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Game over: Windows 10 update crashes pro gamer’s broadcast session on Twitch

change org petition microsoft eff windows 10 update
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Sorry, Microsoft, but sometimes Windows 10 can just get annoying. More specifically, the update process could use an extra dose of finesse so that customers aren’t totally surprised when the platform decides it’s time to update no matter what’s going on. Case in point: a recent streaming session on Twitch of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that abruptly ended when Windows 10 decided to update.

At the time, the session was being streamed by full-time pro gamer Erik “fl0m” Flom to more than 130,000 followers. At around eight hours and 54 minutes into the session, he grouped with his partners, pulled out a knife, and began to follow them when the screen suddenly turned blue, flashing the “restarting” icon. In the bottom-left corner windows, you can see his lit face hanging on to a dropped jaw.

After that, Windows 10’s blue screen message said that a configuration was underway, and to not turn off the computer. His mouth was still wide open during the process, and he finally sat back back and yelled, “What???” with a disbelieving grin. Eventually, he scratched his forehead in frustration.

“Alright, guys. Well, uh, this is pretty neat. HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?? HOW DID THIS HAPP …  fuck you, Windows 10!” fl0m yelled while giving the computer screen two middle fingers. “Alright, maybe we’ll see if we can get this back. Hurry up! Fuck! Oh my god, you have one job PC! I turned off everything!”

The rants kept rolling on as the computer slowly configured Windows 10, and fl0m finally began to sing to the computer when the percentage began to rapidly jump up into the 80s and 90s. Once the configuring was complete, the audience got a “no signal” screen save for the little window showing fl0m dancing in his seat and waiting to get back into the game.

After a bit of waiting, fl0m turned the camera to reveal the computer screen showing the dreaded Windows 10 update circle. You can’t hear anything he said (the audio went out), but he sat there laughing from embarrassment (presumably) and comments made by viewers. Given that it seemingly takes years for Windows 10 to apply a major update, he finally rose from his seat, brought his dog to the screen, and terminated the session three minutes after the ninth hour.

This isn’t the first time Windows 10 has interrupted a broadcast. CBS-based channel KCCI 8 of Des Moines, Iowa, had to deal with the Windows 10 upgrade nag window while meteorologist Metinka Slater provided a live update on thunderstorms rolling into the state. The nag window popped up over her Live Super Doppler 8 radar screen, requesting that she upgrade now.

“Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 10,” she declared with a grin while facing the viewing audience. “What should I do? Don’t you love it when that pops up?”

The meteorologist immediately switched to a different view source to continue her weather coverage, but then had trouble with the clicker and blamed Windows 10. “It’s that Windows 10, right? That’s what people are going to say!”

Obviously, the TV station isn’t running Windows 10 so the nag window to upgrade continuously reminds the company of Microsoft’s new flagship (and highly pushed) platform, even during live TV. As for fl0m’s dilemma on Twitch, we’re betting he may be running an Insider Preview build that doesn’t play nice when it’s time to update the system.

For the general consumer, they will have to endure a big (but free) update later this summer when Microsoft outs the Anniversary Update upgrade for Windows 10. Once it’s installed, customers will be able to tell Windows 10 when they’re most active on the PC so the platform doesn’t decide to update and reboot during that time frame… finally!

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Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
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