Windows 10: Windows 10 quality updates explained and the end of delta updates

Brink · Jul 11, 2018

With Windows 10, quality updates are cumulative. Installing the most recent update ensures that you receive any previous updates you may have missed. We used a cumulative update model to reduce ecosystem fragmentation, and to make it easier for IT admins and end users to stay up to date and secure. However, cumulative updates can prove challenging when it comes to the size of the update and the impact that size can have on your organization’s valuable network bandwidth.

When a new Windows 10 feature update is released, the first cumulative update is generally between 100-200 MB in size. Across all versions of Windows 10, cumulative updates grow as additional components and features get serviced, pushing the size to somewhere between 1-1.2 GB. Generally, this happens within the first 6-8 months after the release of a feature update.

To help you reduce the burden on your network bandwidth, yet still receive the same equivalent update, Microsoft designed three different update types:

Full updates have all the necessary components and files that have changed since the last feature update. We refer to this as the latest cumulative update, or LCU. It can quickly grow to a little over 1 GB in size, but typically stays that size for the lifetime of that supported version of Windows 10.

Express updates generate differential downloads for every component in the full update based on several historical bases. For example, the latest May LCU contains tcpip.sys. We will generate a differential for all tcpip.sys file changes from April to May, March to May, and from the original feature release to May. A device leveraging express updates will use network protocol to determine optimal differentials, then download only what is needed, which is typically around 150-200 MB in size each month. Ultimately, the more up to date a device is, the smaller the size of the differential download. Devices connected directly to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), System Center Configuration Manager, or a third-party update manager that supports express updates will receive these smaller payloads.

Delta updates include only the components that changed in the most recent quality update. Delta updates will only install if a device already has the previous month’s update installed. For example, assume in May that we changed tcpip.sys and ntfs.sys, but did not change notepad.exe. A device that downloads the delta update will get the latest version of tcpip.sys and ntfs.sys, but not notepad.exe. Delta updates include the full component (not just the individual files) that changed. As a result, they are larger than express updates, often around 300-500 MB in size.

Regardless of which type of update is installed on a device, that update is fully cumulative and installing the latest update will ensure that the device has all the necessary quality and security improvements.

This raises an important question: why make delta updates available if express updates are more optimized and don’t require the previous month’s update already be installed? Delta updates were originally created because the express update protocol was only available to devices connecting directly to Windows Update or Windows Server Update Services. In January 2017, the express protocol was extended to all 3rd party update management systems; however, we continued to ship delta updates to give companies and third-party update management tools time to implement support for express updates.

Currently delta updates are available for the following versions of Windows 10:

Windows 10, version 1607

Windows 10, version 1703

Windows 10, version 1709

Windows 10, version 1803

Now that express update support for third-party update managers has been available for over a year, we plan to stop shipping delta updates. Beginning February 12, 2019 Microsoft will end its practice of creating delta updates for all versions of Windows 10. Express updates are much smaller in size, and simplifying the cumulative options available will reduce complexity for IT administrators.

For more information on optimizing update bandwidth and more details about express updates, see Optimize Windows 10 update delivery. To learn more about Windows as a service, check out the new Windows as a service page on the Windows IT Pro Center.
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Source: Windows 10 quality updates and the end of delta updates

:)

AsRock · Jul 11, 2018

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

user33331 · Jul 11, 2018

Win10: windows update stuck at never ending loop ?

When in win10:

Update&security -> Windows update -> Finding update... .... .... ....

Planning to download the latest Win10.ISO (vers.1803) and manually update:
- Then wait that my ordered new SSD arrives and clone the old HDD to it.

nkatsar · Jul 11, 2018

FIXED!! Windows 7 sp1 never ends searching for updates

Pros:

No need for a script, easy to apply manually

Much smaller download, seems that KB3020369 is not required, only SP1 is needed

Cons:

Windows Update Client downloaded by the script is newer (June 2016 version is included in KB3172605 instead of March 2016)

You will still need to download/install hundreds of updates afterwards, most of them are already included in KB3125574 and installed by the script

Are there any pros/cons of using said script compared to installing a 3 MB update like I described?
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Windows 10: Windows 10 quality updates explained and the end of delta updates

Windows 10 quality updates explained and the end of delta updates

Windows 10 quality updates explained and the end of delta updates

Windows 10 quality updates explained and the end of delta updates

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