Optional Non-Security Updates Will Return to Windows 10 in July 2020

Optional Non-Security Updates Will Return to Windows 10 in July 2020

Microsoft must think they’ve perfected their Windows update releases and are ready to bring back the oft buggy, “C” and “D” non-critical updates for Windows 10 – which, of course, allows for even greater chances for botched updates. The optional C and D releases were originally included in Windows updates to give developers an advanced look at what was coming for Windows 10. But Microsoft removed these previews because they caused problems for users who installed the updates.

After the recent round of botched updates – both cumulative updates and the May 2020 “feature” update, you’d think that Microsoft would want to apply more scrutiny to monthly Windows 10 updates instead of bringing back the “preview” updates which caused problems. Why would Microsoft want to risk increasing the number of problems for users – you’d think they’d not want to do anything to make things even worse.

But according to this article from The Register, it looks like Microsoft will be bringing back the Optional C & D updates beginning with the July 2020 cumulative updates.

Here’s what The Register says about the return of the optional C and D non-critical updates

C is for ‘Careful now’, D is for ‘Download surprise’: Microsoft to resurrect optional Windows 10 updates as ‘Previews’

They’re baaaack – ‘optional non-security updates’ return to Windows 10

Because, heck, it’s not as though breaking printing once a month is enough, Microsoft has announced that “C” and “D” updates for Windows 10 will be making a comeback after it hit the pause button back in March.

Those optional “C” and “D” releases were intended to give admins a heads-up with regard to what was coming down the pipe in the monthly Patch Tuesday emission, aka the “B” release.

Far be it from us to suggest that “B” might stand for “buggy” or even “borked”. Unless, of course, you wanted to actually print something.

Things are, however, being tweaked a little. To ensure admins know what they’re in for, the optional updates are now being called “Preview” releases, although Microsoft insists they are “validated, production quality”, just like Windows 10 itself, we presume. The previews will also only be delivered in the “C” week and not show up at all for admins using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

Patch Tuesday, which we have all started to look forward to in the same way as one anticipates root canal surgery, remains unchanged.

The resumption is planned for July 2020 and is also aimed only at Windows 10 and Windows Server 1809 or later.

Since these are “optional” updates, you should have a choice to not install them. We’ll let you know how to do that as soon as we see how the July updates are presented.