Microsoft Again Blocks Windows 10 October 2018 Update On Some Intel PCs
At this point, a case could be made for Microsoft slowing down its aggressive bi-annual upgrade approach to Windows 10, which consists of two major updates to the OS every year. The latest one, the October 2018 Update, has been plagued with issues. And once again, Microsoft is blocking the update on some Intel PCs, this time to deal with a display driver issue.
Despite extensive testing in the Windows Insider program, there have been numerous bugs disrupting what otherwise would have been a smooth rollout. Instead of taking additional time to squash them all, Microsoft is blocking the update to PCs that might be affected.
"Blocking the availability of a Windows 10 feature update to devices we know will experience issues is a key aspect of our controlled rollout approach to provide users with a great update experience. We decide what to block based on user impact from closely monitoring feedback and device diagnostics," Microsoft explains in a related support document.
"Blocking issues are a high priority for us to address as quickly as possible. If we detect that your device may have an issue, such as an application incompatibility, we will not install the update until that issue is resolved, even if you 'Check for updates'. We do this so that you avoid encountering any known problems," Microsoft adds.
In this instance, Microsoft has identified issues (plural) with certain new Intel display drivers. According to Microsoft, Intel inadvertently released versions of its display driver (24.20.100.6344 and 24.20.100.6345) to OEM partners that "accidentally" enabled features not supported in Windows.
If a potentially affected system updates to the October 2018 Update, audio playback from a monitor or television connected to a PC via HDMI, USB-C, or a DisplayPort connector might not function correctly. Microsoft is working with Intel and OEMs to eventually release an updated driver that will play nice with Windows 10.
In the meantime, Microsoft says affected users can contact the company, and in turn an agent will run a file on the device that turns off the incompatible feature. Users can see if their systems are affected by following these steps:
- From the Start menu, type Device Manager in the search box. Select Device Manager from the search results.
- Find and expand Display adapters.
- Right-click on the Intel HD Graphics device.
- Select Properties.
- Click the Driver tab.
- Check your driver version. If the driver version is listed as either 24.20.100.6344, or 24.20.100.6345, your system is affected by this issue. Please contact Microsoft support for a resolution.
Affected users can ping Microsoft by calling 1-800-MICROSOFT.
