Windows 10 October Automatic Update Causing Lost Files – Backup Now!

Windows 10 rolls out large updates on regular intervals throughout the year. By default, these updates download and apply automatically in the background. It is being reported that as a result of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Windows Update 1809), many users are missing personal files with no way to recover them.

Windows 10 October Update file deletion problems

Business Insider is reporting Windows 10 users have claimed to lose hundreds of gigabytes of data. This data includes users’ personal files, photos, and more. These files are being deleted as part of the Windows 10 update and it appears there is no way to recover them. Even more worrying, it appears these deleted files may be stored on Microsoft OneDrive. While many users believe OneDrive is a backup tool, it is actually just a sync of your files and the deletions will permeate across your computer and OneDrive.

Business Insider has been told by Microsoft that the issue is being investigated, yet updates are continuing to roll out.

How-To Geek also has numerous reports of files being deleted as part of the update.

Heads up to anyone updating windows. Apparently, if you have documents saved in your user directory, i.e. users/JohnDoe, and not one drive, the update will delete EVERYTHING in that location. So if your “Documents” or “Pictures” don’t have a one drive symbol, MIGRATE IMMEDIATELY!

— Kevin Quintero (@coolKevinator) October 4, 2018

These reports show people are missing their documents, photos, and more.

Similar user experience was shared:

“Prior to the 1809 update I had over fifteen-thousand photos in a particular folder. After the 1809 update the same folder exists with exactly ONE photo left. I have backups of the individual photos, but that folder contained a specially curated set that will take months to recreate if it’s even possible.”

ZDNet has had its users also report missing files after the update.

“I have just updated my windows using the October update (10, version 1809). It deleted all my files of 23 years in amount of 220GB. This is unbelievable, I have been using Microsoft products since 1995 and nothing like that ever happened to me,” he wrote on Microsoft’s user forum.

These are truly sad stories and highlight the importance of having a solid backup strategy in place. Our computers are constantly changing and facing unexpected threats. Your data is extremely valuable and deserves to be backed up properly.

If you do NOT yet have PC backup in place

If you don’t yet have PC backup software installed and running, we, of course, recommend you give Rebit a try. It’s free for the first 30-days and can be canceled by you (no-risk) at any time. It’s an easy way to gain peace-of-mind.

With the Rebit 30-day free trial, that will be enough to get you through the Windows 10 October update.

Rebit is simple to use and can provide needed backup to your files or the entire computer.

If you DO have PC backup in place

If you already have a backup strategy in place, now is the time to test it.

• For Rebit users, browse through the Rebit Quick Start Guide to ensure everything is set properly.
• You can also check the post How to Use the Rebit Backup Browser in order to see exactly what Rebit has backed up.
• Last, you can ensure Rebit is on the latest version to confirm the optimal operation.

And regardless of what software you’re using to perform backups, now is a great time to open the software, go through the screens, and make sure everything appears to be working properly.

Conclusion

While these reports are very unfortunate and highlight how devastating it can be to lose your data, it is a good call-to-action. Whether you use Rebit’s award-winning software or other backup software, take a few moments today to ensure you have a true backup strategy in place.