Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Imminent

The latest major update to Windows 10 starts rolling out to the general public this week. Some of the most useful changes will be behind the scenes, but there will be the first hints in a longer-term program to revamp the way the system looks on screen.

The "Fall Creators Update" is the latest of the twice-yearly major Windows 10 updates that add new features. That's in contrast to the more frequent updates that fix performance and security problems. As usual, it's been available to people in Microsoft's testing programs before this roll out.

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update will be a Staggered Rollout

Microsoft advises "users to be patient and wait for Windows to automatically download and install the update." That's because they deliberately roll it out in a specific order designed to balance getting it to as many people as possible while minimizing any hiccups. The idea is to identify specific problems such as incompatibility with particular devices or accessories, and fix them before any potential (major) bugs affect too many users.

If you really can't wait, you can manually prompt the download through the Windows Update section of the Windows settings tools - if your system allows you. This will only work if your computer is part of the initial rollout group. If not, you can manually download and install it from Microsoft's Software Download Site, though this increases the risk of performance problems (if there are bugs) and should only be done if you are a particularly confident user and are willing to take risks.

Such risks include: dealing with yet-to-be-fixed (major) bugs and/or the possibility that the update may not apply correctly - leaving you with an unbootable system. In any case, we highly recommend performing a disk image backup (described near the end of this article) before the update is applied.

Ransomware Attacks May be Reduced

Most of the more visible feature updates are relatively gimmicky: for example the "Photos" app supports more 3D effects and there's even a "mixed reality viewer" that lets you overlay 3D images on the "real world" video feed from a webcam. There's also more support for 3D items in Microsoft Office and enhanced tools for PC gamers.

Meanwhile, the Edge browser is getting some new features such as pinning sites to the taskbar and a full-screen mode, though there's a good argument these should have been available since the first release of Windows 10. Perhaps the most useful day-to-day feature will be invisible in most circumstances: Windows Defender Exploit Guard makes it harder for rogue software to change files without authorization, which is said to reduce the impact of ransomware.

There's some big changes for users with accessibility problems. This includes experimental support for controlling Windows with an eye tracker, an improved voice recognition tool for dictation, and a color filter that can adjust the output of all applications to make images and graphics more useful for people with color blindness. (Source: microsoft.com)

In the long term, Windows Explorer is getting an overhaul with what Microsoft is calling "Fluent Design." Some of the changes include removing the physical borders around app windows, shrinking down the title bar at the top of each window, and rethinking the way with buttons for minimizing, restoring, maximizing and closing windows operate. The general idea is to remove clutter and give a "cleaner" look to the desktop. (Source: independent.co.uk)

IMPORTANT: Backup before Update is Applied!

As with all major Windows 10 upgrades, it is highly recommended that you backup your most critical files (documents, etc) before applying the upgrade - or in this case, before the update is applied automatically. A disk image backup of the system is also very highly recommended in the event the upgrade fails and leaves you with an unbootable system and without any way to access your files. If you need help creating a proper backup, Dennis is able to assist using remote desktop support; click here to send an email.

What's Your Opinion?

Will you be rushing to install the update or waiting for its automatic installation? Do any of the new features appeal to you? What, if any, changes would you like to see to the design of the windows themselves?