Fans of Windows 10 can now get the latest preview update for version 20H2, and Microsoft has introduced new optional cumulative updates for Windows versions 1909 and 1809.
The updates for 1909 and 1809 point to the return of optional Windows 10 updates to Microsoft’s holiday season in 2020.
For Windows Insiders, Microsoft has released the 20H2 Build 19042.782 – update KB4598291 – after the beta and released preview channels for users on 20H2 or the Windows 10 October 2020 update. This was the version of Windows 10 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 problems with LSASS.exe.
The non-security update KB4598298 is for those on Windows 10 version 1909 (and specifically not for version 1903, which had no support in December). Microsoft recommends 1903 users to upgrade to continue receiving security updates. It pushes users to build number 18363.1350. These are the updates that precede next month’s cumulative updates for Patch Tuesday.
With this update, administrators can disable standalone Internet Explorer using a Group Policy while continuing to use Microsoft Edge’s IE mode, and set certain policies that support Microsoft Edge IE mode using mobile device management.
For gamers there is a DirectX 12 graphics enhancement, and it also fixes problems with JumpList items when you create it with the Windows Runtime (WinRT) Windows.UI.StartScreen API for desktop applications packaged in MSIX format .
Windows 10 users of version 1809 get a preview of build number 17763.1728 via update KB4598296.
The update fixes an issue with devices that display an empty lock screen after waking up from hibernation. It also fixes an error that prevented users from opening a document on the Windows desktop. Previously, it would display an error message: “The directory name is invalid.” There was also an error that prevented Windows from showing “All Extract” on the context menu when users right-clicked an online zip file.
Separately, Microsoft released the Windows 10 Insider Preview build 21296 (RS_PRERELEASE) for Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel.
Microsoft warns that Dev Channel users must update to Build 20262 or earlier before January 31st.
“Make sure you update to the latest version of the Dev Channel to avoid getting into a bad state,” Microsoft notes.
Microsoft has also acknowledged a number of issues affecting its new news and interest feature in the Windows 10 taskbar. The issues indicate how early Microsoft is to deliver the experimental feature to mainstream users, if it does.
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If you move to this structure, your taskbar setting for news and interests will be reset to “Show icon and text”. Microsoft says “this has been fixed in the future.”
Sometimes the news and interests cannot be dismissed with a pen. The feature also uses more taskbar space on the left than expected. Other issues include the taskbar containing old information, a button in pixels, overlapping context menu and news and interest.
A potentially annoying aspect of the feature is that the feature “in” certain circumstances “uses 100% of the CPU when it was first launched.
There is also a screen issue for Surface Pro X owners. “Insiders who have installed the preview version of the Qualcomm Adreno graphics driver on the Surface Pro X may lower the brightness of the screen. This will be addressed in a future update.”