With the introduction of Windows XP, the C++ based software-only GDI+ subsystem was introduced to replace certain GDI functions. It is also possible that there are preparations made for the Windows 10 Creators Edition and the new delivery mechanisms.Ĭould this be a harbinger for a return of the Win7-to-Win10 and Win8.1-to-Win10 upgrade paths, following the old 'Get Windows 10' model? Time will tell.ĭiscussion continues on the AskWoody Lounge.As the next version of Windows NT after Windows 2000, as well as the successor to Windows Me, Windows XP introduced many new features but it also removed some others. I am wondering if they were those updates holding the main releases from the last 7-8 days? It is unlikely, but if this is not the case, it shows that WU/MU is well and alive, but that Microsoft works to something bigger behind the scenes and this has certainly something to do with the big rollups promised for March for Windows 7/2008 R2 and 8.1/2012 R2. They were never expired in the true sense, just hidden. Those 2 (or 4) patches have been published before and hidden from view since last Tuesday until today.

There is no visible supersedence involved at the WU level. The descriptions indicate exactly a metadata change, but it is not so visible to me in what sense. Poster ch100 on the AskWoody Lounge says: The patches, at this moment, appear as optional unchecked updates, with a published date of Feb. In what appears to be an unrelated move, Microsoft has brought back KB 2952664 (for Win7) and KB 2976978 (Win 8.1), which are the two enhanced snooping patches we last saw on Feb. But Microsoft was also discontinuing Security Bulletins this month. Microsoft was supposed to pull Internet Explorer patches out of the grouped Security-only and Monthly rollups for Windows 7 and 8.1, starting this month, and that finally happened. This patch is completely dissociated from the Win10 cumulative updating model. I see no new cumulative updates for any version of Windows 10. You can either go to Windows Update and install the patch, or you can download it manually from the Windows Update Catalog.

Flash player windows 8.1