Win 10 1511 Upgrade Will Change Some of Your Settings Back to Defualt

[Whisper2]

I upgraded earlier today and discovered the new upgrade changed some of my settings back to default but left others alone. For example:
- It enabled some scheduled tasks that I disabled,
- It enabled hardware drivers for Windows Update,
- It restored Edge as the default browser,
- It set IE setting back to default -- accepting third party cookies,
- It also stated my Outlook (2010) settings weren't current and I should switch to Mail.

On the other hand, it left power options, System Restore and Windows Update (I use Group Policy to "never check") settings alone.

Bottom line -- check the settings that are important to you. The Upgrade may or may not have changed them.

 

[Mushkins]

You mention Group Policy. Is this a domain joined PC, or do you actually mean local security policy?

If it's on a domain it could be GPO templates that need to be updated and not a side effect of the install itself. Ran into this weird stuff a lot in the transition between Vista and XP, and Vista to 7, registry keys change and GPO doesn't always play nice without the latest templates.

 

[Whisper2]

You mention Group Policy. Is this a domain joined PC, or do you actually mean local security policy?


My PC is a stand-alone home recreational-use desktop. I used gpedit.msc to disable Auto Windows Update. I have set Win Update to "never check" for as long as I can remember. Previous Win versions made it easier because I could just select it. I do update regularly, but I want to run Win Update when it is convenient for me.

I suspect Microsoft is trying to protect us from ourselves and trying to push us in the direction it wants us to go (Edge and mail etc.) rather than the changes being caused by errors.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I have installed it on one pc so far and am in the process of a second pc right now. 1511 has a tidier start menu than the original release and the first pc will use it without classic shell installed. I still prefer the w7 menu appearance so cs will stay on my pc's.

Edit: I just upgraded my desktop and didn't lose my default settings on it. Now my laptop and tablet are updating so everything will be on the fall update in a few minutes.

 

[WilliamM2]

Edit: I just upgraded my desktop and didn't lose my default settings on it. Now my laptop and tablet are updating so everything will be on the fall update in a few minutes.

So all your custom settings remained. Did it break Classic Shell? I was worried a new start menu may do that. I haven't been offered the update on either of our PC's, but have downloaded the usb iso's.

Debating whether or not to do it tonight. Of course eventually I'd have no choice anyways....

 

[Puffnstuff]

Classic shell had to do an adjustment when it started but that was all and everything works. I'm going the media creation tool route on my tablet as WU had a problem with upgrading it. I used the dvd for everything else.

 

[Mushkins]

You mention Group Policy. Is this a domain joined PC, or do you actually mean local security policy?

My PC is a stand-alone home recreational-use desktop. I used gpedit.msc to disable Auto Windows Update. I have set Win Update to "never check" for as long as I can remember. Previous Win versions made it easier because I could just select it. I do update regularly, but I want to run Win Update when it is convenient for me.

I suspect Microsoft is trying to protect us from ourselves and trying to push us in the direction it wants us to go (Edge and mail etc.) rather than the changes being caused by errors.

Considering this is the only case I've seen so far of the update resetting settings, I'm hesitant to don my tinfoil hat.

If you're using gpedit.msc on a non-domain joined PC then you're editing local security policy. Which is kind of like the local version of GPO, but is still functionally different as it's not enforced by AD, it's really just registry tweaks.

I wouldn't be surprised if the fall update simply had local security policy templates that needed to be updated and it had to reset a few of your custom settings to make sure not to brick your computer during the upgrade (or it may have considered them corrupted for some reason and refreshed the local policy to its default state).

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah. Just upgraded.

It set my diagnostic and usage data (telemetry) to full and feedback to automatic.
It set Edge as my default browser.
It set my advertising tracking to on.

Actually it looks like its reset all my privacy settings.

And its reinstalled a load of bloat that I uninstalled.

 

[WilliamM2]

Yeah. Just upgraded.

It set my diagnostic and usage data (telemetry) to full and feedback to automatic.
It set Edge as my default browser.
It set my advertising tracking to on.

Actually it looks like its reset all my privacy settings.

And its reinstalled a load of bloat that I uninstalled.

Did you do it through windows update, or with media? I was going to upgrade with the media creation tool, but it looked like it was going to do a complete re-install, which I figured would remove all my optimizations.

 

[Mushkins]

And its reinstalled a load of bloat that I uninstalled.

A Windows Service Pack/Update can't randomly reinstall third party apps. Sounds like you've got something totally different going on.

 

[Mushkins]

Did you do it through windows update, or with media? I was going to upgrade with the media creation tool, but it looked like it was going to do a complete re-install, which I figured would remove all my optimizations.

The media creation tool would have done a complete reinstall. It's only purpose is to create installation media for version upgrades and fresh installations, it's not a windows update tool.

 

[WelshBloke]

Did you do it through windows update, or with media? I was going to upgrade with the media creation tool, but it looked like it was going to do a complete re-install, which I figured would remove all my optimizations.

Windows update. I'm about to update a laptop as well so I'll see what happens there.

A Windows Service Pack/Update can't randomly reinstall third party apps. Sounds like you've got something totally different going on.

First party apps (solitaire and the like).

 

[Whisper2]

The media creation tool would have done a complete reinstall. It's only purpose is to create installation media for version upgrades and fresh installations, it's not a windows update tool.

This "Upgrade" appears to be a replacement of the old build with a new one, Windows Update did not modify the old version of Windows like Service Packs use to. For all practical purposes, it is like a fresh install, except it captures most of the Windows setting and all the software that was installed. I now have a Windows.old folder (over 13GB) right under the normal Windows folder. The old can be removed with the "Disk Cleanup" tool when run as an administrator.

This is the same methodology as used for all the "Insider" builds.