Windows 10 Version 1903:
Everything You Need To Know About It
There are no breaks in Windows 10's development cycle; instead of service packs or point releases primarily used to wrap up security fixes from Windows Update, Windows 10 version 1903 gets feature upgrades on a cadence of around six months. Both the user interface and corporate functionality have been significantly altered due to these enhancements.
The Release Preview ring of the Windows Insider Program received Windows 10 version 1903 (also known as 19H1) on April 8, 2019, and the MSDN download catalog included it on April 18, 2019. On May 21, 2019, Microsoft made the software available to the entire public and distributed it through Windows Update. On July 16, 2019, Windows 10 systems already running version 1903 began receiving automatic updates from Microsoft.
Check out TechRepublic's guide to downloading Windows 10 version 1903 early, as well as the guide to postponing the installation of Windows 10 version 1903 if you want to get a head start on the next version.
Windows May 10, 2019, Update: What You Need to Know Before and After the Upgrade
Disconnect and remove any external storage devices, including hard drives and memory cards
When trying to install the update, users who get an error message stating "This PC cannot be updated to Windows 10 version 1903" should remove any external drives or memory cards that may be interfering with the process. The upgrade procedure may assign various drive letters to installed drives, including internal purposes.
If You Want To Install The May 2019 Update, You'll Need Extra Available Hard Drive Space
Microsoft has raised the minimum amount of free disc space for new PCs running Windows 10 version 1903 from 16 GB to 32 GB, up from the previous requirements of 20 GB for 32-bit and 32 GB for 64-bit versions. Despite Microsoft's assertion that these are just prerequisites for new systems, Windows Update does not verify whether sufficient free space exists before launching the update, resulting in updates failing to install with error codes such as 0x80070070.
Microsoft is also implementing "reserved storage" for new machines running Windows 10 1903, dedicating 7GB of the disc to enable seamless upgrades in the future.
Once The Software Has Been Installed, Go Into The Settings And Check The Privacy Options
The default privacy settings in Windows 10 were reset in previous versions, resulting in Microsoft receiving a large quantity of use and analytics data. The unexpected resetting of privacy settings, despite Microsoft's efforts to be more open about them, may be jarring. After the update, be careful to alter your Windows 10 privacy settings.
Spectre And Meltdown Are Better-Protected Thanks To The New Upgrade
To address the Spectre and Meltdown flaws, Microsoft is incorporating Google's retooling updates into Windows 10. There have been several flaws with Microsoft's earlier efforts to fix these vulnerabilities, including unexpected reboots, blue screens, and the unintended making it easier for hackers to exploit them.
Forcing Users To Update Their Passwords Regularly May Soon Be Obsolete
Microsoft has questioned the idea of enforcing password expiry using Group Policy. According to the corporation, the technique is old and useless. They are seeking public input. At the same time, Microsoft pointed out that "if your users are the kind who are willing to answer surveys in the parking lot in exchange for a candy bar for their passwords, no password expiration policy will help you."
Improved Support For Hi-DPI Applications And Screens Is Part Of DPI Awareness
Apps may not function properly when connected to external screens on laptop PCs with high-dpi monitors. Apps may be fixed without logging out of Windows since Windows 10 Version 1803. Therefore, this repair is implemented automatically unless features are explicitly disabled. There is now a column in the Task Manager for viewing and sorting applications based on their DPI awareness.
In File Explorer, you may view Linux filesystem data without fear.
It will be simpler for developers using WSL to handle files in those contexts without depending entirely on the command line or third-party kludges that might lead to data loss or corruption for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) users.
App Sandboxing Provides A Secure Environment For Testing Apps
Windows Sandbox is a containerized environment for executing untrusted executables on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. After the program is closed, the sandbox is wiped clean of all data. Virtualization extensions (Intel VT-x and equivalents) are available on current hardware. However, this may need activating these extensions in the system BIOS. In the same way, the Windows Sandbox feature must be activated in the Control Panel's Windows Features dialogue.
The Windows Defender System Guard Provides Additional Protection
Previously known as Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) or Virtual Secure Mode, the Windows Defender System Guard container isolates the Windows kernel to protect it if it is hacked. Hyper-secure V's "memory enclaves" segregate signed code performed at a higher virtual trust level, preventing malware from changing the firmware and boot components of Windows. Hyper-V is utilized.
Similar to Internet Explorer's built-in security features, Windows Defender Application Guard protects Microsoft Edge against malware downloads and data eavesdropping by untrusted websites. Untrusted websites may be loaded in the protected Edge instance using a Chrome or Firefox plugin. When it comes to Edge, it's not yet known whether or when this functionality will be available.
Wrapping Up
Three years, nine months, and 22 days after the first release of Windows 10, the May 2019 Windows 10 version 1903 update is here. Windows XP's original release and the subsequent release of Service Pack 2 were separated by a three-year period, which is a reasonable heuristic for determining when Windows versions become dependable. Despite some unsolved faults at launch, the latest version of Windows 10 will likely be considered "as good as it gets" since it is the most stable and drama-free release that a commercial product with hundreds of millions of users is ever likely to see.