Windows 10: KB4559309 Microsoft Edge Update - Why is it necessary?

This update was recently installed on my laptop a 2009 Samsung NP-R720-PS01UK which has been running extremely well since I installed an SSD and reformatted Windows 10.


After the update I began suffering graphical corruption in Windows and an occasional Blue Screen Of Death. Performing a System Restore to a time before the update had a temporary effect, but the corruption would resurface after a few power cycles. I finally started getting graphical corruption in the laptop's BIOS screen pictured below, before Windows is even loaded.





At this point I believed my old laptop's graphics hardware an Ati Mobility Radeon HD 4650 had finally began breaking, but decided to try a few more things to resolve the issue. System restore no longer helped, so I resorted to a full format and fresh install of Windows 10, which was no easy task since I had to work with only a partial view of the screen image of System Restore running below.





After the reformat and fresh Windows install, I have no issues. The BIOS is perfectly clear again, and Windows 10 is once again running beautifully. I even ran a few graphics card benchmarks, opened and closed the lid repeatedly and power cycled multiple times to see if I could replicate any hardware failure, but none were forthcoming. I also manually installed the new Microsoft Edge in the hopes this will prevent update KB4559309 from being installed, and with the dedicated .exe installer from Microsoft I had no issues.


It appears the only explanation is that the KB4559309 update caused these issues and whether it was a corrupted download I do not know, but I was unable to uninstall the update or prevent it from reinstalling automatically after a System Restore.


My question is: Why is update KB4559309, which as far as I can tell only installs the new version of Edge, necessary? Why isn't this an optional update?

:)

 

KB4559309 Update for new Microsoft Edge for Windows 10 - May 27

UPDATE 6/2:

• KB4541302 - New Microsoft Edge is available for Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909
• KB4541301 - The new Microsoft Edge is available for Windows 10 version 1803 and 1809

Microsoft has started rolling out a new KB4559309 Microsoft Edge Update for Windows 10 version 2004 to Windows Insiders in the Release Preview ring.

This update replaces the old Microsoft Edge with the new Chromium base Microsoft Edge.

This update will not be available if you have already installed the new Microsoft Edge (stable).

Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...n-1803-to-1909

See also:

• KB4541301 New Microsoft Edge is available for Windows 10 version 1803 and 1809
• KB4541302 New Microsoft Edge is available for Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909

The new Microsoft Edge will automatically open after the restart to see this below:

 

Microsoft Edge & update KB4559309 & Windows Defender

Sign in is not supported due to out-of-date system components on your device. https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/? does not exist.

The KB4559309 update to newer version not wanted.

Windows Defender app & browser control history shows 3 potentially unwanted app found can not remove or quarantine. Files listed do not exist.

 

Restart wont go away after new Microsoft Edge Windows Update - KB4559309

I did an unprompted restart on my laptop and noticed that it performed an update for the new Edge browser. However fate successfully installed the new browser it keeps prompting me to perform a restart and despite numerous restarts it will not go away.
The windows update - 2020-05 Microsoft Edge Update for Windows 10 Version 2004 (KB4559309) still sits at Pending Restart.