Updating bug forces Microsoft to hold back the release

Jan 7, 2017 06:34 GMT  ·  By

​Microsoft promised to release a new build of Windows 10 Creators Update (Redstone 2) in early 2017 and everyone expected this to happen this week, but according to Dona Sarkar, head of the Windows Insider program, this was impossible because of a major update bug.

Dona explained in a post on the Feedback Hub that the Windows team discovered a bug that made it difficult for the new build to update to the next one, so they decided to hold back the release until this issue was fixed.

Leaks that happened in late December showed that the next build would be a major one and come with plenty of improvements, including an updated Settings app and new Microsoft Edge features, so this is quite an essential release that the firm cannot afford to get wrong.

“Many of you have been asking about getting a new build this week. Unfortunately, we don’t have a good candidate to release to you right now. We have hit an issue with N + 1 updates (the update path going forward from one build to another). We have a commitment to never leave our community in a bad state if we can help it. We certainly don’t want to release a build that would leave Insiders stuck and requiring a reinstall of Windows to get back into a good state,” Dona explained.

Bug fixed, next week is the new target

On the other hand, according to the Windows Insider boss, the bug has already been fixed, so if everything else goes according to plan, insiders should receive a new build as soon as next week.

“We believe we have solved the issue and are pushing new builds out through our internal rings right now to test the solution. If everything looks good, we hope to have a new build for you next week,” Dona said.

Microsoft is expected to finalize work on new Windows 10 Creators Update features this month, so hopefully, no other major bugs would be found because this clearly pushes the schedule back and reduces the amount of time the company has for bug hunting and performance improvements.

The Creators Update is projected to launch in April, but insiders should receive the final build ahead of everyone else. The latest Insider build for the Fast ring was rolled out on December 7.