind of security updates to BIOS or trying to fix an error.
Karma...
LIKE - if helpful
ACCEPT - if helped resolve
---------
Nitro 7 - AN715-51 - user benchmark: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/37631045
«13

Answers

  • Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
    Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
    Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!                                                          

               
      egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
    Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor! :)
    For users of the English, Spanish, French and German community, I will be using google translator! :) 
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited September 2019
    @sri369
    Prob someone from the acer staff ( @Acer-Manny @Acer-Jose @Acer-Harvey @Acer-Karp etc... )       could pin it ?? if they would consider that this is really a important issue to address :)


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • How do you pin the thread? Would it be interesting to put it in the Ace lounge?
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
    Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
    Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!                                                          

               
      egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
    Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor! :)
    For users of the English, Spanish, French and German community, I will be using google translator! :) 
  • XdxD
    XdxD Member Posts: 1,581 Community Aficionado WiFi Icon
    Regarding the firmware update: When I clean installed Windows 10, 1903, last month, the firmware in Device Manager was a generic one (I have BIOS 1.22 installed since April, 2019). Later I checked for its update through Device Manager and it installed 1.22 firmware. Also, I fetched the Wi-Fi and Ethernet drivers from Microsoft Catalog since Acer's ones from 2017 weren't working properly with 1903. I also disabled Fast Startup.
    The best thing that has happened since then is (being a Scapegoat :lol:) all the updates that have been offered have installed successfully in the first try itself (previously, they used to fail and I had to manually install them). Moreover, all the problems of the recent Cumulative Updates don't apply to my G3-572 as well as @Red-Sand's Predator since we both had clean installed 1903 build. While gaming, temperature seems to be 84°C CPU and 70°C GPU as highest for me. Before 1903, it used to touch 95°C for CPU and 80°C for GPU. Will repaste next year but with some good paste as the one Acer technician used was just from some local company.
    Trying to do my best here - Your happy Predator owner =)!
  • AlpineTom
    AlpineTom Member Posts: 58 Devotee WiFi Icon
    edited September 2019
    sri369 said:
    it is so sad to hear people brick their systems bad and literally all their data in efforts to get it working again.
    While I completely agree with you that it sucks if the system gets bricked because the OS decides to update things that don't need to be updated and, more importantly, shouldn't be treated like regular OS updates, the data loss is always on the user. Three words: backups, backups, backups.
    It may be unpopular to say this in light of the current issues, but that's exactly why it needs to be said: If you don't have backups of your data and you lose it for whatever reason, it's your own fault. Period.
    So, don't be a victim of your own idleness and do the smart thing -- BACK UP YOUR DATA!
  • This user also had his notebook blocked because windows update decided to update the firmware driver automatically, see: https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/578126/how-do-i-put-in-a-formal-complaint-predator-g9-793
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
    Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
    Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!                                                          

               
      egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
    Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor! :)
    For users of the English, Spanish, French and German community, I will be using google translator! :) 
  • Thamerov
    Thamerov Member Posts: 17 Troubleshooter
    xapim said:
    Seems a common issue these days this is why i recommend to disable windows updates and only update what you need when you need manually to avoid these kind of issues in my personal view microsoft had nothing to stick their nose in manufacturers bios updates they always worked well updating it manually why force manufacturers to to embedded bios updates in their own windows updates it was to be expected this would gonna go wrong if is there anyone to blame here about all the bricked laptops everywhere its microsoft and their bend the knee policies against manufacturers not the manufacturers but they forget that without the devices to run it on their OS would be useless and worthless
    Yes right MS ruining pcs through drivers. 
    Thats why most of their answer is to (RESET).

  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,623 Pathfinder
    How do you pin the thread? Would it be interesting to put it in the Ace lounge?
    Yes. I think this could be put in the Lounge too since this effects any laptop with windows 10 on it.
    Karma...
    LIKE - if helpful
    ACCEPT - if helped resolve
    ---------
    Nitro 7 - AN715-51 - user benchmark: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/37631045
  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,623 Pathfinder
    Windows 1903 update:

    Windows 10 has done some internal changes that crashes graphics card when undervolted or overclocked - I noticed this since i moved from 1809 to 1903.
    After moving to 1903 i had to uninstall my MSI Afterburner software (analogous to turbo mode on Predator Sense).
    So if you moved to 1903, do NOT expect turbo button to work flawless.
    Karma...
    LIKE - if helpful
    ACCEPT - if helped resolve
    ---------
    Nitro 7 - AN715-51 - user benchmark: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/37631045
  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    Yeah its already known for awhile that 1903 wont work well with afterburner and some other software :)


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • oobula
    oobula Member Posts: 19 Troubleshooter
    edited November 2019
    man, i have a 77HB model arriving today and reading this board has made me go from excited to nervous. there's so much stuff that can mess up apparently. having to remember to turn off windows update and do all the tips i've read here in order to not brick the laptop is so much more complicated than my old VN7 Nitro.

  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited November 2019
    oobula welcome to the wonderful world of microsoft windows 10 (forced) updates :) i myself always play on the safe side never had a single issue for 2 years now but also disabled them completely since day 1 im not recommending it in any way for those who are more afraid to do it but the fact is 0 issues and still on 1809 same great performance as always  :) 

    The issues with updates got more serious when MS decided to take ownership of the bios updates via windows updates many got their laptops bricked because the bios was not properly flashed and many still do only way to fix them its to send them back for repair to get it reflashed and then of course you have the bsods after updates drivers were broken etc... its a long list of a mess :p 


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/  


  • sri369
    sri369 ACE Posts: 2,623 Pathfinder
    xapim said:
    The issues with updates got more serious when MS decided to take ownership of the bios updates via windows updates many got their laptops bricked because the bios was not properly flashed and many still do only way to fix them its to send them back for repair to get it reflashed
    This is the most dangerous kind... for in most cases this would become a paid for service!
    Karma...
    LIKE - if helpful
    ACCEPT - if helped resolve
    ---------
    Nitro 7 - AN715-51 - user benchmark: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/37631045
  • I agree with you @sri369. However, just to complement the thread, I found that windows update usually provides downloadable bios files with the extension .fd. If any user wants to try to recover the bios, just go to the microsoft driver catalog and identify the correct version of the firmware driver and then apply the correct name in the .fd file to try to recover the bios. But this procedure cannot be published here in the community.
    Oi! Eu não sou sou a cortana! Mas estou aqui para ajudar! Hi! I'm not the cortana! But I'm here to help!
    Se você gostou da minha resposta, marque como solução clicando em sim! If you liked my answer, mark it as a solution by clicking on yes!
    Aceite somente a resposta que ajudou a solucionar o seu problema! Please accept only the response that helped to solve your problem!
    Detection tool click here to find the serial number or partnumber of your model!                                                          

               
      egydiocoelho Trailblazer
     
    ProductKey clique aqui para descobrir o serial do windows! click here to discover the windows serial!
    Para usuários da comunidade inglesa, espanhola, francesa e alemã, usarei o google tradutor! :)
    For users of the English, Spanish, French and German community, I will be using google translator! :) 
  • oobula
    oobula Member Posts: 19 Troubleshooter
    i just went in and paused updates for as long as i could, which seems to be 35 days. that is the max i can, i think the ability to delay longer is only for Windows Pro and not Home. i don't see anywhere to prevent a feature update at all. so i guess people with Windows Home can delay these updates for a month before our laptops are bricked lol.




  • xapim
    xapim ACE Posts: 7,257 Pathfinder
    edited November 2019
    oobula you can go to services and disable the windows update completely and if you need i will give you the link for my regedit disable/enable updates because only disabling the service will get enabled automatically on next reboot and its the same 35 days on any version of windows unless you disable them permanently the difference to the pro version its the group policy and some more features not useful to the average user anyway :)

    Here are the reg keys to enable/disable windows updates as it better suits you


    https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/11532543

    UserBenchmarks: Game 43%, Desk 61%, Work 40%
    CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ - 63.5%
    GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050-Ti (Mobile) - 41.9%
    SSD: WDC WDS200T2B0B-00YS70 2TB - 71.4%
    HDD: WD WD10SPZX-00HKTT0 1TB - 93.7%
    RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 2666 C15 2x16GB - 76.8%
    MBD: Acer Predator G3-572

    I'm not an Acer employee. (just here to help in the best way i can)
    If my answer fixed you issue please accept it for any other users who search for it would find it quickly thanks :)
    If you want to learn more about undervolting/optimizing windows join the Predator fb group and youtube channel:

    Owner/Admin (HOTEL HERO/Red-Sand/Opoka Opoka)
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/PredatorHelios300
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNJwGUHxSJ8FKqAhnOqQuAw
    Acer support:
    https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/service-contact
    http://www.acer.com/worldwide/support/