I am currently on Winver 1809. The midweek Update, after I had searched to see if there are any I missed, offered the 1903. But I did not install it.
I have read reports on the MSM that this coming 1903 version is especially intrusive and bloating.
Is that true?
No problems here and I have it installed on 4 computers.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=156141.msg1506768#msg1506768
Hello bob,
I have just tried your “disable avast self-protection” trick that you mentioned on your link. Thanks for that. I knew it would take time so I went for a walk. Now, one hour later Function updates are stuck at 99%.
Does this mean I should wait until later this month to update 1809 to 1903?
No it means your making progress. Have patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day neither was the Windows 1903 upgrade. 
Rome wasn’t built in a day neither was the Windows 1903 upgrade
It worked 2nd time lucky, using your “disable avast self-protection” trick, & re-enabled as soon as the update was installed.
It took 10GB of storage space, however, so I may look into how much bloatware is there that I can uninstall.
Avast has not switched off Win Defender in this 1903 version, which gives us a second layer of protection.
You’re welcome.
This is what you should see:
https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1560546066693-2613.png
It simply means that Avast is your main protection. Defender is just there as a backup but isn’t resident.
bob,
I forgot to ask : why, according to CCleaner, has this update not installed a system restore point as do most large updates?
The update is running well, but surely that makes it all the more desirable to create a system restore point, doesn’t it?
You can roll back to the old version for up to 30 days after the update.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1560552811237-8544.png
System Restore isn’t really all that reliable. I always suggest an image backup prior to a major upgrade just in case.
(I create an image every week.)
Once your’re happy with this version. I suggest you clean things up an gain some HD space by getting rid of all the old version files.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1560552932300-96318.png
Thanks bob,
The main reason I followed the MS prompt to update the version was for the “increased security” that it claimed. But I suppose MS had to say that;)
“Once you’re happy with this version. I suggest you clean things up and gain some HD space by getting rid of all the old version files.”
Good suggestion.
The only Disc Drive clean-up I have used ever is → Win Explorer-> Right-click on Drive C->Properties-> Clean. I guess that is what you mean.
Then, as Administrator you get the option to ”clean System files” which are normally big, but in this case HUGE : it says that 33.6 GB can be saved of which 30.3 GB is from Previous Versions. If the system says these System files are the ones from the old version, then I guess that is what I will do!
I will have to trust it.
At the moment I have 172 GB left out of total 237 GB (as new presumably), so wiping the Previous Versions’ 30.3 GB would be great.
Correct provided you also select “cleanup system files”
https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1560600710185-72105.png
You could also use Storage Sense to clean up prior previous installs of Windows.
Yes select “cleanup system files”, that is what I meant with 'as Administrator you get the option to ”clean System files” ’ which like your illustration specifies the previous version files but with 30.3 GB’s worth to remove on my PC.
Thanks for confirming.
I had over 40 gig that I was able to recover.
Once you make that move, you are stuck with the current version. No going back.
Well, as I was satisfied with the new update compared to the earlier two versions present since early November when I bought the device from the retail chain with Windows 10 pre-installed, I went ahead. Couldn’t see the point of keeping them.
Explorer says I saved 21 GB on Drive C which isn’t bad (193 GB free now), although Properties distinctly indicated that 30.3 GB would be saved, which is odd. MS arithmetic is different to mine, then.