Windows 10: Windows Update Overwrites new files with old ones.

So I installed windows 10 earlier this week, I believe the 7th of February. The system moves all my files into windows.old. I retrieve my vital files (mostly current projects and some game files) and marvel at how much faster my computer seems to run.

Then about 30 minutes ago an automatic windows update triggered when I restarted my computer. When my computer was rebooted, all the files from windows.old had returned and overwritten my progress since the 7th. Everything, from old favorites I had thought gone, to my old desktop background, had returned. Worse still, the files I had moved from Windows.old onto the new desktop had disappeared, AND now my laptop is running slower, similar to when I was using 8.1. It's almost as if the computer had performed a rollback, except I'm still running windows 10.

Any way to roll back the last update without returning to Windows 8.1?

:)

 

Copying Files

Until relatively recently, when I backed up a file to a USB drive it offered the option to overwrite the old file with the new version. This is what I want it to do. But now, it creates a new copy of the old file so that my USB drive is cluttered with
multiple versions of the file. How do I revert to the old way of overwriting the old file with the new version.

 

Safe File history

Thanks. I had tried it before, but did not click refresh after inserting flash drive. The file history downloaded as I wished. If I want to update it later, must I delete the old files from the flash drive, or will the new file history simply overwrite
the one currently on that drive?

 

Hi, I understand you upgraded to Win 10.
I'm puzzled that you say you had to retrieve files from Windows.old. That's not normal, and tends to suggest sthg went wrong with that upgrade.

Naturally you can uninstall your last update, but it shouldn't have had an effect on your personal files, so given your unusual experience, I can't predict what effect uninstalling it will have on your system.

Can you do this:
Windows key + R, and in the Run box, type Winver.
You should see 10586.104

You also have the ability within 30 days of updating to win 10 to roll back to your earlier OS.

Here's what I'd be tempted to do.1
1. Create a disk image of what you have now for security and backup.
(Everyone should use disk imaging routinely e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) + external storage + its boot disk.. other programs exist)
It saves so much difficulty, frustration, and allows you to restore your PC quickly to a previously working state without technical help.

2. Try rolling back to your previous OS.
Check all is well.
Create a new disk image of that if successful.

3. Uninstall any AV software, theme mods, anything that affects the appearance of the GUI.
Retry the update to Win 10.

Failing that, perhaps the only way to succeed is a clean install, which many here recommend as it tends to avoid problems.
You can make the transition much faster if you have a lot installed by using
O&O disk image (for example) + Laplink PCMover Image Assistant. (That works, I've used it- e.g. 3 hours processing, 1 hour prep, to move data + 300+ installed programs.
Laplink say Macrium should work too (Aomei Backupper doesn't in this context).

 

It does. You make an image backup with MR, use the MR option to "mount" that (assigning it a drive letter) and then you can migrate apps from the image to your PC.

 

You can extract files from MR for sure, but I have never heard that you can migrate apps from an MR image.

Can I use Macrium Reflect to move my installed software to a new machine - KnowledgeBase - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

If it is possible, please explain how.

 

Hi, Laplink makes 2 significant products. The original PCMover works by inspecting the new PC, comparing what's installed when it's then run on the old PC, and the user selects what is to be transferred to the new PC. A LARGE file is created of programs and data, registry keys etc e.g. written to a disk from the old PC. That is then transferred to the new PC, PCMover run again, and selected apps 'installed' and data copied.

Or it can be done over a network or cable.

=================
The newer PCMover Image Assistant makes that a shorter process. Mount images of relevant partitions from the old PC on the new PC. Run Image Assistant, it compares what's installed, allows the user to select, then it extracts the relevant info from the mounted images and 'installs' the progs and copies data.

Thus you get many progs automatically transferred (some can't be, a few fail and need reinstalling) and it deals with Visual C++ runtimes and Net framework sensibly.
Image Drive Assistant - Laplink® Software
PCmover Image Assistant | PCWorld

I got a couple of giveaway licenses a while back- useful!

Aomei Backupper is not compatible- they admit a problem whereby permissions issues prevent extraction from one folder in Windows. O&O Disk Image is marketed by Laplink, and Macrium is said to work.