Skip to main content

Headaches continue with two new Windows 10 October 2018 Update bugs

windows 10 october update
Image used with permission by copyright holder

After a month of bugs, Microsoft re-released the Windows 10 October 2018 Update in mid-November, but some problems are continuing to plague people who have installed it on their PCs. In the latest, two new issues with administrator accounts and FLAC media files have surfaced.

With the first problem, noted by Techdows, if a consumer has chosen to enable Windows 10’s built-in administrator account, it will automatically be disabled when upgraded to the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. The feature is typically off by default for security reasons but can be useful for troubleshooting a PC. This can be problematic for more technical savvy consumers, but Microsoft acknowledges the issue in a blog post and notes that a solution is coming in late January. It is also encouraged for consumers who typically depend on the administrator account to sign in with a second account with administrative-level privileges before updating. That can be done by heading to “Computer Management,” selecting “Local Users” and “Groups” and clicking on “Users.”

The second issue is a little less severe but impacts the way that FLAC media files are played in the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, MSPoweruser reports. These uncompressed audio files typically allow for a quality listening experience, but in the latest version of Windows, metadata like track names would be cut short in File Explorer and other locations across the operating system. The built-in Groove music player and even Windows Media Player also have issues playing these files, cutting out the first minute of a song. There is currently no word on Microsoft a patch, but a support thread reveals that Windows Insiders are currently beta testing a release which includes a fix for the problem.

Though both of these problems are not as dramatic as the file deletion bug which first caused Microsoft to pull back the public release of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, they still can cause headaches. If you’re experiencing similar issues, it is best to visit the Windows 10 Feedback Hub to report it to Microsoft. The company typically monitors that forum, often address these issues raised by consumers in monthly patches for Windows 10 on the second and occasionally the fourth Tuesday of every month in the year.

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Microsoft may fix the most frustrating thing about Windows updates
Windows 11 updates are moving to once a year.

Most Windows users will agree that one of the most annoying things about the operating system is the updates. While Windows Updates are necessary, they often tend to come up at the worst possible time, interrupting work and gaming sessions with persistent reminders that the system needs to reboot. Microsoft might be fixing that problem in the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 build, but it's still too early to bid farewell to those ill-timed reboots.

As spotted in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058, Microsoft is testing "hot patching" for some Windows 11 updates. Hot patching refers to a dynamic method of updating that often doesn't change the software version and may not even need a restart. In the context of Windows 11, it's pretty straightforward -- Windows will install the update, and you won't have to reboot your system.

Read more
A new Windows 11 hardware system requirement may be incoming
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Microsoft appears to finally be putting its foot down on how far back it's willing to go when it comes to supporting older hardware. As of the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 build, Microsoft will require that your processor supports the POPCNT instruction. If you're wondering what that is and whether this will affect you, you're not alone.

This new addition was spotted by Bob Pony on X (formerly Twitter). According to the user, if the CPU doesn't support the POPCNT instruction or it's disabled, Windows won't work at all. Multiple system files now require this instruction, starting with the Windows 11 kernel. Long story short -- no POPCNT, no Windows 11 24H2.

Read more
Microsoft plans to charge for Windows 10 updates in the future
Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating system logos are displayed on laptop screens.

Microsoft has confirmed it will offer security updates for Windows 10 after the end-of-life date for the operating system for consumer users but for a fee.

The brand recently announced plans to charge regular users for Extended Security Updates (ESU) who intend to continue using Windows 10 beyond the October 14, 2025 support date.

Read more