Microsoft suggests command line fiddling to get Windows 10 update installed
A Windows update intended to fix a BitLocker vulnerability is failing on many Windows 10 and 11 systems with an unhelpful error code, often because the WinRE recovery partition is missing or too small. Users describe having to resize partitions or run complex command-line tools to apply the patch, prompting criticism of Microsoft’s QA practices, reliance on home users as testers, and the erosion of Windows’ traditional “it just works” experience. Comparisons with Linux center on how both platforms now sometimes require low-level fixes, but many note that Linux package managers and error messages are often more transparent when updates go wrong.
WinRE partition and update failure
- Many users report Windows 10/11 failing this BitLocker/WinRE security update due to a too-small or missing WinRE (recovery) partition.
- Some had explicitly deleted the recovery partition (e.g., in VMs) and now cannot update; others have 300–500MB partitions that are still insufficient for the new requirements.
- The official workaround involves low-level disk and partition manipulation (DISKPART, PowerShell, shrinking system partitions, creating or resizing WinRE).
- Several users consider automatic partition resizing too risky for Microsoft to ship broadly due to potential data loss and varied layouts; others used third‑party GUI tools to resize, finding them safer than command-line tools.
Error handling and diagnostics
- The updater often returns a generic 0x80070643 error which Microsoft itself says may be incorrect due to a bug in the error-handling routine.
- Commenters discuss how bugs in error-path code (e.g., clobbering GetLastError/errno, logging failures, mis-mapped error codes) are common and dangerous.
- There is extended debate about giving extra rigor to exception paths vs. ensuring overall design doesn’t rely on “happy path” assumptions.
Security and BitLocker behavior
- The update addresses a BitLocker bypass via WinRE, surprising some that recovery could auto-decrypt an encrypted drive.
- Others explain this is largely a consequence of user-chosen “auto‑unlock” configurations using TPM; PIN/passphrase/network unlock would block WinRE access.
- Some note that Linux full-disk encryption can also be set to auto-unlock, so this isn’t entirely unique.
Windows vs Linux, CLI vs GUI
- The article’s “Windows is becoming Linux” framing triggers debate:
- Some say modern Linux rarely requires CLI for normal desktop use; others insist they still often drop to the terminal.
- Several argue Linux update tooling (apt, etc.) produces clearer, more actionable errors than opaque Windows hex codes.
- Others report Linux updates and drivers (especially with Nvidia or exotic hardware) can and do break systems.
Quality, updates, and product direction
- Many see this incident as symptomatic of weakened Windows QA and telemetry‑driven testing, citing past layoffs of dedicated test roles.
- Complaints include forced/poorly timed updates, perceived regression in Windows 10 reliability, and suspicion that Windows 10 is being neglected to push users toward Windows 11.