So, after several weeks of talking about all of the interesting things in Windows 10 – I had a week!
As always Microsoft releases updates to Windows 10 from time-to-time. These are small updates and fixes the come out with no particular schedule. However, twice a year larger feature updates are included in the rollouts. They are supposedly started March and September. However, the latest update from version 1903 to the latest 1909 started on November 12, 2019. If you care about actual dates and info check here, dblclx.com/W10-versions.
So, my story begins with this 1909 update. I use 2-3 different computers including work and personal and updates are common. The first computer I updated went just fine. It is a rather lengthy update, especially when compared to the irregular small ones. It took over an hour to download and install the update…before the restart. It took another hour for the computer to restart. So, if you choose to install this one, I have a suggestion. Start it downloading, walk away for an hour or more, come back and click the button to reboot the computer, go away again to do something else finally come back in another hour/plus and use your computer. Success!
Now the bad part. The second system I updated worked a little differently. I started it downloading, walked away and did something else for a couple of hours. When I came back, I was ready to click the reboot button and go away again. But it said the following instead, “Some apps need to be uninstalled: These programs need to be uninstalled because they aren’t compatible with the Upgrade: Avira Antivirus.”
OK, I am not a newbie or noobie with computers and I knew exactly what to do. I searched my programs for the Avira Antivirus program. As I figured it was not there; although, I had installed it testing a year or so ago. A decent program, but I uninstalled it afterward (avira.com if interested but I would rely on the antivirus built-in to W10). I then shut down my computer, rebooted and tried again. Guess what…same result.
Next, Google and I found out that many, many people had the same issue also with an 18xx version of the W10 update. I tried a couple of solutions from Microsoft and Avira both without a reward. I then started hunting on my favorite “solution” sites and nothing worked. I reinstalled Avira then uninstalled it, nothing. I ran a very specific application from Avira that said it would uninstall it for this specific problem and it did not. I booted and rebooted so many times over a week that my fingers were sore.
I deleted a specific file that was recommended in several places, nothing. I was ready to call it quits and just try the next update whenever it hit. And then I thought I will delete everything named “Avira” in the registry. I will not tell you how to do that here as it could be harmful to your computer if you make a mistake.
After I did that and rebooted the computer again, I follow my previous suggestions and about 2+ hours later it WORKED!!!
I then had a third computer to update, gulp. It ran as flawlessly as the first. Life was good again. Why did I tell you this? In case you have a similar problem. Try all the easy stuff first, check Google and then get a professional to help you out if you cannot do it. This was a real pain.
