Quick Guide To Windows 10 Updates

Since 2003 Windows has religiously released updates on the second week of every month, Microsoft requires you to install every update, so you can be assured that your computer will get prompts to download them until you do. The downloads go out at 10 a.m. for the US or 6 p.m. for the UK. Depending on the setting where you use Windows, this could be more or less convenient. In the US, most of the time, updates go out so that it’s not the first thing you have to do once getting into the office. These updates include security updates and non-security updates that are important for your Pc to function correctly.

Older Versions

If you’re using Windows 7 or below, you’ll be allowed to use Windows updates tools to choose which patch you would like to receive. These patches, for the most part, are the same but have different intricacies depending on your preferences or your computer’s needs. It’s important to remember the extended support of previous versions of Windows ended on January 12th, 2020. Considering an upgrade would be the best move now that older versions are not updated.

In-Depth Analysis

If you have Windows 10, patch Tuesday updates come bundled into a single download. This update includes all previous updates that have security patches, quality fixes, new drivers, and new OS elements. All previous upgrades will be in a compressed file in each update, so this also means that each update gets larger every month. For example, the first month maybe 200mb, but after six months, it could be triple or quadruple the original size. To prevent excessive bandwidth usage, particularly for offices that use Windows, Microsoft offers delta updates that only include the most recent patch. Although the delta updates only download if you installed last month’s patch. The compressed files are in every update so that if a new user wishes to buy a Windows PC, updating through many months of parcels would be less tedious.

Patch Tuesday

Patch Tuesday updates are coined the B release, according to Microsoft. The letters represent each week in a month, starting with the second week. There are also third and fourth updates that include only non-security fixes. The C&D versions serve the purpose of having been through Microsoft’s validation process and are ready for use in creation. Within this validation testing, there are four levels in conjunction with the before release validation program that installs every current package of Windows to check for problems. The depth test pass is automatic, and manual testing used on the software code is changed so that the computer can look for new problems that have arisen with the changes. After deliverance, Microsoft conducts human validation testing of the second week’s release to ensure no bugs or problems continue to bother their users. Patch Tuesday is an inaccurate representation of Microsoft’s update release schedule. In actuality, their updates are going on throughout the entire month to make sure that every patch is as qualified as possible.

In Retrospect

Windows and its many updates can become a convoluted and challenging topic to understand. Hopefully, you now have a better grasp of windows, Windows updates tools, and specific patches. There’s always more to learn, and there’s still more research to be done on Windows. With consistent support and updates to their software, you can be sure that there’s always going to be more information out there. That information may be patch notes, bug reports, exciting software developments, or a new version of Windows altogether.