Windows 10 October 2018 Update and Window Server 2019 launched October 2nd then pulled October 5th
Nov 20 2018 - Fixed Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 version 1809 has now been re-released, details at Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 download links for re-released version 1809 October 2018 Update.
TinkerTry was first to report the issue with Windows Server 2019 code disappearing. I had stumbled into issues with trying to locate the license key last night, for the Windows Server 2019 ISO I had downloaded back on October 3rd. I was simply trying to append some updates to my article:
It wasn't just the license keys missing
Turns out it was not just the license key missing, it's was the code too, ISOs, VHDs, everything, as pictured below. I tweeted about this at 9:58 PM - 5 Oct 2018, and when I noticed the code still missing this morning, I checked around to find a few new "Windows 10 pulled" articles had just popped up overnight. I also then recalled one of my sons had issues with trying to get his Microsoft Surface to update its Windows 10.
I notified Brad Sams, hoping to get some sort of official confirmation from Microsoft. He quickly created his own post that kindly references a later spot in my same twitter thread. Special thanks to Doug Arcidino @doug_arcidino, for confirming my inability to download wasn't just me, quickly.
Once the new bits are available as ISOs, I'll have to revisit my article too, but that's ok, just trying to help folks find definitive info while we await further details and recommendations from Microsoft.
Updates will be made
That's about it for now. I'll keep appending details below as they develop. Well, right after I kick off a 2TB restore from backup, to the Windows 10 October 2018 Update system I wrote this article on. ;)
Timeline detailed below.
Oct 06 2018 09:19AM ET Update
Microsoft pulls Windows Server 2019
Microsoft pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update
It seems that some time last night, Microsoft pulled not just Windows 10 October 2018 Update, but also pulled Microsoft Windows Server 2019. My tweet last night appears to be the first report of this, with Google searches still coming up with nothing definitive. A bump in the road, likely to be resolved in just a few days, we'll see. I was just trying to squeeze in some more tire-kicking before a bunch of travel. I do have one Windows 10 October 2018 Update system I do use that I now need to consider rolling back from, using a bare metal restore from my full Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows 2.2 backup, or just a file level restore of My Documents to see if any files went missing. This could be a situation where Microsoft's built-in Recovery options in Windows 10 might not help, way too early to know.
Other than the sysadmin burden, this hiccup in code roll-out isn't a big deal for me personally, but I suspect there's a lot of folks in Redmond who are not getting time off this weekend.
See also Microsoft Pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update and The Morning After: Windows 10's October update problem.
Oct 06 2018 11:17AM ET Update
My tweet last night that included Brad Sams @bdsams worked, posted about an hour ago:
- Microsoft Pulls October Update, Windows Server 2019 Missing as Well
Oct 06 2018 by Brad Sams at Petri IT Knowledgebase
Oct 06 2018 01:24PM ET Update
- Microsoft pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update after reports of mass file deletion
Some users say the October 2018 Update ate entire folders full of files.
Oct 06 2018 06:04 AM PT by Brad Chacos at PCWorld
... numerous users across the web reported that the transition deleted massive chunks of data ...
Fortunately, the issue was caught before mass rollout. While enthusiasts could manually install the October 2018 Update since October 2, it was scheduled to be pushed out to the masses via Windows Update on October 9 as part of Patch Tuesday. “If you have manually downloaded the Windows 10 October 2018 Update installation media, please don’t install it and wait until new media is available,” the support site suggests.
...
Given this information, it seems likely I'll need to roll my system back by restoring my Oct 03 2018 02:15am Veeam backup of 2TB of data, my last full backup before the Oct 04 01:53 am date/time-stamp on my upgraded system's C:/Windows.old directory. I suppose I'm glad I can get this done on the weekend.
Oct 06 2018 10:53PM ET Update
Given the VMware Press Release states the hope for release by November 2nd, the original title of the article:
October 2018 is quite the month for lab testing Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 October 2018 Update, and VMware vSphere 6.7 Update 1!
has been changed to:
Fall 2018 is quite the season with Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 October 2018 Update, and VMware vSphere 6.7 Update 1 releases!
Given folks weren't checking the Press Release source of the Nov 2nd date, the release excerpt itself has also been added to the article above.
Oct 07 2018 05:47PM ET Update
Sometime today, Microsoft has published definitively that Windows Server 2019 was part of the code withdrawal. How do I know? Thanks this tip on twitter by Jim Gaynor @jimgaynor, I had a look at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine search result, and indeed 2019 doesn't appear anywhere in the Oct 06 2018 22:16:48 snapshot, versus the newly updated article, which added:
- Windows 10 update history
Oct 02 2018Affected platforms:
Windows 10, version 1809
Windows Server, version 1809
Windows 10 IoT Core, version 1809
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019
Windows Server 2019Current Status as of: October 6, 2018
Relevant excerpt, as of Oct 07 2018:
Oct 08 2018 09:41AM ET Update
As mentioned by Thinus in this comment, the direct download links on Reddit from Oct 4th here still work, such as:
https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/17763.1.180914-1434.rs5_release_SERVER_EVAL_x64FRE_en-us.iso
Oct 08 2018 11:04PM ET Update
After resetting my Veeam database and doing a completely new full backup, I was able to verify everything was working fine. Then I deleted my Windows 10 1809 VM.
So my full backup of my restored VM is now done, and this minor set-back is entirely behind me now. Everything is working great, just as it was last Wednesday, and my confidence in my ability to recover from nearly anything is now strengthened greatly.
Oct 09 2018 04:22PM ET Update
Received word from Brandon Lee @vspinmaster
- Windows 10 1809 and Windows Server 2019 GA Downloads Pulled
UPDATE 10.9.2018 – Windows Server 2019 download once again available, no Windows 10 1809
This turned out to just be some leftover files, not the ISOs for the OSs.
Oct 10 2018 12:14AM ET Update
- Microsoft begins re-releasing Windows 10 October update after fixing file deletion bug
Oct 09 2018 by Tom Warren at The VergeMicrosoft is re-releasing its Windows 10 October 2018 Update today, following the company pulling it offline due to data deletion issues over the weekend. The software giant says there were only a few reports of data loss, at a rate of one one-hundredth of one percent.
...
Microsoft is now re-releasing the Windows 10 October 2018 Update to Windows Insiders, before rolling it out more broadly to consumers.
...
Oct 16 2018 05:37AM ET Update
I'm here at Veeam Vanguard Summit in Prague this week, and have found that Windows Server 2019 is still not available on Visual Studio/MSDN.
See also
- Windows Server 2019 and what we need to do now: Migrate and Upgrade!
by Rick Vanover at Veeam
See also
- Windows Server 2019
at Veeam Community Forums in Veeam Agent for WindowsPost by excel-gg » Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:56 pm
When is support for the upcoming Windows Server 2019 coming?
Also, is there any update on Server Core support?
...
Post by Dima P. » Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:16 pm
While initial tests indicate that basic functionality of the current agent version is compatible with Server 2019, I recommend to wait until we ship the official support with next major version. This will give us the chance to complete the full regression testing on GA code, and ensure all agent functionality is working with Server 2019 as expected.
Oct 23 2018 02:13AM ET Update
VMware vSphere 6.7 Update 1 was released on October 16, see details at:
- vSphere 6.7 Update 1 Released
Oct 18 2018
Oct 23 2018 02:04PM ET Update
I checked Visual Studio/MSDN again today, still no Windows Server 2019 available for download.
Oct 24 2018 10:39PM ET Update
Having another look at the Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Evaluation page:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2019
I noticed the following text under each 2019 version:
We have temporarily removed all media for Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809. We have also paused the rollout of the latest feature update to Windows 10 inclusive of versions 1809, as we are investigating isolated reports of users missing some files after updating. If you have already downloaded media, please don’t install it and wait until more information is available to proceed. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We will provide an update when refreshed media is available. For reference, we also have a support article with additional information.
Nov 19 2018 Update
I a bit surprised by how long this whole delay is dragging on, more than 6 weeks now, and it's not entirely over yet. Still missing from Visual Studio (MSDN) is Windows 10 version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 version 1809, and still 
We are currently working on making the Windows Server 2019 evaluation media available. For more information, please check the Windows Server blog.
This potential issue with BitLocker mentioned here by Richard Hay is a bit concerning, Microsoft article last updated Nov 13 2018:
I suppose it's time to learn more about servicing stack update (SSU), but let's be glad for the transparency.
My own home lab systems don't offer me the update with the usual Windows Update / "Check for updates" button, with folks exhibiting such seeking sometimes called seekers.
On Nov 11 2018, Microsoft made the big announcement:
- Windows 10, version 1809 rollout resumes; now available on VLSC
Today we are resuming the rollout of the latest Windows 10 feature update—Windows 10, version 1809—via the Software Download Center (via Update Assistant or the Media Creation Tool), Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and Windows Update for Business. Windows 10, version 1809 is also now available on the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC); however, it may take a few hours to be visible for all editions in all languages. Windows 10, version 1809 will be available for Visual Studio Subscriptions (formerly MSDN Subscriptions) by the end of this week.
...
What about Windows Server 2019?
Today we are also resuming availability of Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809, globally to all Volume License customers. Please see the Windows Server Blog for more details.
That didn't happen. It's now Nov 19, and Windows 10 1809 just isn't there on Visual Studio Downloads yet, seen by clicking on this screenshot I just created.
How about Windows Server 2019 version 1809 available yet on Visual Studio? Nope, it's still MIA too.
On Nov 13 2018, Microsoft added:
- Update on Windows Server 2019 availability
...
There is no further evidence of data loss. Based on this data, today we are beginning the re-release of Windows Server 2019, Windows Server, version 1809, and the related versions of Windows 10.Customers with a valid license of Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809 can download the media from the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC). Azure customers will see the Windows Server 2019 image available in the Azure Marketplace over the coming week. We are also working to make the Windows Server 2019 evaluation available on the Microsoft Eval Center. We will provide an update to this blog and our social channels once it’s available.
...
On Nov 14 2018, Paul Thurrott said:
It's amateur hour in Redmond.
during the latest Windows Weekly (MP3): 595: The Power of the Gong Compels You. I've queued the audio and video versions to the beginning of the relevant discussion right at the start of this episode.
So far, it's not looking too likely that IT Professionals hoping to get their home labs geared up with the latest code bits will have much to thank Microsoft for this (Thanksgiving) week, at least not so far. That said, waiting a little longer sure beats the prospect of losing files, no matter how low the odds. After full system backups are completed, I personally would much rather invest significant time doing lab updates and golden master VM templates based on known-good builds of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019.
Hopefully Microsoft's Visual Studio has both of these new release ISOs available well before late December/Christmas/New Years, when a lot of IT Professionals also try to take some time off from busy day jobs. Yes, some of us are crazy enough to spend some of that time in our test labs, getting a thrill from life at the bleeding edge. It's how we learn, by seeing what breaks, then sharing what we learned to help others, and to (hopefully) help vendors smooth out the wrinkles in their future releases.
Nov 19 2018 03:07PM ET Update
What a difference three hours makes since my tweet at noon eastern time, the bits have now arrived, if you're a Visual Studio subscriber, you can now get your downloads going by searching for Windows 10 1809 and/or Windows Server 2019 1809 at:
For me, these are the files I was seeking, x86 English versions of the ISOs:
-
Windows 10 (business edition), version 1809 (Updated Sept 2018) (x64) - DVD (English)
en_windows_10_business_edition_version_1809_updated_sept_2018_x64_dvd_f0b7dc68.iso -
Windows 10 (consumer edition), version 1809 (Updated Sept 2018) (x64) - DVD (English)
en_windows_10_consumer_edition_version_1809_updated_sept_2018_x64_dvd_491ea967.iso -
Window Server 2019
en_windows_server_2019_x64_dvd_4cb967d8.iso - Windows Server 2019 Essentials
en_windows_server_2019_essentials_x64_dvd_6c4399f9.iso
Thank you Microsoft, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Looks like EdgeCast Networks is the CDN serving up those Visual Studio bits to me here in 06109 in Connecticut today. Above, you'll see my Resource Manager screenshot showing the server IP, details how over here.
Nov 20 2018 12:00PM ET Update
I added additional files/descriptors to the ISO file download list above, confirmed that filenames stayed the same.
I noticed that there is still no Windows Server 2019 available on the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
From Visual Studio Downloads, I tried downloading 4 different 4.7GB ISOs at once today, top speeds seem to be limited to around 180Mbps from the same EdgeCast Networks CDN IP address of 93.184.215.201 that I was automatically using yesterday.
See also at TinkerTry
- VMware vSphere 6.7 featuring vSAN 6.7 announced!
Apr 17 2018
See also
- Windows Server 2019 and what we need to do now: Migrate and Upgrade!
by Rick Vanover at Veeam
