update management Archives

Winsage

December 9, 2024

Microsoft keeps improving its app store, and no one really cares

Microsoft has announced significant improvements to the Microsoft Store, including a 25% reduction in launch times and a 50% decrease in download hang-ups. Enhancements have been made in discoverability, navigation, update management, and installation methods for Win32 apps. Users can now update externally hosted apps directly through the Microsoft Store, streamlining the update process. However, the Store still lacks popular applications like Steam and Google Chrome, which raises questions about its viability. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced a Multi-app camera feature in the Canary builds of Windows 11, allowing users to stream from a single camera to multiple applications simultaneously. This aims to simplify the user experience for video calls across different platforms. The feature is also positioned as a tool for users who are hard of hearing, although its connection to accessibility is unclear. Lastly, Microsoft has rolled out Copilot+ for Intel and AMD PCs.

Winsage

November 20, 2024

KB5046696 Windows 11 24H2 LTSC hotpatch update out, no restart required

Microsoft unveiled its first hotpatch update for Windows 11 24H2 LTSC Enterprise, designated as Build 26100.2240 under KB5046696, during Ignite 2024. This update is currently in preview and includes miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. Hotpatching allows updates to be applied without requiring a system reboot or user intervention, ensuring immediate implementation. This method maintains security levels, as updates are installed automatically through Windows Update. The update provides the same level of security patching as standard monthly updates, takes effect immediately, and allows users to maintain productivity without needing to restart their devices. Additionally, Microsoft introduced checkpoint cumulative updates earlier this year to minimize update sizes and reduce download bandwidth and storage requirements.

Winsage

November 13, 2024

How to make the most of Windows Autopatch with Intune

Patching is a critical responsibility for IT departments to protect organizational data. Windows Autopatch is a cloud-based service from Microsoft that automates the update management process for Windows, Microsoft 365 applications, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft Teams, enhancing security and productivity. It integrates with Microsoft Intune and utilizes Windows Update for Business to manage patching for Windows devices. Organizations must acquire the necessary licensing for Windows Autopatch and ensure devices are registered for the update management cycle. Key features include deployment rings, which determine the percentage of devices receiving updates, and update settings that dictate update behavior. Reporting capabilities provide insights into update status and notifications. Windows Autopatch creates configuration profiles for managing updates and establishes deployment profiles for monthly and yearly updates.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

Microsoft blames Windows Server 2025 automatic upgrades on 3rd-party tools

Microsoft confirmed that several Windows Server 2019 and 2022 systems were unexpectedly upgraded to Windows Server 2025 due to third-party patch management tools managing updates. This was acknowledged in an update on the Windows release health dashboard on November 6, which indicated that Windows Server 2025 is now available as an optional update. Microsoft stated that some devices upgraded automatically to Windows Server 2025 (KB5044284) in environments using third-party products for update management. They advised users to check their update software configurations to prevent unauthorized feature updates. Reports from Windows administrators indicated that servers were upgraded without proper licensing. Microsoft attributed the issue to a procedural error regarding the update's classification. Approximately 7% of Heimdal's customers were upgraded before the company could block the update. Microsoft has not provided guidance for reverting the automatic upgrades beyond restoring from backups. KB5044284 is a cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2 and an optional update for Windows Server 2025. Microsoft also resolved an issue where administrators were prompted to upgrade to Windows Server 2025 via a banner, which led to confusion about licensing requirements.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

Microsoft shares new group policy to stop Windows Update catastrophes like KB5044284

Microsoft's Windows 11 KB5044284 update was mistakenly deployed to Windows Server 2019 and Server 2022 systems. Heimdal, a third-party application management provider, criticized Microsoft for this error. Microsoft later confirmed the deployment as an optional update for these server versions. The confusion may have stemmed from misclassifying the client OS update as a server update. Microsoft clarified that future feature updates would be labeled as "optional" instead of "recommended." The Windows Server 2025 feature update was released as an Optional update, and some devices upgraded automatically due to third-party update management tools. This issue has been mitigated. Additionally, a banner message was displayed for organizations wishing to perform an in-place upgrade, which has also been resolved. Microsoft is taking steps to prevent similar issues by working with third-party AMMs and introducing a new group policy "hold" setting for selecting feature update versions. The Windows Server 2025 feature update became generally available on November 1, 2024, under the same KB number as Windows 11, version 24H2. Future updates for both will share KB numbers but will have different release note sites.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

No word from Microsoft on shock Windows Server 2025 installs

On November 5, Microsoft mistakenly assigned a globally unique identifier (GUID) to the Windows Server 2025 upgrade, leading to confusion among IT professionals. The upgrade was incorrectly labeled as KB5044284, a security update, which caused certain third-party patching software to misclassify it and deploy Windows Server 2025 unexpectedly on some servers. Heimdal, a security firm, reported that a customer found the new operating system installed without prior notice. The licensing check for Server 2025 occurs only after the upgrade is completed, potentially obligating users to purchase a new license without a straightforward rollback option. As of November 7, Microsoft had retracted the problematic update, but no rollback had been made available. Jim Gaynor from IT consultancy Directions on Microsoft emphasized the importance of vigilance in patch management and cautioned against the risks of integrating paid upgrades into security update channels.

Winsage

November 1, 2024

Windows 10 support ends in October 2025, but you can pay $30 to get another year of security updates

Microsoft has announced that mainstream support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, urging users to upgrade to Windows 11. Users can continue using Windows 10 but will face increasing risks as Microsoft will stop providing security, bug fixes, and feature updates. Extended Security Updates (ESU) will be available for personal users for one additional year and for business users for up to three years, with escalating costs. Personal users will not receive updates after October 2026, while business customers can extend updates for a fee that increases annually. Even with ESU, only security updates will be provided, with no bug fixes or feature updates.

Winsage

October 31, 2024

Can’t quit Windows 10? Microsoft will charge for updates next year. Here’s how much

Microsoft is implementing a pricing structure for Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10 as it approaches its end of official support on October 14, 2025. Business customers will face a subscription cost starting at 0 for the first year, escalating to 0 in the second year and 0 in the third year, totaling 0 per PC over three years. Education customers will pay significantly less, with costs of for the first year, for the second year, and 0 for the third year. Consumers can secure a one-year ESU subscription for , but it cannot be renewed after the first year, with updates ending on October 25, 2026. Businesses using Microsoft Intune and Windows AutoPatch can receive a reduced first-year cost of . Businesses subscribed to Windows 365 will automatically receive an ESU license for their Windows 10 PCs. Discounts for nonprofit organizations are planned but details are not yet available.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft: Updating Windows 11 will now be faster and easier

Microsoft has introduced Windows 11 version 24H2, which features installation times for updates that are up to 46% faster and a reduction in system restart times of up to 40%. CPU usage has been optimized, showing a reduction of up to 25% compared to previous versions. Additionally, the update requires less storage space, enhancing overall user experience.

Winsage

October 12, 2024

Windows 11 24H2 hoards 8.63 GB of junk you can’t delete

Users of Windows 11 24H2 are experiencing issues with 8.63 GB of disk space occupied by "Windows Update Cleanup" that cannot be deleted. Microsoft has previously stated that Windows retains copies of all installed updates. Attempts to clear this space using the Windows Settings application or Disk Cleanup tool have been unsuccessful. The problem appears to be widespread, as noted in Microsoft's Feedback Hub, and inquiries to Microsoft about potential resolutions have gone unanswered. The issue may be related to a new update management system introduced in Windows 11 24H2, which involves checkpoint cumulative updates. Although Windows identifies these files as eligible for deletion, clean-up tools fail to remove them, and manual deletion poses risks for future updates.