Microsoft has barred access to the latest Windows 10 feature upgrade, told those who did run it to keep their hands off their PCs, and warned people who had manually downloaded the build – but not yet installed it – to discard the disk image.

The primary problem, Microsoft conceded, was that the upgrade – designated 1809 in the firm's numeric format but also dubbed "October 2018 Update" – tended to erase all the files in the Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos folders.

[ Related: Weighing a move from Windows 10 to macOS? An IT checklist]

"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 company said in its usual understated fashion, in a support document. "If you have manually checked for updates and believe you have an issue with missing files after an update, please minimize your use of the affected device and contact us directly at +1-800-MICROSOFT."

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