Updating your Windows 10 is an essential security measure for protecting your business from threats such as malware or ransomware. It’s free! And you don’t have to do much, all you have to do is wait. However, for some, that’s the downside. Can’t stand waiting? One of these will speed up your Windows 10 update.

Why do updates take so long to install?

Windows 10 updates take a while to complete because Microsoft is constantly adding larger files and features. What’s more, internet speed can significantly affect installation times, especially if your network is overburdened by multiple people downloading the update at the same time.

If multiple downloads aren’t being attempted and you still experience slowness, then either some broken software components are preventing the installation from running smoothly, or apps and drivers that run upon startup are likely to blame.

When you experience any of these issues, try the following:

Free up storage space and defragment your hard drive

Because many Windows 10 updates take up a lot of space on your hard drive, you need to leave enough room for them. First, try deleting files and uninstalling software you no longer need.

Then, you’ll also need to defragment your hard drive, a process that organizes data on your hard drive so it can read and write files faster. It’s quite an easy process. Press the Windows button and type “defragment and optimize drives”. Select the hard drive, click Analyze, and if the drive is more than 10% fragmented, select Optimize.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Software components may also cause installation problems. Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter and it might just be the solution to the issue, and decrease download and install times.

Disable startup software

Before your update begins, disable third-party applications. They can potentially cause disruptions. To do this, press the Windows button again and type “msconfig”. In the System Configuration Window, go to Services, click Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all. Afterwards, access Task Manager (press Ctrl + Alt + Delete) and disable any startup program that might interfere with updates like an Adobe app or printer software.

Optimize your network

Sometimes a faster connection is all you need. Consider switching to fiber optic cables or purchasing more bandwidth from your internet service provider. It’s also a good idea to use bandwidth management tools to make sure enough network resources are reserved for things like Windows 10 updates, not bandwidth hogs like Skype or YouTube.

Schedule updates for low-traffic periods

In some cases, however, you may have to accept that certain updates do take a substantial amount of time. So schedule them for after hours when you’re not using your computers. Simply go to the Windows 10 update settings and specify when you prefer updates to be installed.

If you need help with any of the tips above, we’re always here to help. Call us today to meet with our Windows specialists!

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Changing something fundamental to your IT can be tricky to transition into, so it’s best to allot sufficient time for it. If you’re still on either Windows Server 2008 R2 or SQL Server 2008, do migrate to Microsoft Azure early, long before you reach the July 2019 end of life deadline.

What’s the big deal with losing publisher support in the first place?

When a software publisher releases a software program, that program is sure to have functionality issues called ‘bugs.’ Bugs are mostly in-app features that frustratingly “don’t work as expected,” but can include software-to-hardware compatibility problems and app integration issues.

Many bugs are glitches that the developers themselves are not aware of — most of the time, they’re reported by the end-users. Other concerns such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities can also be discovered. Lastly, as technology advances over time, developers add new features to their products.

Once a bundle of fixes and adjustments is done, it is released as a version update — and such updates are continually deployed for as long as the program enjoys developer support. However, software developers produce completely new and improved programs all the time, which makes old ones obsolete and no longer worth keeping.

Since an abrupt loss of support can feel like a gut punch for users who’ve spent considerable amounts of time, money, and effort to obtain licenses and overcome learning curves, publishers instead take away support gradually and give ample time for users to make adjustments.

Microsoft as a publisher is doing everything on their end to sunset their server platforms properly, which means that whatever negative consequences you’ll suffer for not migrating to Azure will all be on you. To be clear, going without publisher support means you’ll face the following risks:

• Compromised cybersecurity – Developers stopping work on a program doesn’t mean that hackers developing malware for that program will stop alongside with them. This means you have to come up with your own countermeasures to the latter’s pernicious innovations. This also leads to...
• ...Regulatory noncompliance – Brace yourself to pay a lot of fines if you can’t keep up with ever-stiffening data regulations requirements and incessantly suffer one major data breach after another.
• Customer distrust – If you don’t migrate to Microsoft Azure, your customers might migrate to competitors who do. They want to do business with companies that make information security a top priority.
• Tainted reputation – Simply put, you’re the one responsible for keeping systems up to date, so data breaches or loss due to having outdated programs is seen as negligence.

The solution is simple: Move to a newer setup

Depending on your business requirements, you must use Microsoft Azure to migrate to a newer setup, such as the SQL Server 2017 and Azure SQL Database Managed Instance pairing. This combo features incredible in-memory performance across workloads, high availability for mission-critical processes, and the latest cybersecurity protections for both data at rest and in motion.

With that settled, the question now becomes: How do you execute your migration so that it does not cause downtime, data loss, and security vulnerabilities?

Again, the answer is simple: Turn to us, your ever-reliable managed IT services provider, for help. Contact us to schedule your consultation. We’ll hold your hand every step of the way to ensure that your transition to Azure is smooth and problem-free.

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