Problems caused by Microsoft updates

Today I got a mystery major update, but I have no idea what this update is. Any ideas?

 

Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems (KB3147458)

1511 OS Build 10586.218

Code:

SummaryThis security update for Windows 10 version 1511 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4 includes functionality improvements and fixes, and it resolves the following vulnerabilities in Windows: 
3148531 MS16-037: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer
3148532 MS16-038: Cumulative Security Update for Microsoft Edge: May 10, 2016
3148522 MS16-039: Security Update for Microsoft Graphics Component to Address Remote Code Execution
3148541 MS16-040: Security Update for Microsoft XML Core Service to Address Remote Code Execution
3148538 MS16-046: Security Update for Secondary Logon to Address Elevation of Privilege
3148527 MS16-047: Security Update for Security Account Manager Remote Protocol to Address Elevation of Privilege
3148528 MS16-048: Security Update for CSRSS to Address Remote Code Execution
3148795 MS16-049: Security Update for Internet Information Services (IIS) to Address Denial of Service 
Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 updates are cumulative. Therefore, this package contains all previously released fixes.   If  you have installed previous updates, only the new fixes that are  contained in this package will be downloaded and installed to your  computer. If you are installing a Windows 10 update package for the  first time, the package for the x86 version is 383 MB and the package  for the x64 version is 645 MB.

This seems to be the November update. But why did I just get it NOW in April and not back in November?

Do you have Windows 10 Pro and upgrades deferred checked? You can check this in Windows Update settings if you have Windows 10 Pro.

I don't have defer checked at this time, but prior I dunno.

I have also had major updates over the past couple of days that have made undesired changes to the way my PC works: Cumulative update to Windows 10 1511 x64 (home edition) - KB3140741 and KB3147458 on 18th April, KB3147458 on 20th April and KB3147458 on 22nd April, of which the last appears to be the one that caused the way that the desktop operates.

I don't know if these changes are designed or that something went wrong in the update process, but they are unwished for as they make working on the PC almost impossible. Changes include:

All the pinned start menu icons now appear on booting the computer on the desktop

Start menu icon is present, but simply switches between the open program and the start menu icons

Desktop icons have disappeared (e.g. Computer, waste basket, control panel and any icons I placed on the desktop temporarily for convenience

All programs now open fully maximised and the button to the right of the minimise button does nothing - so the program is either maximised or minimised - minimising a program brings back the start menu desktop

Each program starts in a new desktop and while I can open and display multiple windows from the same program on the same desktop, I cannot open different programs on the same desktop.

There may be other changes that I have yet to discover, but of all the above, the last in the list above makes working on the computer simply impossible as I cannot compare data from two programs side by side or drag and drop documents between different programs, requiring me now to repeatedly switch between desktops. I can find not information on these changes on Microsoft's web page and, if these changes are 'designed', then it why is there does Microsoft not provide any info that guides you through the changes?

More importantly - how can I customize my PC to work the way I want it to work, i.e. pre-latest update? I can of course try uninstalling the most recent updates, but that is only a temporary reprieve as Microsoft has removed the ability to manage updates in the Home edition of Windows 10.

Help required urgently please.

None of the things you listed is normal, definitely something wrong.

Use System Restore to go back to before those updates were installed. If that fixes the problem then try the updates again.
It would be a good idea to make an image backup to an external hard drive using a program like Macrium Reflect before trying the updates again, that way you will have a sure way to get back to a working system.

None of the things you listed is normal, definitely something wrong.

Use System Restore to go back to before those updates were installed. If that fixes the problem then try the updates again.
It would be a good idea to make an image backup to an external hard drive using a program like Macrium Reflect before trying the updates again, that way you will have a sure way to get back to a working system.

Thanks for the feedback - it appears that my issues where part of a long list of problems caused by Microsoft's April updates KB3147461 and KB3147458 ( MS forum). I solved the problem by using the Win 10 settings option to revert to previous build and will wait until MS resolves the issues before upgrading to Build 1511 (May's Patch Tuesday?).