The new Windows 11 update isn’t much different under-the-hood over Windows 10. But this doesn’t mean it packs the exact same stuff. Microsoft has done some changes and reduced the size of quality updates for Windows 11 by 40%.
This info is revealed in a recent blog post on the Windows IT Pro Blog where it explains that people with slow internet connections often find it difficult to keep their PCs updated and secure. For the uninitiated, Windows Quality Updates are monthly releases that include stuff like security patches and bug fixes.
Keeping up with fresh Windows Updates is also a pain for large enterprises where the update needs to be delivered to hundreds or even thousands of managed PCs. It might be easier before, but now a major part of it relies on the VPN and home internet of the employees working from home.
While the exact explanation is beyond the scope of this story, Microsoft has deployed new compression methods to shrink the size of its update package by up to 40%. It now uses a technique called Reverse Update Data Generation to achieve this and concludes as follows.
For versioned data systems requiring forward and reverse delta pairs, “reverse update data generation” provides a way of efficiently distributing the forward delta to the machine and having the machine maintain a path back to its original state. Microsoft has successfully employed this approach in Windows 11, providing a 40% reduction in update size. This benefits our customer base who will need to download less to remain up-to-date and secure.
What remains to be known is if the Redmond giant is deploying the same method for Windows 10 updates as well. You can read the blog post to know all the technical tidbits.
Nonetheless, smaller updates lead to faster downloads and quick installation. And to install Windows 11, you can take various routes like Windows 11 Installation Assistant, bootable USB media for a clean install, and Windows Update. Don’t forget to check out our roundup of the latest Windows 11 features.
via MSPowerUser
