• Computers
  • How to ensure you're running a stable Windows 10 version
2016/12/09 10:00:16
abacab
http://www.infoworld.com/article/3148676/microsoft-windows/woodys-win10tip-wait-for-a-stable-version.html
 
TL/DR;
 
Here are the versions of Windows 10 to date:
  • 1507 -- the original version of Windows 10, codenamed Threshold 1, OS build 10240
  • 1511 -- the "Fall Update" later renamed "November Update," codenamed Threshold 2, OS build 10586
  • 1607 -- the "Anniversary Update," codenamed Redstone 1, OS build 14393
And the widely expected (and already named, internally):
  • 1703 -- the "Creators Update," codenamed Redstone 2, OS build not yet determined
If you're in charge of your own updates, it would behoove you to wait for the "Current Branch for Business" designation until you upgrade your system. Cynics say that Microsoft is using individual Win10 users (both Home and Pro) to test upgrades on millions of machines before certifying them fresh for businesses. I would have a hard time arguing with that characterization.
We've seen the cycle twice to date, in the transition from 1507 to 1511, and in the move from 1511 to 1607. Here's how the dates have gone:
  • Version 1507, released July 29, 2015, was immediately declared Current Branch for Business, as the first of its kind.
  • Version 1511 released Nov. 12, 2015, was promoted to CBB on April 8, 2016. It spent 148 days in consumer-level testing.
  • Version 1607 released Aug. 2, 2016, promoted to CBB on Nov. 29, 2016. It took 119 days before reaching the higher level.
2016/12/09 12:01:46
Jim Roseberry
FWIW, I haven't run any version of Win10 that I found unstable.
The Anniversary Update caused some issues...
That's somewhat par-for-the-course when dealing with older hardware - where there are no further driver updates.
 
Mac updates are similar.
El Capitan caused some issues
Sierra has cause some issues
 
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
2016/12/09 12:11:38
abacab
Jim Roseberry
FWIW, I haven't run any version of Win10 that I found unstable.



Regardless, if you are a pro, you should consider your business first.  Why be a beta tester with your bread and butter?
 
Big companies with IT departments test operating system updates thoroughly in-house before rolling them out into production. 
 
You don't miss out on anything by waiting and staying one release behind.  Except, maybe problems that will get fixed before you update ...
 
Jim Roseberry
The Anniversary Update caused some issues...
That's somewhat par-for-the-course when dealing with older hardware - where there are no further driver updates.

 
You raise a good point here.  Many folks do attempt to update with their older hardware.  They do not have personal IT experts advising them if they should or not.  It's often been said that maybe it's better to buy new hardware with the OS pre-installed and tested on that generation of hardware.  Or just keep running what you have, as long as it is supported. 
 
The big change that I see here with Windows 10, is that it's like a new OS release each time they roll out a major annual feature release.  That is problematic for anybody to figure out where their drivers get left behind, until they stop working anymore ...
2016/12/09 12:34:28
fireberd
I have Win 10 Pro for my production system.  It is the 1607 version and my system is stable and Latency Mon does not show any problems.
 
I have a dual boot system and the other OS is also Win 10 Pro but its the "insider preview" (beta) editions.  I have Sonar and my MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid and X-Touch installed on that version too, and it all works OK and no issues for me.
2016/12/09 12:38:33
abacab
Windows 10 Release 1607 just graduated to CBB status 10 days ago, so should be considered as stable for business now.  I guess that means it's fully patched after you apply any current roll-up patches.
2016/12/09 12:42:12
abacab
fireberd
I have Win 10 Pro for my production system.  It is the 1607 version and my system is stable and Latency Mon does not show any problems.
 
I have a dual boot system and the other OS is also Win 10 Pro but its the "insider preview" (beta) editions.  I have Sonar and my MOTU 896mk3 Hybrid and X-Touch installed on that version too, and it all works OK and no issues for me.




You are clearly following good IT practices.  You have a test system to try out the betas on, then if it is stable for you, you can safely roll it into production later.
 
For other folks without test environments, it's probably best to wait for the "all clear" signal 
2016/12/09 15:01:06
fireberd
I take the "CBB" status to be for business systems and not for individual users.  I am a retired LAN/WAN Network and Hardware Help Desk Manager for a Federal Government Agency.  My area of responsibility was all our Agency field offices, basically west of the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains.  We never implemented any software update, whether it was an OS update or an applications software update until it was tested and certified by our Computer Analyst department.  The agency had large IBM mainframes for the network (running VTAM/CICS) and the same with those, any update that IBM or whoever issued was certified before it was released to the production systems (and even then there were tests before the production systems were put back on line).  Lots of $$$ can be affected if computer systems are down or not working correctly or in our case the field offices were automated to the point if their computers were down they may as well lock the doors and go home.
 
If someone is running a commercial recording studio and relying on computers, I would have at least two full computer systems, one for production and another as backup and possibly a third that I could use as a test system. Any updates, whether OS, recording program, device drivers, etc would be first installed on the test system and if all worked then it could be installed on the production system(s).   
2016/12/09 16:32:23
abacab
fireberd
I take the "CBB" status to be for business systems and not for individual users.



Take another look at the InfoWorld article.  It's a matter of declaring the release "business ready".  "CBB" stands for Current Branch for Business.  Not a separate software release, but a status code.
 
So that does apply to individual users, who wish to wait for a release to be considered fully baked, before applying it to their own systems.  Sort of testing by proxy.  Not guaranteed, but a step in the right direction. 
 
I too worked in IT, for over 30 years.  Started life as a mainframe computer jockey, & have worn many hats since then.  I'm well aware of change control issues.
 
According to the article:
You can read the official definition on TechNet, but for individual patching purposes you only need to realize that Microsoft releases new versions for general consumption, and waits until the major problems are ironed out before it declares a particular version is fit for businesses -- which is to say, ready for the Current Branch for Business.
If you're hooked up to a corporate server that controls updates to your Win10 machine, chances are good that your admin holds off on updating your machine to a new version until it's anointed "Current Branch for Business."
2016/12/09 18:01:25
fireberd
That is what I meant, sorry.
 
I've been in electronics and maintenance since 1955 in the Air Force and worked (maintenance) starting in 1966 with RCA Service Co on the Air Force Eastern Test Range, Ascension Island tracking station.  I also worked as a programmer for NASA on the Apollo program.
2016/12/09 18:12:03
abacab
fireberd
That is what I meant, sorry.
 
I've been in electronics and maintenance since 1955 in the Air Force and worked (maintenance) starting in 1966 with RCA Service Co on the Air Force Eastern Test Range, Ascension Island tracking station.  I also worked as a programmer for NASA on the Apollo program.




+1
 
RIP, John Glenn :-(
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