Windows 10: Delivery of optional non-security updates for Windows 10 and Server to resume in July

Microsoft paused the release of so-called "C" and "D" updates for Windows 10 and Windows Server in March 2020 because of the global pandemic caused by the Coronovirus. The company plans to resume the delivery of these optional updates for the company's operating systems in July 2020.

Microsoft releases several updates on schedule per month. The most important updates come on the second Tuesday of each month and bring security and non-security updates for all supported versions of Windows and Windows Server. The update is also referred to as "B" updates and Patch Tuesday.

Optional updates, refereed to as "C" and "D" updates, are preview updates that administrators may install on Windows systems; the updates are optional and will be included in the next month when Microsoft releases updates on Patch Tuesday. B,C and D refers to the week in which the updates are released.

Microsoft announced yesterday that it will start to push out the optional updates again from July 2020 onward, but only to devices running Windows 10 version 1809 or later, and only in the third week of a month. The release in the third week should "simplify update management for IT" according to Microsoft.

It seems that Microsoft won't release these optional updates for earlier versions of Windows including Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 anymore.



The updates are marked as preview when they are resumed to better indicate the nature of the update. The release title is adjusted accordingly to indicate the preview nature of the release.

Administrators who manage updates using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) won't see preview releases anymore for Windows 10 or Windows Server in the WSUS channel. Microsoft's reason for the change is that it "ensures a consistent update management experience across all supported versions of Windows".

Here is a quick overview of all the announced changes:

1. Optional updates will be published for Windows 10 version 1809 and later on the third week of any given month starting in July 2020.
2. Updates will show as "preview" in the title.
3. The updates won't be available via Windows Server Update Services.
4. Windows Insider devices will receive the optional updates in the B week.

Closing Words


Organizations may use the optional updates for testing purposes and some home administrators may also use these for testing purposes. Most home users of Windows on the other hand are better off without these updates as they should be considered beta when they are released initially.

Now You: do you install optional updates for Windows?

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Windows 10 Update

Well just noticed a pretty large one pop up coming in at 914MB, seems it makes some pretty serous updates.

KB3172985
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172985

This security update includes improvements and fixes in the functionality of Windows 10 Version 1511 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4. It also resolves the following vulnerabilities in Windows:

• 3175677 MS16-094: Security update for secure boot: July 12, 2016
• 3174060 MS16-093: Security update for Adobe Flash Player: July 12, 2016
• 3171910 MS16-092: Security update for Windows Kernel: July 12, 2016
• 3170048 MS16-091: Security update for .Net Framework: July 12, 2016
• 3171481 MS16-090: Security update for Kernel Mode Drivers: July 12, 2016
• 3170050 MS16-089: Security update for Windows secure kernel mode: July 12, 2016
• 3170005 MS16-087: Security update for the Microsoft Print Spooler: July 12, 2016
• 3169999 MS16-085: Cumulative security update for Microsoft Edge: July 12, 2016
• 3169991 MS16-084: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer: July 12, 2016

 

Microsoft resuming optional Windows 10 non-security monthly updates

Source: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...y/ba-p/1471429

 

Windows Update and Delivery Optimization burning through data on metered connection

We suggest that to manage your connection consume for Windows Update and Delivery Optimization is to configure Delivery Optimization through Group Policy and Windows Update by deferring the Windows Update.

For more information on how to use Group Policy to configure Windows Update Delivery Optimization in Windows 10, check this
link.

Deferring Windows upgrades prevent your device from getting the latest Windows features downloaded or installed for several months. It doesn't affect any security updates. To do this, follow these steps:

• Type Settings in Cortana Search and press
  Enter.
  
• Click Update & Security and click Advance Options under
  Update settings.
  
• Check the tick box for Defer feature updates.
  

Let us know how it goes to assist you further.