Microsoft warns users not to install Windows 10's May update

Microsoft has asked Windows 10 users to avoid manually updating to its May 2020 feature update while it investigates ten major issues, despite having only just released it.

The major update to Microsoft’s flagship operating system has finally started to roll out after a two-week delay earlier this month, but Microsoft has identified ten issues severe enough to recommend that users hold off.

The slew of issues includes Windows 10 devices with Realtek drivers being unable to connect to more than one Bluetooth device, and no mouse input with apps and games using GameInput Redistributable.

Some devices using more than one Always On, Always Connected capable network adaptor may encounter errors or unexpected restarts, while enabling variable refresh rate on devices with intel iGPU may not work as expected.

Users may also encounter the infamous blue screen of death (BSOD), meanwhile, on three of the issues. Devices, for example, with certain Conexant or Synaptics audio drivers may encounter such errors during or after these drivers are updated. Errors may also occur when devices using external Thunderbolt docks are plugged in or unplugged.

Finally, on the BSOD front, there are incompatibility issues with Windows 10 and certain versions of Nvidia display adapter drivers. The fatal error screen may arise if devices are using drivers older than version 358.00.

To safeguard the update experience, Microsoft has held back the May 2020 Update from any devices with hardware or drivers known to suffer from compatibility issues with Windows 10.

More widely, Microsoft recommends users do not attempt to manually update using the ‘update now’ button until the issues have been resolved.

The widely touted May 2020 Update, also known as Windows 10 version 2004, began rolling out automatically, in a phased manner, to users from yesterday. Users, however, are still able to receive the upgrade if they manually check for updates.

Among the new features expected in the biannual upgrade are a faster and easier Bluetooth pairing process with external devices, as well as a mechanism to much more quickly enable a fully-passwordless experience.

When the update is finally deemed ready, users should also except a refined Coronata chatbot experience and smoother synchronicity between smartphones and Windows machines, among other additions.

That Microsoft has encountered several major issues on the release of its latest operating system upgrade should be of little surprise to long-term users who will be familiar with faulty feature upgrades of the past.

The May 2020 Update itself was delayed by two weeks earlier this month after Microsoft discovered a set of bugs that needed to be addressed urgently. This included a zero-day vulnerability relating to the deployment image servicing and management (DISM) tool, used to repair corruption on Windows systems.

The April and October 2018 feature upgrades were so badly received by the community that Microsoft was forced to change the way it delivers its updates, with users now generally waiting longer in light of a new phased approach.

Conventionally, Microsoft would initiate updates automatically once data suggested users would enjoy a safe and frictionless experience. Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, released last year, users are now, instead, simply notified when it’s available to download and install.