Windows 10 fans can now obtain the latest preview update for version 20H2, and Microsoft has released optional new cumulative updates for Windows versions 1909 and 1809.
Updates for 1909 and 1809 mark the return of optional Windows 10 updates after Microsoft’s 2020 holiday season hiatus.
For Windows Insiders, Microsoft released 20H2 Build 19042.782 – update KB4598291 – for the beta and preview channels for users on 20H2 or the Windows 10 update from October 2020. It was the Windows 10 version released in September 2020.
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The 20H2 Build contains dozens of fixes for Windows components, including fixes for Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Intune, BitLocker encryption, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager and memory issues with LSASS.exe.
The non-security update KB4598298 is for those on Windows 10 version 1909 (and specifically not for version 1903, which was unsupported in December). Microsoft advises 1903 users to update to continue receiving security updates. It pushes users to build number 18.363.1350. These are the updates that precede next month’s Patch Tuesday cumulative updates.
This update allows administrators to disable standalone Internet Explorer using Group Policy while continuing to use Microsoft Edge IE Mode and to configure certain policies that support Microsoft Edge IE Mode using mobile device management.
For gamers, there is a graphical enhancement to DirectX 12 and it also fixes issues with JumpList items when creating them using the Windows.UI.StartScreen Windows Runtime (WinRT) API for desktop applications packaged in MSIX format.
Windows 10 users of version 1809 have a preview of build number 17763.1728 through update KB4598296.
The update fixes an issue with devices that display a blank lock screen after exiting hibernation. It also fixes a flaw that prevented users from opening a document on the Windows desktop. Previously, it would show an error message, “The directory name is invalid.” There was also a bug that prevented Windows from showing “Extract everything” on the shortcut menu when users right-clicked an online-only ZIP file.
Separately, Microsoft released Windows 10 Insider Preview build 21296 (RS_PRERELEASE) for Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel.
Microsoft advises that Dev Channel users on Build 20262 or earlier must update before January 31.
“Be sure to update to the latest build provided on the Dev Channel to avoid being in a bad state,” notes Microsoft.
Microsoft has also recognized a number of issues that affect its new News and Interests feature on the Windows 10 taskbar. The issues indicate how early Microsoft is in providing the experimental feature to ordinary users, if at all.
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Moving to this building will reset the taskbar news and interests setting to “Show icon and text”. Microsoft says “this will be fixed going forward”.
Sometimes the news and interest flyout cannot be dismissed with a pen. The feature also uses more space in the taskbar on the left than expected. Other problems include the taskbar showing outdated information, a pixelated button, overlay context menu and news and interests.
A potentially annoying aspect of the feature is that in “certain circumstances”, the feature “uses 100% of the CPU when launched for the first time”.
There is also a flaw in the screen for Surface Pro X owners. “Insiders who installed the preview version of the Qualcomm Adreno graphics driver on the Surface Pro X may experience reduced screen brightness. This will be addressed in a future update.”