Solved Microsoft are being sneaky regarding preview updates

wiganken · Feb 17, 2022

I never install 'Preview' type Windows updates so I always look for the word 'preview' in the update title. I don't like my PC being used for testing updates before general release. I know some people don't mind, but I do mind.

Today I saw 'Optional' Cumulative update KB5010414 and it did not have the word 'preview' in the title so I installed it only to discover it is in fact a 'preview' type update.

Okay it's not a big deal but I wish Microsoft did not try to hide the fact it is a 'preview' type by omitting the word 'preview' in the title.

I admit it was shown as 'Optional' so it seems that there are now two words to watch out for. 'Preview' and 'Optional'.

The trick will only work once though. I'll be watching you Microsoft.

humbird · Feb 17, 2022

Optional means just what it says. You can wait until the update is final to install it. It is called an optional update because you have the option to install or not.

CornishRattler · Feb 17, 2022

KB5010414 was delivered to all but the dev channel this week
So at this present time stable, PR and Beta are all on the same build

jerrypc1 · Feb 17, 2022

humbird said:
Optional means just what it says. You can wait until the update is final to install it. It is called an optional update because you have the option to install or not.

I always go ahead and install all updates and then if I have trouble I just work on them It gives me something to do.:)

Bree · Feb 17, 2022

wiganken said:
I always look for the word 'preview' in the update title....

I don't think MS are being deliberately sneaky - just lazy/slapdash. I've occasionally seen the same thing (or rather, not seen) for W10 'preview' updates in the past few years.

IanMosley · Feb 17, 2022

. . with even more confusion from Microsoft -

KB5010414 released 10th February Build(22000.526) - Preview
KB5010414 released 15th February Build(22000.527) - RTM

You need to ensure which build you are on - .526 / .527

Bree · Feb 17, 2022

IanMosley said:
You need to ensure which build you are on - .526 / .527

.526 was only for insiders, and 'Preview' in that context was because it was in the Release Preview ring. It got a couple of tweaks and the build bumped up by 1 when it was ready to be released to RTM.

flashh4 · Feb 17, 2022

I just don't think it's any big deal ! I got more important things in life to worry about !
Chuck

AddRAM · Feb 17, 2022

I never install Update Previews, I hide them with WAUM on both systems and wait for the real thing.
Grogu lets me know when it`s time :)

Dru2 · Feb 17, 2022

wiganken said:
Today I saw 'Optional' Cumulative update KB5010414 and it did not have the word 'preview' in the title so I installed it only to discover it is in fact a 'preview' type update.

Ok, but it had the word "optional" so...

AddRAM · Feb 17, 2022

Ya the real thing only comes out on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, just as it always has.
Correct me if I`m wrong. But I always wait til then.

The-Hive · Feb 17, 2022

I never install Preview Updates. But I took Optional to mean it is an update you may or may not need or want not that a fully tested version will follow.

Winuser · Feb 17, 2022

humbird said:
Optional means just what it says. You can wait until the update is final to install it. It is called an optional update because you have the option to install or not.

Optional means install if you what. It doesn't mean it's a preview update.

AddRAM · Feb 17, 2022

Ya you just have to read it.

Bree · Feb 17, 2022

AddRAM said:
Ya the real thing only comes out on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, just as it always has.
Correct me if I`m wrong. But I always wait til then.

They're all 'real', and these updates will be included in the next patch Tuesday one. But I know what you mean. What make Patch Tuesday more important than any other CU is that it is the only one that includes new security patches.

These optional/preview ones only have new non-security fixes. Generally I don't bother installing them.

Try3 · Feb 20, 2022

My very non-compliant Windows 11 computer has been automatically installing Preview updates.
I though that this thread was going to tell me I wasn't alone but not so.

It's only a test machine so I can live with it but I find it surprising nevertheless.

Anyone else in the same boat as me?

Denis

CornishRattler · Feb 20, 2022

Try3 said:
My very non-compliant Windows 11 computer has been automatically installing Preview updates.
I though that this thread was going to tell me I wasn't alone but not so.

It's only a test machine so I can live with it but I find it surprising nevertheless.

Anyone else in the same boat as me?

Denis

Not me, my test machine stopped updating automatically in November

TheMystic · Feb 21, 2022

humbird said:
Optional means just what it says. You can wait until the update is final to install it. It is called an optional update because you have the option to install or not.

Optional certainly does NOT mean that it is work-in-progress. It is called optional because it doesn't usually contain security updates or fixes for vulnerabilities. They are just using word play and it can be misleading.

Try3 · Feb 21, 2022

CornishRattler said:
Not me, my test machine stopped updating automatically in November

Oh. I had not noticed anybody reporting that before.

Thanks for the reply,
Denis

CornishRattler · Feb 21, 2022

Try3 said:
Oh. I had not noticed anybody reporting that before.

Thanks for the reply,
Denis

Security updates were fine, actual cumulative/version updates would stop at 8% and report to me it was unsupported, yeah I could do the appraiserres.dll rubbish but it wasn't worth my time tbh