Well that’s it finished, took about 3 hours. Seems faster.
Laptop installed and updated in 45 minutes, in part due to the installation files being offloaded from my Desktop, but, even so, the update took less than 15 minutes … :shock:
By setting my internet connection as a metered connection (although it isn’t!), I have so far managed to stave off the Windows Update attack!
I have tried to prevent this before by setting WU as ‘disabled’ in Control Panel / Administrative Tools. Unfortunately, Microsoft succeeded in overriding that setting somehow! :shock:
Microsoft pulls Windows 10 October Update (version 1809)
In a support document updated today, October 6, the Redmond-based OS maker said it took this decision after users complained that v1809 had deleted files after the update.
We have paused the rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809) for all users as we investigate isolated reports of users missing some files after updating.
The problem has been with the deletion of user files located in the C:/Users/[username]/Documents/ folder.
AFAIK, if OneDrive is in use then the files in Documents are secure (they are in my case) but if not then they are gone forever, so ensure that OneDrive is in use.
NOTE: If “Metered Connection” has been set ON to avoid Windows Updates then OneDrive is disconnected (or it was when I tried it) so the Documents folder (or all user files, to be safe) MUST be backed up manually.
Fortunately I don’t seem to have lost anything.
Good news that they have at last listened to users’ problems!
Yes, my One Drive is disconnected due to the above, but whenever I copy a file to that storage area I temporarily disable the ‘metered connection’ option.
Even so, as One Drive is owned by Microsoft - and I don’t think I can trust them - I have also copied new and revised files to Dropbox as well.
All of the files saved in that way are periodically copied to external hard drives.
Belt and braces is the way forward … 
One of my computers dual-boots with Linux Mint. The drawback updating W.10 on this one is that the file that makes it possible to dual-boot between Windows and Mint has been overwritten. The computer now boots straight into Windows without giving the option to boot into Linux Mint.
I know this has been a problem for dual-booters in the past and there are recovery procedures. What I’ll probably do this time though, is clean install Linux Mint with the latest version and let installation procedure set up the dual-boot arrangement again.
No loss of files occurred for me because I tend not to keep that many files in the Documents folder on the C: drive. They are mostly all stored on other disks.
Everyone should have back-ups of files of course but still bad that an update was released where this could happen.
Worse than ‘bad’. I call it disgusting. Yet another example of Microsoft’s aims to take full control of its customers’ computers.
I’m surprised that many more people have not turned their backs on Windows before now.
The reason is, of course, that many people (like me) run software that will only run on Windows, at least I think so.
The forthcoming possible alternative to Windows, Reactos, as mentioned on here, sounds ever more attractive!
I tried ReactOS but it’s still got a long way to go from what I saw of screenshots on the Internet. I had to rely on screenshots because the installation didn’t get as far working at all for me. Maybe one day though.
I don’t mind notepad as it is but I use Notepad++ for various reasons however as an upgrade to Windows 10 improving Notepad would be very low down on my list of priorities.
I thought the May update was pulled because it deleted files you would have thought they would have solved this by now.
Fortunately it is not a compulsory upgrade yet.
I’m wondering why an update would go anywhere near Customer Data files.
Those are files which they shouldn’t need to touch.
Unless they are short of room, on the drives, and need to park the data somewhere whilst they do the update.
Not many rumours coming out there, yet, but the early warnings that some people don’t have enough room, to do these big updates, might be a clue.
Anyway, All my machines went up OK. (smug Smile!). They are W10 64 Bit. I don’t use OneDrive, for back ups, so I rule that out (I don’t like not knowing where in the world my stuff is being stored).
Quite right.
All of my files - absolutely everything - are on two external hard drives, each a duplicate of the other. If the worst comes to the worst and either a virus, other malware, or Microsoft(!) should destroy what is on my computer, everything is still in my possession and not accessible by viruses, other malware or Microsoft!
If I find any threats exhibited by my computer going tits-up, I would certainly not reconnect my hard drives to it to avoid having the stuff spread.
For quite a long time I’ve run my W10 systems with two Account Login options, on the start up menu.
I did this because of an early problem with signing into a corrupted account.The second login gave me the opportunity of signing in with that and using that spare account to try to fix the corruption, get backups restored, etc.
So, from that time, I’ve had two accounts of my PCs - but not any longer!
Don’t know when it changed but the second account is totally GONE.
Luckily I only use it for problem analysis, but, if this has happened to someone who has multiple sign-ins for friends and family, a lost sign in would mean no apps, maybe no data links in the extra sign in accounts.
Perhaps this is the problem.
Anyway I’m putting my extra account back!
An excellent reason why I do all I can to avoid Windows Updates.
Many people and organisations are, apparently, still using Windows XP which, I believe, is no longer supported yet still seems to work well.
Which begs the question, what on earth is the advantage of having all these so-called updates?
I’ve not heard of an account problem after the latest upgrade, but it has occurred previously, so maybe you could try a search for any hints or tips … 
More information:
I’ve never heard of “Known Folder Redirection” but I’m guessing that it’s something to do with:
Migrate Your Files to OneDrive Easily with Known Folder Move
06-27-2018
We’ve heard requests from several customers asking to make it easier to move their user data into OneDrive. To have a single button that they could push that would move content from the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders to OneDrive.
Today, we are making this a reality with the announcement of Known Folder Move (KFM) for OneDrive that will start rolling out to Targeted Release customers this week.
Known folders are global pointers in Windows representing a location on the user’s drive. They help users to organize their most important files and access them across different applications. KFM helps you move your docs, desktop, and pictures into OneDrive. Even the Screenshots and Camera Roll folders are included when the Picture folder has opted into KFM.
It seems to be a business IT admin facility to enable (force) users to back up their data … 
Or maybe to provide more documents folder storage space for those who have small SSD C: drives in their computers and ultimately, to sell more space when OneDrive’s free space is used up.
That wouldn’t be for me but I read people do use OneDrive for storage.
Edit: …and for syncing files across all devices that have OneDrive installed and running.
Just released:
October 9, 2018—KB4464330 (OS Build 17763.55)
Includes:
Addresses an issue where an incorrect timing calculation may prematurely delete user profiles on devices subject to the "Delete user profiles older than a specified number of day” group policy.
Could this issue have caused your problem … ?