Windows 10: Update 20H2 wrecks my machine

Last night, even though I’d switched off updates and put my computer to ‘sleep’, MS unilaterally decided to reboot and apply version 20H2, the update I’d been trying to avoid. This has wrecked my machine twice before, so I'd turned off the update. This morning again, nothing seems to work. All my desktop icons and everything I ‘pinned’ to the toolbar have disappeared. Whenever I ‘pin’ a new application to the toolbar, it disappears again when I close the app. It can’t find my ‘Normal.dotx’ template. Every time I start PowerPoint, it tells me there was an error with the startup dialog, and

:)

 

Update 20h2

Hi Wicki,

I am Sumit, an Independent Advisor and a 3 year Windows Insider MVP here to help.

20H2 should not be installed right-away on your device - MS said the rollout is only to a fraction of users and would be labeled as an optional update initially. Are you enrolled in WIP?

You may uninstall 20H2 using the steps below:

https://www.yourwindowsguide.com/2020/10/uninst...

Content on the above blog is written by a Microsoft MVP so it is safe. However, do watch out for the ads.

 

Update History is not showing v.20H2

Hi Dominic

I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

This is normal behavior in Windows 10, typically when you install a Feature Update like 20h2, the update history is wiped, this is to prevent the user from trying to uninstall an update that was prior to the Feature Update, which would de-stabilize Windows
10, the list should start building again, when some updates are applied to version 20h2 . . .

 

Cumulative update KB4598242-OS Build mismatches-W10 20H2

This is what I've done to date.

1- downloaded the update reset batchfile from the source given, and run it.
2-immediately rebooted the machine
3-downloaded the relevant ssu, although this is listed as installed in Control Panel > Programs. Running that msu confirms that it's already on the system.
4-downloaded the KB4598242 msu from Microsoft, and run it. It started Ok but failed with the same error 0x8007000D
5-checked with sfc /scannow - no problems reported.

In other words, I've stepped through the suggested processes, but still end up with the update failing to install, and with the same error as when update attempted through WU.

I may try the whole process over again, before attempting anything else.