Microsoft Re-Releases Windows 10 October 2018 Update, Outlines Rigorous QC Regimen
According to John Cable, Director of Program Management for Windows Servicing and Delivery, Microsoft has “thoroughly investigated and resolved all related issues” to the original file deletion complaints that were widespread enough for Microsoft to pull the update. And that’s not even counting several other major issues that propped up with the October 2018 Update.
“In addition to extensive internal validation, we have taken time to closely monitor feedback and diagnostic data from our Windows Insiders and from the millions of devices on the Windows 10 October Update, and we have no further evidence of data loss,” Cable added.
In order to install the October 2018 Update, you will have to go to Windows Update in Settings and “Check for updates”. If your system is eligible, you should see the update. For systems that have a device driver or application incompatibility issue, Microsoft will block the installation and you will have to wait a bit longer to obtain the October 2018 Update.
Going forward, Microsoft is making adjustments to its “Windows as a Service” model and will step up its quality control measures. “Our goal is to provide everyone with only the best experiences on Windows, and we take all feedback seriously,” writes Michael Fortin, Microsoft Corporate VP for Windows. “We are committed to learn from each occurrence, and to rigorously apply the lessons to improve both our products and the transparency around our process.”
Fortin goes on to describe in great detail Microsoft’s internal metrics for addressing Windows updates, quality control procedures, and how it addresses bugs that pop up along the way. However, it is by no means foolproof, as any complex operating system like Windows 10 has numerous avenues through which things can go horribly wrong. Fortin adds:
Even a multi-element detection process will miss issues in an ecosystem as large, diverse and complex as Windows. While we will always work diligently to eliminate issues before rollout, there is always a chance an issue may occur. When this happens, we strive to minimize the impact and respond quickly and transparently to inform and protect our customers.
In the end, Microsoft admits that it still has work to do and that it is striving to improve its response times for identifying and rectifying potentially serious issues. “We intend to leverage all the tools we have today and focus on new quality-focused innovation across product design, development, validation and delivery,” Fortin concludes.
