diff --git a/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md b/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md index b6e802f722..9c930c27e2 100644 --- a/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md +++ b/windows/deployment/update/catalog-checkpoint-cumulative-updates.md @@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ ms.date: 01/23/2025 # Checkpoint cumulative updates and Microsoft Update Catalog usage -Starting Windows 11, version 24H2, monthly security updates and optional nonsecurity preview release updates may be preceded by a checkpoint cumulative update (CU). Devices (and images) updating from Windows Update (WU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) release channels can continue to seamlessly install the latest monthly security update or the optional nonsecurity preview release regardless of whether there are any preceding checkpoint CUs, so update processes involving WU and WSUS remain unchanged. This article covers how Catalog users can easily update their devices (or images) through checkpoint CUs. +Starting Windows 11, version 24H2, monthly security updates and optional nonsecurity preview release updates may be preceded by a checkpoint cumulative update. Devices (and images) updating from Windows Update (WU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) release channels can continue to seamlessly install the latest monthly security update or the optional nonsecurity preview release regardless of whether there are any preceding checkpoint cumulative updates, so update processes involving WU and WSUS remain unchanged. This article covers how Microsoft Update Catalog users can easily update their devices (or images) through checkpoint cumulative updates. -## Checkpoint CUs +## Checkpoint cumulative updates Windows 11 quality updates use servicing technology and are built cumulatively from the time when a new Windows OS was "released to manufacturing" (RTM). These monthly updates include all the changes since RTM in the form of binary differentials computed from the initial version of those binaries. @@ -31,63 +31,63 @@ Going forward, Microsoft might periodically release cumulative updates as checkp This process may be repeated multiple times, thereby generating multiple checkpoints during the lifecycle of a given Windows release. The Windows 11, version 24H2 servicing stack can merge all the checkpoints and only download and install content that's missing on the device. -If any checkpoint CUs precede a target update, a device or image needs to take all prior checkpoint CUs before it can take the target update. In other words, a post-checkpoint LCU can be applied to images/devices that are on that checkpoint or on a subsequent LCU. For updates sourced from WU and WSUS this happens seamlessly, and you can continue to use the same tools and processes that you currently use for approving and deploying updates. +If any checkpoint cumulative updates precede a target update, a device or image needs to take all prior checkpoint cumulative updates before it can take the target update. In other words, a post-checkpoint latest cumulative update can be applied to images/devices that are on that checkpoint or on a subsequent latest cumulative update. For updates sourced from WU and WSUS this happens seamlessly, and you can continue to use the same tools and processes that you currently use for approving and deploying updates. ### Applicability -A checkpoint CU is just another monthly security update that informs how subsequent updates are built. There is no policy change or new requirement around when users must take these updates, though it is best practice to take monthly security updates at the earliest opportunity to keep your devices protected and productive. +A checkpoint cumulative update is just another monthly security update that informs how subsequent updates are built. There is no policy change or new requirement around when users must take these updates, though it is best practice to take monthly security updates at the earliest opportunity to keep your devices protected and productive. This feature does not introduce any change to the applicability of monthly security updates. As before, these updates apply to the main OS (install.wim) and to WinPE (boot.wim) but not to WinRE (winre.wim). -WinRE is serviced by applying the servicing stack update (SSU) from OnePackage (LCU does not apply) and SafeOS DU. This is how it has been for a while now, and there is no recent change to WinRE servicing and certainly no change due to the checkpoint cumulative updates feature. We understand that not everybody may have had a shared understanding about this, but applying SSU then SafeOS DU is the only way to ensure WinRE is serviced. For more information, see [Update Windows installation media with Dynamic Update](media-dynamic-update.md). +WinRE is serviced by applying the servicing stack update from OnePackage (latest cumulative update does not apply) and SafeOS DU. This is how it has been for a while now, and there is no recent change to WinRE servicing and certainly no change due to the checkpoint cumulative updates feature. We understand that not everybody may have had a shared understanding about this, but applying servicing stack update then SafeOS DU is the only way to ensure WinRE is serviced. For more information, see [Update Windows installation media with Dynamic Update](media-dynamic-update.md). -### Current Checkpoint CUs +### Current checkpoint cumulative updates -For Windows 11, version 24H2 and above, for a given update the knowledge base (KB) article will note all preceding checkpoint CUs under the **Catalog** release channel tab. We expect that your experience updating through a checkpoint CU will position you to efficiently take future checkpoint CUs. +For Windows 11, version 24H2 and above, for a given update the knowledge base (KB) article will note all preceding checkpoint cumulative updates under the **Catalog** release channel tab. We expect that your experience updating through a checkpoint cumulative update will position you to efficiently take future checkpoint cumulative updates. ## Updating from the Microsoft Update Catalog -When installing a given monthly security or optional nonsecurity preview update, [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com) users can determine and download the prior checkpoint CUs and apply these sequentially under certain situations or in one go using DISM. +When installing a given monthly security or optional nonsecurity preview update, [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com) users can determine and download the prior checkpoint cumulative updates and apply these sequentially under certain situations or in one go using DISM. -### Finding prior Checkpoint CUs +### Finding prior checkpoint cumulative updates -For a given update, users can look up the KB article and find all preceding checkpoints, if any, listed under the **Catalog** release channel. For instance, the 2024-12 monthly security update (KB5048667) has one preceding checkpoint CU per [December 10, 2024-KB5048667 (OS Build 26100.2605)](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/708755a6-d809-4a8a-8d20-53c4108590e6#ID0ELBD=Catalog): +For a given update, users can look up the KB article and find all preceding checkpoints, if any, listed under the **Catalog** release channel. For instance, the 2024-12 monthly security update (KB5048667) has one preceding checkpoint cumulative update per [December 10, 2024-KB5048667 (OS Build 26100.2605)](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/708755a6-d809-4a8a-8d20-53c4108590e6#ID0ELBD=Catalog): > Method 2: Install each MSU file individually, in order

Download and install each MSU file individually either using DISM or [Windows Update Standalone Installer](https://support.microsoft.com/topic/799ba3df-ec7e-b05e-ee13-1cdae8f23b19) in the following order:

-Alternately, users can search the KB number in the [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/) and select the **Download** button for the selected architecture. The download pop-up shows all prior checkpoints for the update so that users can conveniently download all MSUs and apply them to their image or device. For instance, Microsoft Update Catalog shows the [2024-12 cumulative update (KB5048667)](https://support.microsoft.com/help/5048667) has one preceding checkpoint CU, [KB5043080](https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043080). +Alternately, users can search the KB number in the [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/) and select the **Download** button for the selected architecture. The download pop-up shows all prior checkpoints for the update so that users can conveniently download all MSUs and apply them to their image or device. For instance, Microsoft Update Catalog shows the [2024-12 cumulative update (KB5048667)](https://support.microsoft.com/help/5048667) has one preceding checkpoint cumulative update, [KB5043080](https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043080). -### Updating through Checkpoint CUs +### Updating through checkpoint cumulative updates -**Device has the latest checkpoint CU and doesn't need customization:** +**Device has the latest checkpoint cumulative update and doesn't need customization:** -Devices or images that have the latest checkpoint CU installed and do not need Features on Demand (FoD) or language pack (LP) customization can be updated to the latest target CU with no change to your existing process. You can simply copy the target MSU from Catalog and install it, for instance using [Add-WindowsPackage (DISM)](/powershell/module/dism/add-windowspackage) or [DISM operating system package (`.cab` or `.msu`) servicing command-line options](/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/dism-operating-system-package-servicing-command-line-options). +Devices or images that have the latest checkpoint cumulative update installed and do not need Features on Demand (FoD) or language pack (LP) customization can be updated to the latest target cumulative update with no change to your existing process. You can simply copy the target MSU from Microsoft Update Catalog and install it, for instance using [Add-WindowsPackage (DISM)](/powershell/module/dism/add-windowspackage) or [DISM operating system package (`.cab` or `.msu`) servicing command-line options](/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/dism-operating-system-package-servicing-command-line-options). Examples of eligible devices: | Device is on | Needs to install| |---|---| -||| +||| ||| **Device needs FoD or LP customization:** -Installing FoDs or LPs requires the full LCU payload, which now can be split across files associated with each preceding checkpoint CU. So, when customizing FoDs or LPs, all prior checkpoint CUs and the target CU need to be installed regardless of whether the device already had any of the prior checkpoints CU installed. This needs to be done using DISM. +Installing FoDs or LPs requires the full latest cumulative update payload, which now can be split across files associated with each preceding checkpoint cumulative update. So, when customizing FoDs or LPs, all prior checkpoint cumulative updates and the target cumulative update need to be installed regardless of whether the device already had any of the prior checkpoints cumulative update installed. This needs to be done using DISM. -1. Copy the MSUs of the latest CU (the target) and all prior checkpoint CUs to a local folder. Make sure there are no other MSUs present. +1. Copy the MSUs of the latest cumulative update (the target) and all prior checkpoint cumulative updates to a local folder. Make sure there are no other MSUs present. 1. Mount the install.wim file. 1. Run `DISM /add-package` with the latest MSU as the sole target. 1. Run `/Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup`. 1. Unmount. 1. Run `DISM /export-image` to optimize the image size, if that's important to you. -**Device doesn't have the latest checkpoint CU and doesn't need customization:** +**Device doesn't have the latest checkpoint cumulative update and doesn't need customization:** -Devices that are not on the latest checkpoint CU and do not need FoD/LP customization can either install all needed CUs one by one in the right sequence. Alternately they can be updated using DISM to install all CUs in one go, see above. If there are total 4 checkpoint CUs available and device already has the first one installed, DISM will apply the remaining 3 checkpoint CUs in the right order followed by the target CU, all in one go. +Devices that are not on the latest checkpoint cumulative update and do not need FoD/LP customization can either install all needed cumulative updates one by one in the right sequence. Alternately they can be updated using DISM to install all cumulative updates in one go, see above. If there are total 4 checkpoint cumulative updates available and device already has the first one installed, DISM will apply the remaining 3 checkpoint cumulative updates in the right order followed by the target cumulative update, all in one go. ## Related articles - [Servicing stack updates](/windows/deployment/update/servicing-stack-updates) - [Features on Demand](/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/features-on-demand-v2--capabilities) -- [How to download updates that include drivers and hotfixes from the Windows Update Catalog](/troubleshoot/windows-client/installing-updates-features-roles/download-updates-drivers-hotfixes-windows-update-catalog) +- [How to download updates that include drivers and hotfixes from the Microsoft Update Catalog](/troubleshoot/windows-client/installing-updates-features-roles/download-updates-drivers-hotfixes-windows-update-catalog) - [Update Windows installation media with Dynamic Update](media-dynamic-update.md) diff --git a/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md b/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md index 266d95bfcf..aa99ea62f3 100644 --- a/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md +++ b/windows/deployment/update/release-cycle.md @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ --- title: Update release cycle for Windows clients -description: Learn about the release cycle for updates so Windows clients in your organization stay productive and protected. +description: Learn about the release cycle for updates so Windows clients in your organization stay productive and protected. ms.service: windows-client ms.subservice: itpro-updates ms.topic: conceptual