installation time Archives

Winsage

April 11, 2025

Windows 11’s latest preview build makes updating your PC less of a hassle

Microsoft has released a new Release Preview build for Windows 11 Insiders, featuring significant updates. The Windows Update feature now provides an estimated offline time for updates, accessible through the Windows Update settings and the Start menu power button. The KB5055627 update introduces the Copilot+ Recall feature, which captures snapshots of user activities for easy information retrieval, requiring Windows Hello for secure access and specific system requirements. Windows Search has been improved to allow searches using descriptive terms instead of exact names, and the Click to DO feature suggests relevant applications based on user selections. These features will be rolled out gradually, and users can find guidance through the Windows Insider Program.

Winsage

October 28, 2024

Microsoft heard you like Windows updates, so it updated how updates update

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11 version 24H2, also known as the Windows 11 2024 Update, which includes improvements to the update installation process, resulting in a 45.6% faster installation, 39.7% quicker restart times, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU consumption compared to version 22H2. Key enhancements include parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Traditional feature updates are now approximately 200 MB smaller due to certain inbox applications being updated through the Microsoft Store. Notable features in the update include: - Integration of Phone Link with the Start menu. - Simplified layout for the taskbar system tray. - Revamped Quick Settings for improved speed and customization. - Windows Spotlight image as the default wallpaper. - Animated taskbar app preview thumbnails. - Support for HDR images as desktop wallpapers. File Explorer updates include: - Updated home tab layout with shared documents. - Ability to duplicate tabs via right-click. - Enhanced context menu layout. - Support for .7z and .TAR archive formats. - Direct viewing of Android phone file systems. New apps and features include: - A new Outlook app for email, calendar, and contacts. - Updated Copilot as a standalone web application. - AI features in Photos for generative erase and background editing. - A new Recall app for information retrieval using AI. - Paint with generative AI capabilities. Settings updates include: - Windows Update with checkpoints and hot patching. - Voice Clarity using AI to eliminate background noise. - Simultaneous configuration of power settings. - A new Energy Saver mode. - Configurable mouse scroll wheel direction. - Support for Wi-Fi 7 hardware. - A new PRISM emulation layer for x86 apps on Arm devices. - Enhanced performance for Arm-based devices. - AutoSR using AI to improve gaming performance. - Live Captions translating languages into English in real-time. - Advanced Windows Studio Effects for webcam enhancement.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

Top 5 weekly: easier Windows updates, Qualcomm vs. Arm, and more

- The Flyby11 app allows users to bypass Windows 11 system requirements, providing an alternative for upgrading unsupported hardware. - Arm has initiated the cancellation of its chip design license with Qualcomm due to a disagreement following Qualcomm's acquisition of Nuvia, with an eight-week negotiation period in place. - A YouTuber's attempt to install macOS on a Steam Deck faced technical challenges, resulting in quirks like a permanent portrait mode, suggesting that SteamOS may be a more practical choice. - The upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update is expected to reduce installation time by 45.6% and CPU usage by 15.3%. - New Oryon processors for Windows on Arm PCs are expected to outperform Intel processors in single-core performance while using less power, indicating a potential shift towards Arm architecture in mainstream computing.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

Microsoft Is Finally Making Installation of Windows Updates a Breeze

Steve DiAcetis from the Windows Fundamentals team announced that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update will enhance the update installation experience by streamlining the process, resulting in reduced installation times, quicker restarts, and lower CPU usage. Initial tests showed a 45.6% faster installation time, a 39.7% improvement in restart times, and a 15.3% reduction in CPU usage when upgrading from Windows 11 22H2 to 24H2. A separate evaluation on a device that hadn't received updates for 18 months revealed a 43.6% faster installation speed, a 33.5% quicker restart, and a 25% reduction in CPU usage. Additionally, the size of feature updates has been reduced by approximately 200 MB by integrating system applications into monthly updates, while other applications will require updates through the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Microsoft Is Finally Making Installation of Windows Updates a Breeze

Steve DiAcetis, Principal Program Manager Lead at Microsoft, announced that the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update will significantly improve the update installation experience by reducing installation times, restart durations, and CPU usage. The update will provide a 45.6% faster installation time compared to Windows 11 22H2, a 39.7% reduction in restart time, and a 15.3% decrease in CPU usage. Tests on a PC that hadn't received updates for 18 months showed a 43.6% increase in installation speed, a 33.5% faster restart time, and a 25% reduction in CPU usage. The servicing stack for Windows 11 22H2 is comparable to 23H2, indicating that improvements in 24H2 may apply to earlier versions as well. Feature updates will be approximately 200 MB smaller, achieved by integrating system applications into monthly updates, while other applications will be updated through the Microsoft Store.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Nice! Windows 11’s monthly updates are now faster and less disruptive

The 2024 update to Windows 11, known as Windows 11 24H2, introduces significant improvements in the installation process for monthly updates. Users can expect their monthly updates to install 45.6 percent faster and consume up to 25 percent less processing power. The restart phase may decrease by as much as 39.7 percent on select devices. These enhancements are attributed to parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM.

Winsage

October 25, 2024

Your next Windows update should install much faster

Microsoft's upcoming Windows 11 24H2 servicing stack update will install up to 45.6% faster than previous versions, with a 39.7% reduction in restart times and a 15.3% decrease in CPU usage for well-maintained PCs. For PCs that have not been updated for 18 months, installation will be 43.6% faster, restarts will be 33.5% quicker, and CPU usage will decrease by 25%. The improvements are due to techniques such as parallel processing and smart caching, which streamline the update process and optimize RAM usage. Additionally, the redesign of application architecture within the Unified Update Platform (UUP) will allow the Edge browser to save 200MB during major updates. Overall, the update will require less CPU time and facilitate faster installations and restarts, reducing offline time and enhancing user productivity.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 installs updates much faster thanks to Windows Update improvements

Windows 11 version 24H2, released on October 1, includes significant enhancements to Windows Update aimed at improving installation processes and resource usage. Key performance improvements include a 45.6% faster installation time, a 39.7% reduction in restart times, and over a 15% decrease in CPU usage during cumulative updates compared to versions 22H2 and 23H2. Even devices with outdated installations saw a 43.6% improvement in installation time, a 33.5% reduction in restart time, and a 25% decrease in CPU usage. These advancements are attributed to parallel processing of component manifests, optimized reading and parsing of component manifests, and scalable use of available RAM. Additionally, feature updates have become more efficient, reducing the overall update size by an additional 200MB. A guide is available for users to update to Windows 11 version 24H2, including on unsupported devices.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 makes PCs faster with reduced CPU usage for Windows Update

Windows 11 24H2 introduces enhancements to the update process, including "checkpoint cumulative updates" to reduce the size of monthly update packages and improve overall PC performance. Key improvements include: - Faster installation time: 45.6% faster on well-maintained devices and 43.6% faster on outdated devices. - Reduced restart time: 39.7% faster on well-maintained devices and 33.5% faster on outdated devices. - Lower CPU usage: 15.3% less on well-maintained devices and 25% less on outdated devices. - Smaller feature updates: Approximately 200 MB reduction in download size, with conditional app downloads for only outdated or missing apps. - Techniques used to accelerate updates include reverse and forward differentials, caching parsing results, and dynamic RAM allocation. Comparative tests showed significant advancements in update efficiency, with improvements in both installation speed and resource usage. Microsoft has also separated store app updates from core system updates for a smaller overall footprint.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft may have finally made Windows updates painless to install

Windows 11 24H2 introduces significant improvements in update efficiency, including: - Installation time is 45.6% faster compared to the previous 22H2 version. - Restart time is 39.7% faster. - CPU usage during updates is reduced by 15.3%. In tests involving a PC that had not been updated in 18 months, the results showed: - Installation time is 43.6% faster. - Restart time is 33.5% faster. - CPU usage during updates is reduced by 25%.