4 ms·

The frequent updates are a minor annoyance if you use the gaming computer regularly, but if used infrequently they all happen at once. It makes booting into Win

by sagarm 8y ago

The frequent updates are a minor annoyance if you use the gaming computer regularly, but if used infrequently they all happen at once. It makes booting into Windows to play games feel like a chore. This has been exacerbated for me because initially I only allocated ~20GB for the Windows boot partition, which is plenty for Ubuntu but apparently nowhere near enough for Windows. Even at ~30GB, I have to do things to reduce the amount of space Windows uses (like disable hibernation, manually compact WinSxS, etc) so that those big named updates can complete. In short: Windows is too high maintenance for infrequent use.

kingbirdy 8y ago
To be honest, I think that's just on you for allocating too little space. 20 GB is listed as the bare minimum for a windows 10 64 bit install [0], and only 10 GB extra for apps & updates isn't much. [0]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifica...
- gbrown 8y ago
  For those of us in an area without good broadband, it doesn't matter if you have plenty of hard drive space. If I sit down to play videogames one night a month and I have to sit through hours of updates, it's infuriating.
  - fredsted 8y ago
    Just don't update then. Do it overnight after you're done playing.
    - girvo 8y ago
      Good luck doing that with data-caps.
- sagarm 8y ago
  My programs/games were all on a separate partition, though. 30GB was _just_ for Windows and drivers. I didn't check the minimum requirements, but if I had I would have been even more annoyed when 20GB wasn't enough to complete updates.
crooked-v 8y ago
30 GB seems painfully small for gaming now that gaming companies are releasing games that by themselves are 20+ GB.
- hobs 8y ago
  20+GB years ago. Some modern games (especially with uncompressed textures) can be >100GB after installation.
  - ReverseCold 8y ago
    Yup, GTAV (as an example) is a 65GB download (larger on disk).
  - jnwatson 8y ago
    Elder Scrolls Online is a 99 GiB download. Plus, there's a bug in the installer that requires a full re-download.
- eikenberry 8y ago
  > for the Windows boot partition That was just for the OS. He obviously has a separate data partition to install games on (unless he only likes retro 8bit type games).
stcredzero 8y ago
The frequent updates are a minor annoyance if you use the gaming computer regularly, but if used infrequently they all happen at once. It makes booting into Windows to play games feel like a chore. Yes! I have two machines I use for VR stuff, and I face this every time I come back to VR! I even have the full hard drive allocated, not just a 20GB partition.
- danielbln 8y ago
  Same here, for a while I just kept my machine in stand-by just so I don't have to deal with all the updates and things randomly breaking. Looking forward to a solution that just always works. VR is evening after-work entertainment for me, which happens at a point when I'm done solving problems after 10 hours doing just that.
ryandrake 8y ago
Yea I boot to Windows maybe once a month and it seems like every time, it’s: “oh you weren’t planning on gaming tonight we’re you? You have 3 updates to apply, pal!”
- kbenson 8y ago
  I think part of this is the often dual use nature of these machines. Gaming consoles have updates every couple of months, which might be more often, but the systems are also left on or left in a low-power mode where they will still check for and download (and possibly apply?) updates, depending on how the power settings are set. If you used a gaming console the same way you are using your main computer (booting it into a separate OS for most the time, until you all of a sudden wanted to play a game) you might also find that there's updates waiting to apply, and some games require the OS update before they'll play, etc.
  - akuji1993 8y ago
    I feel like I'm the only one that still shuts off the PS4 after I'm done. Why would I let my console run idle for days, consuming power that I don't need? If I want to game, I turn it on, make my dinner, go to play.
- JauntyHatAngle 8y ago
  I get the same thing with my ps4.
  - inawarminister 8y ago
    Yep, I miss the PS2 days when you just put a disk inside and play for the whole time you're in front of the console..
sundvor 8y ago
Put yourself on the semi-annual targetted channel (for business) + defer updates by a few months. Then the only updates you'll really be bothered with are the occasional critical patches, and any feature updates will have been tested in the field by millions of others way before you get them. Personally I think they've really nailed this.
- sagarm 8y ago
  That does sound great, thanks. Is this the feature you're talking about? https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-servicing-channels-windows-10-updates#assign-devices-to-semi-annual-channel https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/w...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
vardump 8y ago
> This has been exacerbated for me because initially I only allocated ~20GB for the Windows boot partition Ouch! Watch out for the coming Win10 fall update (October). It might brick your setup, as it needs (supposedly) minimum 20 GB free space. Note/disclaimer: Not sure how true this is, couldn't validate it personally. That said, I'll definitely ensure all of my Win10 system boot partitions have at least 30 GB free space.

by sagarm 8y ago

kingbirdy 8y ago

To be honest, I think that's just on you for allocating too little space. 20 GB is listed as the bare minimum for a windows 10 64 bit install [0], and only 10 GB extra for apps & updates isn't much. [0]: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifica...

gbrown 8y ago
For those of us in an area without good broadband, it doesn't matter if you have plenty of hard drive space. If I sit down to play videogames one night a month and I have to sit through hours of updates, it's infuriating.
- fredsted 8y ago
  Just don't update then. Do it overnight after you're done playing.
  - girvo 8y ago
    Good luck doing that with data-caps.
sagarm 8y ago
My programs/games were all on a separate partition, though. 30GB was _just_ for Windows and drivers. I didn't check the minimum requirements, but if I had I would have been even more annoyed when 20GB wasn't enough to complete updates.

crooked-v 8y ago

30 GB seems painfully small for gaming now that gaming companies are releasing games that by themselves are 20+ GB.

hobs 8y ago
20+GB years ago. Some modern games (especially with uncompressed textures) can be >100GB after installation.
- ReverseCold 8y ago
  Yup, GTAV (as an example) is a 65GB download (larger on disk).
- jnwatson 8y ago
  Elder Scrolls Online is a 99 GiB download. Plus, there's a bug in the installer that requires a full re-download.
eikenberry 8y ago
> for the Windows boot partition That was just for the OS. He obviously has a separate data partition to install games on (unless he only likes retro 8bit type games).

stcredzero 8y ago

The frequent updates are a minor annoyance if you use the gaming computer regularly, but if used infrequently they all happen at once. It makes booting into Windows to play games feel like a chore. Yes! I have two machines I use for VR stuff, and I face this every time I come back to VR! I even have the full hard drive allocated, not just a 20GB partition.

danielbln 8y ago
Same here, for a while I just kept my machine in stand-by just so I don't have to deal with all the updates and things randomly breaking. Looking forward to a solution that just always works. VR is evening after-work entertainment for me, which happens at a point when I'm done solving problems after 10 hours doing just that.

ryandrake 8y ago

Yea I boot to Windows maybe once a month and it seems like every time, it’s: “oh you weren’t planning on gaming tonight we’re you? You have 3 updates to apply, pal!”

kbenson 8y ago
I think part of this is the often dual use nature of these machines. Gaming consoles have updates every couple of months, which might be more often, but the systems are also left on or left in a low-power mode where they will still check for and download (and possibly apply?) updates, depending on how the power settings are set. If you used a gaming console the same way you are using your main computer (booting it into a separate OS for most the time, until you all of a sudden wanted to play a game) you might also find that there's updates waiting to apply, and some games require the OS update before they'll play, etc.
- akuji1993 8y ago
  I feel like I'm the only one that still shuts off the PS4 after I'm done. Why would I let my console run idle for days, consuming power that I don't need? If I want to game, I turn it on, make my dinner, go to play.
JauntyHatAngle 8y ago
I get the same thing with my ps4.
- inawarminister 8y ago
  Yep, I miss the PS2 days when you just put a disk inside and play for the whole time you're in front of the console..

sundvor 8y ago

Put yourself on the semi-annual targetted channel (for business) + defer updates by a few months. Then the only updates you'll really be bothered with are the occasional critical patches, and any feature updates will have been tested in the field by millions of others way before you get them. Personally I think they've really nailed this.

sagarm 8y ago
That does sound great, thanks. Is this the feature you're talking about? https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-servicing-channels-windows-10-updates#assign-devices-to-semi-annual-channel https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/w...

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

vardump 8y ago

> This has been exacerbated for me because initially I only allocated ~20GB for the Windows boot partition Ouch! Watch out for the coming Win10 fall update (October). It might brick your setup, as it needs (supposedly) minimum 20 GB free space. Note/disclaimer: Not sure how true this is, couldn't validate it personally. That said, I'll definitely ensure all of my Win10 system boot partitions have at least 30 GB free space.