[thomastjeffery]

Windows update is, put simply, a pain in the ass.

That has been the case for over a decade, and it has been getting worse over time.

The reason I recommend a free operating system is not because you are allowed to read the source (although that is a bonus), it is because you have the freedom to control your operating system.

The problem with Windows is that "updates" are done in the most inconvenient way possible, and with no control by the user. They often include changes that the user does not want bundled in with security patches. To contrast, a free operating system gives you options (liberty). If I just want an old stable version of Debian with security patches, I can get it.

The issue here stems from using proprietary software in the first place. Proprietary software is controlled by the company, not the user.