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> In 2015 when Windows 10 rebooted my machine to automatically install an update, closing down an unsaved document I was in the middle of working on, Do I have

> In 2015 when Windows 10 rebooted my machine to automatically install an update, closing down an unsaved document I was in the middle of working on, Do I have some magic aura that causes Microsoft to give me at least a 12 hour warning about updates? Because I honestly can't remember a time this sort of thing (instant update, no warning) has ever happened to me with Windows. I love Linux and do as much as I can for my job with it, or at least as close to POSIXy *ix as I can, but I hear these Windows stories and they just aren't in my reality. Note: I don't have an overbearing company that pushes a slew of nanny-spy-ware on to my work machine - I have a friend who does, and I BELIEVE his tales of woe because I believe him.

marcodiego 5y ago
12 hours... Nice, people will just forget before 2 minutes.
Jensson 5y ago
Not all programs bubbles up those notifications when you are in full screen, and since default behavior is to shut down the computer after x minutes of the notification appearing it will look like the computer restarts out of nowhere. Windows could have checked "if the user is actively using the computer do not restart", but no the computer just restarts in the middle of a gaming sessions or whatever.
- CogitoCogito 5y ago
  > Windows could have checked "if the user is actively using the computer do not restart", but no the computer just restarts in the middle of a gaming sessions or whatever. Even better would be to ask (and respect a user’s decision if they say “no”).
- michaelcampbell 5y ago
  Like this? https://i.imgur.com/j3TZBEE.png https://i.imgur.com/j3TZBEE.png
  - jimmydorry 5y ago
    You work the exact same hours every day, to the minute? Really? That one time you were doing something at 23:05 and the computer "randomly" reboots without warning, is going to stick out in your memory... as it probably should.
CogitoCogito 5y ago
> Do I have some magic aura that causes Microsoft to give me at least a 12 hour warning about updates? Because I honestly can't remember a time this sort of thing (instant update, no warning) has ever happened to me with Windows. Many consider a 12 hour warning entirely insufficient. Many consider an auto reboot that you didn’t initiate entirely unacceptable.
pkulak 5y ago
I tend to ignore anything Windows tries to tell me because it’s usually an ad or otherwise useless.
- gaius_baltar 5y ago
  I usually tell people near me: If Windows (or Android and iOS, on this matter) wants to do X, assume it is an user-unfriendly move and do the inverse of X.
MattPalmer1086 5y ago
Heh, that was what prompted me to switch to Linux, all the way back in 2003! Suddenly saw that Windows was rebooting the computer. I had about 1 minute of warning and I lost a lot of work.
- eMSF 5y ago
  You're referring to Blaster (worm), right?
  - MattPalmer1086 5y ago
    Nope, no worm or malware, just an automated windows reboot. There was a dialog box saying Windows had to reboot, and it was counting down. I saw it when it had a minute left. It was at that point I realised I was not in control of my own machine. And I switched to Linux the next day. Kept a dual boot of Windows for years, but hardly ever booted into it once I got comfortable.
    - eMSF 5y ago
      I must've read too much into you mentioning that particular year (being of course the one with the Blaster's infamous if unintentional countdown to reboot due to XP's RPC service crashing). For me, it might've well been one of the bigger reasons why XP was also the last Windows as the main OS on my home computers.
      - MattPalmer1086 5y ago
        Yeah, just a normal windows thing for me. If it had just been malware I'd probably have just installed a better anti virus and firewall or something. It was the fact that my own computer was working against me that soured me on Windows.
II2II 5y ago
It happens. The warning was probably ignored or forgotten. Keep in mind, a lot of people like Windows because they prioritize what they do with a computer over what they have to do for the computer. Interrupting their work is the last thing on their mind, particularly if it involves relaunching applications and pulling up documents after that interruption. They may have even developed habits such as walking away from the computer thinking that everything will be there when they return (including unsaved work).
phendrenad2 5y ago
> In 2015 when Windows 10 rebooted my machine to automatically install an update, closing down an unsaved document I was in the middle of working on, I'll never understand why Linux users have this inescapable urge to leave unsaves changes in their apps and go on a two-week vacation. You have to save your files, people. It's computer 101.
- trinsic2 5y ago
  I walked away from my workstation and was gone for about 20mins. I understand your point, Its important to save, and I am always saving my documents, but sometimes you can forget to save. An unexpected restart or crash I can understand, but to force reboot a system for a update is unacceptable, and even being forced to update later is the same issue. Its my machine, Ill updated it when I'm ready, or not at all.
  - phendrenad2 5y ago
    You were likely nagged for weeks by the system to update OR you dual-boot Linux and you switched over to Windows for a quick document edit. And then, when the popup showed up, and gave you the choice to dismiss it, you didn't pay attention (who pays attention to popups?) and clicked the "reboot now" button. It happens. But, now that you know what to avoid, you won't run into the issue again. Assuming you ever use Windows again, that is.

marcodiego 5y ago

12 hours... Nice, people will just forget before 2 minutes.

Jensson 5y ago

Not all programs bubbles up those notifications when you are in full screen, and since default behavior is to shut down the computer after x minutes of the notification appearing it will look like the computer restarts out of nowhere. Windows could have checked "if the user is actively using the computer do not restart", but no the computer just restarts in the middle of a gaming sessions or whatever.

CogitoCogito 5y ago
> Windows could have checked "if the user is actively using the computer do not restart", but no the computer just restarts in the middle of a gaming sessions or whatever. Even better would be to ask (and respect a user’s decision if they say “no”).
michaelcampbell 5y ago
Like this? https://i.imgur.com/j3TZBEE.png https://i.imgur.com/j3TZBEE.png
- jimmydorry 5y ago
  You work the exact same hours every day, to the minute? Really? That one time you were doing something at 23:05 and the computer "randomly" reboots without warning, is going to stick out in your memory... as it probably should.

CogitoCogito 5y ago

> Do I have some magic aura that causes Microsoft to give me at least a 12 hour warning about updates? Because I honestly can't remember a time this sort of thing (instant update, no warning) has ever happened to me with Windows. Many consider a 12 hour warning entirely insufficient. Many consider an auto reboot that you didn’t initiate entirely unacceptable.

pkulak 5y ago

I tend to ignore anything Windows tries to tell me because it’s usually an ad or otherwise useless.

gaius_baltar 5y ago
I usually tell people near me: If Windows (or Android and iOS, on this matter) wants to do X, assume it is an user-unfriendly move and do the inverse of X.

MattPalmer1086 5y ago

Heh, that was what prompted me to switch to Linux, all the way back in 2003! Suddenly saw that Windows was rebooting the computer. I had about 1 minute of warning and I lost a lot of work.

eMSF 5y ago
You're referring to Blaster (worm), right?
- MattPalmer1086 5y ago
  Nope, no worm or malware, just an automated windows reboot. There was a dialog box saying Windows had to reboot, and it was counting down. I saw it when it had a minute left. It was at that point I realised I was not in control of my own machine. And I switched to Linux the next day. Kept a dual boot of Windows for years, but hardly ever booted into it once I got comfortable.
  - eMSF 5y ago
    I must've read too much into you mentioning that particular year (being of course the one with the Blaster's infamous if unintentional countdown to reboot due to XP's RPC service crashing). For me, it might've well been one of the bigger reasons why XP was also the last Windows as the main OS on my home computers.
    - MattPalmer1086 5y ago
      Yeah, just a normal windows thing for me. If it had just been malware I'd probably have just installed a better anti virus and firewall or something. It was the fact that my own computer was working against me that soured me on Windows.

II2II 5y ago

It happens. The warning was probably ignored or forgotten. Keep in mind, a lot of people like Windows because they prioritize what they do with a computer over what they have to do for the computer. Interrupting their work is the last thing on their mind, particularly if it involves relaunching applications and pulling up documents after that interruption. They may have even developed habits such as walking away from the computer thinking that everything will be there when they return (including unsaved work).

phendrenad2 5y ago

> In 2015 when Windows 10 rebooted my machine to automatically install an update, closing down an unsaved document I was in the middle of working on, I'll never understand why Linux users have this inescapable urge to leave unsaves changes in their apps and go on a two-week vacation. You have to save your files, people. It's computer 101.

trinsic2 5y ago
I walked away from my workstation and was gone for about 20mins. I understand your point, Its important to save, and I am always saving my documents, but sometimes you can forget to save. An unexpected restart or crash I can understand, but to force reboot a system for a update is unacceptable, and even being forced to update later is the same issue. Its my machine, Ill updated it when I'm ready, or not at all.
- phendrenad2 5y ago
  You were likely nagged for weeks by the system to update OR you dual-boot Linux and you switched over to Windows for a quick document edit. And then, when the popup showed up, and gave you the choice to dismiss it, you didn't pay attention (who pays attention to popups?) and clicked the "reboot now" button. It happens. But, now that you know what to avoid, you won't run into the issue again. Assuming you ever use Windows again, that is.