Windows 10 does a good job at being a desktop operating system.
It’s robust, solid, fully-featured and capable, but botched
Windows Update process is Microsoft’s biggest problem
currently.
Windows is installed on hundreds of millions of devices all
over the world with different hardware, software, and driver
combinations.
While it’s technically impossible for Microsoft to create an OS
that would be flawless on all devices,
Microsoft has made numerous changes to Windows Update,
installation process, and more.
For example, Microsoft last year promised that its
customers would no longer be surprised by feature updates.
The company added a new option in Windows Update that separates
feature updates and allows you to install cumulative updates
without installing the feature upgrade on the second Tuesday of
each month.
Last year, Microsoft also added a new
notification that shows up when your devices aren’t ready or
able to install the update.
The most common complaint with Windows 10 feature updates is
that users don’t know why an update is not available for their
devices when they attempt to proactively grab them earlier.
We already know there are always quite a few issues with any
feature updates, and Microsoft is actively blocking the update
for some people without any documented reasons.
In other words, if your device is blocked from receiving
Windows 10 version 2004 or version 20H2, you won’t be able to
find out why your “device isn’t quite ready” to receive the new
version.
According to sources familiar with the Redmond giant’s plan,
Microsoft is working on “customized and actionable” upgrade
blocks for Windows 10. In a future version of Windows 10,
Microsoft plans to provide users with more specific information
on why they cannot install a new update.
For example, if your update is blocked due to incompatible
network drivers, you’ll be able to see that specific
information within the updated dashboard of the Settings app.
This new Windows Update UI is expected to be “actionable”, so
you’ll be able to get more details on a newer driver directly
from the update screen.
In addition, Microsoft is also working on more artificial
intelligence and machine learning tech to block upgrades when
problems are detected with hardware/driver/software
combinations.
Feature packs for smaller downloads
Windows Updates also tend to take a ton of time to install, and
many of Microsoft’s recent cumulative updates have infamously
introduced installation problems.
However, we’ve heard that Microsoft could solve these problems
by splitting up optional or some new features into smaller
downloads.
In Windows 10 version 2004 or newer, you’ll notice something
called the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” under the “About”
section of the system settings menu.
While there has been little information, it’s believed that
Microsoft could soon offer core or optional software components
through the app store without having to install an entirely new
version of Windows 10.
This is could finally allow Microsoft to streamline the large
feature upgrades and it will also allow Microsoft to quickly
roll out fixes and updates for some independent features.
It’s worth noting that this information is completely based on
rumours and findings, and Microsoft has not provided any
official comments on any of the noted changes.
