Posts Tagged ‘Windows Update’

Summary:  

Intel Processor(CPU) microcode update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 addressing multiple security vulnerabilities

Comments:

  • Windows 10 Version 20H2 Microcode Update were released on September 1 2020(KB4558130)
    • For specific details – see KB article – KB4589212
  • This Intel Microcode update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 address 7 security vulnerabilities
  • Windows 10 Version 20H2 Intel microcode updates with few exceptions are normally stand-alone updates and currently only available in the Microsoft Catalog.
    • A few Intel processors on devices running Windows 10 20H2(and 2004) will receive these updates via Windows Update.
      • To determine if the microcode update will be available in Windows Update for your CPU see the KB article and reference Footnote #2. CPU’s capable of updating microcode via Windows Update are shown in the KB article with a superscripted ‘2’ in the CPU code name field(first column) in the KB table of CPU’s
  • This Microcode update includes previous released microcode updates for applicable CPU’s
  • Applicable to Windows 10 20H2 and for the specific Intel CPU’s shown in the Knowledge Base article

How to Obtain:

W10_201109_Microcode

Additional information:

 

Revisions:

Nov 10 2020: Initial Draft

Nov 11 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 14 2020: Added 3 more links in Additional Information Section

Summary:  Microsoft web site for the latest and past released feature and security updates for Windows 10 Version 20H2 October 2020 Update

Comments:

  • Reference site for Windows 10 Version 20H2(October 2020 Update) Build updates
  • Contains updates for each  released KB(Knowledge Base) update by Build number.Subversion number
    • e.g. 19042.572 = Build number 19042 Subversion number 572 (Initial Release, October 20, 2020)
      • Subsequent updates will be deployed via Windows Update and only modify the ‘Subversion number’
  • Each KB contains(when applicable) a section describing:
    • Improvements and Fixes
    • Known issues
    • How to obtain the update (including Update Replacement and File Information)
      • Update Replacement identifies if the KB replaces or doesn’t replace a prior update
      • File Information is provided by linking to a downloadable *.csv file

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Oct 29 2020: Initial Draft Date

Nov 01 2020: Final Draft Date

Nov 02 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 03 2020: Corrected typo(Subversion number extra character)

Nov 10 2020:  Fixed Link(Open in new window for Windows Update FAQ)

Summary:

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Version 20H2 October 2020 Update

Comments:

  1. Microsoft released the latest major feature update(named 20H2 October 2020 Update, aka 2009 Update) for Windows 10 Version 2009 Build 19042.572 today(October 20, 2020)
  2. Windows 10 Version 20H2 is now available for devices running Windows 10 2004, 1909 and 1903 to mainstream consumers and business users that wish to manually install the feature update via Windows Update ‘Check for Updates’.  (Note: Not all devices may be deemed ready to install Windows 10 20H2 – MSFT is gradually throttling up the availability(staged deployment). Additionally, a safeguard may be in place for compatibility reasons to ensure a "good update experience")
  3. Windows 10 Version 20H2 is also available via The Windows 10 download site,  using the ‘Update Assistant – Update Now’ and the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. (Notes:  See ‘Additional Information’ Section for link/pic; See Note in Comment #2 -‘safeguards in place for compatibility’)
  4. Windows 10 Version 20H2 will be deployed/rolled out automatically via Windows Update(not all capable devices will receive the feature update at the same time)
  5. Windows 10 Version 20H2 can update a Windows 10 device where the prior installed versions is Windows 10 Version 2004, 1909 or 1903

 

Additional Information:

 

 Revisions:

Oct 20 2020: Initial Draft Date

Oct 21 2020: Original Publish Date

Nov 01 2020: Added ‘What’s New for IT Pros’ and ‘How to Get’ in Additional Information Section

Nov 19 2020: Corrected text(duplicate words)

Summary:  

Intel Processor(CPU) microcode update for Windows 10 Version 2004 addressing Data Sampling security vulnerabilities

Comments:

  • Windows 10 Version 2004 Microcode Update were released on September 1 2020(KB4558130)
    • For specific details – see KB article – KB4558130
  • This Intel Microcode update for Windows 10 Version 2004 address 4 security vulnerabilities
    • CVE-2019-11091 – Microarchitectural Data Sampling Uncacheable Memory (MDSUM)
    • CVE-2018-12126 – Microarchitectural Store Buffer Data Sampling (MSBDS)
    • CVE-2018-12127 – Microarchitectural Load Port Data Sampling (MLPDS)
    • CVE-2018-12130 – Microarchitectural Fill Buffer Data Sampling (MFBDS)
  • Windows 10 Version 2004 Intel microcode updates with few exceptions are stand-alone updates and currently only available in the Microsoft Catalog. A few Intel processors will receive these updates via Windows Update. To determine if the microcode update will be available in Windows Update for your CPU see the KB article and reference Footnote #2. CPU’s capable of updating microcode via Windows Update are shown in the KB article with a superscripted ‘2’ in the CPU code name field(first column) in the KB table of CPU’s
    • This Microcode update includes previous released microcode updates for applicable CPU’s
    • Applicable to Windows 10 2004 and for the specific Intel CPU’s shown in the Knowledge Base article

How to Obtain:

W10_200901_Microcode

Additional information:

Revisions:

Sept 01 2020: Initial Draft Date

Sept 02 2020: Original Publish Date

Sept 29 2020: Added Windows 10 Forums and Bleeping Computer reference articles under ‘Additional Information’

Summary:

Microsoft to resume releasing optional non security updates in July 2020

Comments:

  • Microsoft will resume providing optional non-security updates in July 2020
      • Release of non-security updates was placed on hold in March 2020
  • Validated, production-quality optional non-security releases will be now called “Preview” releases
  • Preview releases will be offered only for Windows 10 and Windows Server, version 1809 and later
  • Preview releases provide the opportunity to test planned non-security updates that are scheduled for and included in the following month’s version specific cumulative update.
  • Preview releases are generally released in the 3rd week of the month(aka ‘C week’), unlike the monthly version specific cumulative update(operating system and security) which are released in the 2nd week(aka ‘B week’) of the month.

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

July 02 2020: Initial Draft Date

July 06 2020: Original Publish Date

July 08 2020: Added comment clarifying 2nd and 3rd week nomenclature(B week, C week)

Summary:  Microsoft web site for the latest and past released feature and security updates for Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update

Comments:

  • Reference site for Windows 10 Version 2004(May 2020 Update) Build updates
  • Contains updates for each  released KB(Knowledge Base) update by Build number.Subversion number
    • e.g. 19041.264 = Build number 19041 Subversion number 264  (Initial Release, May 27, 2020)
      • Subsequent updates will be deployed via Windows Update and only modify the ‘Subversion number’
  • Each KB contains(when applicable) a section describing:
    • Improvements and Fixes
    • Known issues
    • How to obtain the update (including Update Replacement and File Information)
      • Update Replacement identifies if the KB replaces or doesn’t replace a prior update
      • File Information is provided by linking to a downloadable *.csv file

Additional Information:

Revisions:

Jun 6 2020: Initial Draft Date

Jun 9 2020: Original Publish Date

 

Summary:

Microsoft releases Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update

Comments:

  1. Microsoft released the latest major feature update(named May 2020 Update) for Windows 10 Version 2004 Build 19041.264 today(May 27, 2020)
  2. Windows 10 Version 2004 is now available for devices running Windows 10 1909 and 1903 to mainstream consumers and business users that wish to manually install the feature update via Windows Update ‘Check for Updates’.  (Note: Not all devices may be deemed ready to install Windows 10 2004 – MSFT is gradually throttling up the availability(staged deployment). Additionally, a safeguard may be in place for compatibility reasons to ensure a “good update experience”)
  3. Windows 10 Version 2004 is also available via The Windows 10 download site,  using the ‘Update Assistant – Update Now’ and the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. (Notes:  See ‘Additional Information’ Section for link/pic; See Note in Comment #2 -‘safeguards in place for compatibility’)
  4. Windows 10 Version 2004 will be deployed/rolled out automatically via Windows Update(not all capable devices will receive the feature update at the same time)
  5. Windows 10 Version 2004 May 2020 Update can update a Windows 10 device where the prior installed versions is Windows 10 Version 1909 or 1903

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

May 27 2020: Initial Draft

May 27 2020: Original Publish Date

Summary:

Microsoft extends End of Service date for Windows 10 Version 1809

Comments:

  • Microsoft announced on April 14, 2020 that the ‘End-of-Service’ date for Windows 10 1809 has been extended to November 10, 2020 instead of expiring on May 12, 2020
  • The extension adds another six(6) months of support for receiving security updates
  • The extension applies to the following editions of Windows 10 1809
          • Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations
  • Security updates will continue to be available through the same channels
        • Windows Update, Microsoft Catalog and Windows Server Update services
  • This End-of-Service revision also places a temporary pausing of Microsoft initiated feature upgrades from Windows 10 Version 1809 to a later Windows 10 Version(e.g. 1903, 1909)

 

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Apr 15 2020:  Initial Draft and Original  Publish Date

Apr 18 2020:  Added 2nd and 3rd items in the Additional Information section.

Summary:

How and where to find Known Issues and their current status for Windows 10 versions

Comments:

  • Known Issues and their current status for each Windows 10 version is available from Microsoft
  • Known Issues and their current status for each Windows 10 version is included as additional information for Windows 10 Release Information
  • Each released Windows 10 version has its own dedicated itemized list of:
      • Known Issues
      • Resolved Issues
  • Each released Windows 10 version Known Issues list is broken down by:
        • Known Issues by Originating update, Status, and latest status date in table form
              • Originating Update is the Windows update involved that is causing or related to or reported to and/or validated as the cause and appearance the issue(i.e. wide scope of  actual or possible reasons)
        • Details of the known issue – supplemental information on each issue
        • Issue status by month – chronological history
  • Each released Windows 10 version Resolved Issues list is broken down by:
      • Resolved Issue by Originating update, Status, Date resolved
      • Details of the resolved issue – supplemental information on each issue
      • Issue status by month – chronological history
  • All the above information is available on Microsoft’s web site

 

How To:

  1. Open a browser and navigate to the Microsoft web site –  Windows 10 Release Information
  2. Look on the left hand side to see a list of all released Windows 10 versions
  3. Click on any Windows 10 version(e.g. 1909, 1903, etc.) to expand the version specific additional categories(‘Known issues and notifications’ or ‘Resolved issues'(see below graphic)
  4. Click on the ‘Known Issues and notifications’ or ‘Resolved Issues’ categories for additional information viewable on the web page

W10_RelInfo_01

5.  Available information and content, as expected, is dynamic and updated when necessary

 

Revisions:

Feb  1 2020: Initial and Final Draft Date

Feb  2 2020: Original Publish Date

Feb 14 2020:  Added Resolved Issues section in Comments, corrected typo(Thanks Erin – HVD!)

Summary:

Compatibility Issues with some earlier versions of Avast and AVG anti-virus editions affecting Windows 10

 Comments:

  • Microsoft and Avast have identified problems with using earlier/outdated versions of Avast and AVG anti-virus software on Windows 10 Versions 1909 and 1903
  • These compatibility issues prevent upgrading Windows 10 from an earlier version to later Windows 10 versions – 1903(May 2019 Update) and 1909(November 2019 Update)
      • Note: The inability to upgrade impacts upgrading via Windows Update, the Media Creation Tool created media, and the online Upgrade Now methods
  • The compatibility issues surfaced in late November 2019
  • Avast and AVG versions 19.5 and lower are no longer compatible with Windows 10
  • Devices with installed versions of Avast or AVG 19.5 or lower will not be offered or capable to upgrade to Windows 10 1909 or Windows 10 1903
  • End users of Avast and AVG products should/need to download and install an updated version of their Avast or AVG application – Editor Note: Preferably the latest available version
  • End users of Avast or AVG anti-virus software that install the latest version will no longer have the compatibility issue preventing upgrading Windows 10 from an earlier version to Windows 10 versions 1909 or 1903

Additional Information:

 

Revisions:

Nov 23 2019: Initial Draft Date

Nov 26 2019: Final Draft Date

Dec 1 2019: Original Publish Date

Dec 7 2019:  Added ‘Note’ and ‘Editor Note’ in the  ‘Comments’ section