Windows 10 Build 14251 & 14257 - Mostly Improvements you don't see

In pretty short order - MS released Windows 10 Redstone branch builds 14251 and 14257.  

 According to Gabe Aul from the Windows Blog..

 14251 released on Jan 27 - addressed these issues
  • We fixed the issue where some PC games would crash switching from windowed mode to full screen, upon game resolution change, or upon launch due to a bug in Windows graphics stack. So play your games! If you run into any issues – please let us know by reporting in the Feedback app and include the game title.
  • We fixed the issue where applications such as Narrator, Magnifier, and third-party assistive technologies may experience intermittent issues or crashes.
  • We fixed an issue where File Explorer would crash frequently when DPI settings were at 175%.

14257 released on Feb 3 - addressed these issues
  • The issue of periodic app crashes or other memory related app errors due to a memory management change has been resolved. If you were having issues launching the Git client for Windows, you should now be able to launch it in this build.
  • The Connect button now shows up again in Action Center.
  • F12 Developer Tools will now load correctly Microsoft Edge.
  • We fixed an issue where suggested apps were being shown on the Start menu even though “Occasionally show suggestions in Start” was turned off under Settings > Personalization > Start.
  • We fixed an issue where if you try to change the Lock screen picture with “Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen” turned on it will revert back to the default.
  • We fixed an issue where the positions of desktop icons get jumbled up after switching DPI settings from 100% to 150% or 175%.
  • We also fixed an issue where pasting files into a new .zip file (compressed folder) in File Explorer by either right-clicking or Control-V would not work. You should be able to paste tiles into new .zip files just fine now.
As always - I installed on several machines - desktop, laptop & tablet and all installed fine.   While I still see some occasional community posts regarding installation failures - they are very rare anymore.

 14251 and 14527 did break one app for me and that was FitBit.   While the app launches fine - syncing my device - a Charge HR via the supplied bluetooth dongle fails.  The dongle is shown is devices correctly when installed - but when I try to perform a manual sync - I get a dialog stating the BT is not on or to insert the dongle - which it already is.  Sometime I actually get data - but then the app displays a red sync symbol.  I'm not sure if its the app or USB drivers for the dongle base station.  

 I also continue to run into issues with Live Tiles loosing their icons.  The tile is there - it's labelled correctly but there is no icon - the most recent victim of this issue was Outlook 2016.  I don't understand this issue.  The icon shows correctly in all apps - but even when I remove from the start menu and re-add the same problem exists.  In my opinion htese issues should have been solved a long time back..

 So we are now some 8 months since the release of Windows 10 and the new "Windows as a Service" model - where you get complete updates for each release.  While I applaud MS for getting the installations consistent and fast - the types of simple issues I am experiencing just should not be happening.  Now sure I update every Fast Ring build and have not done a clean install in quite some time - but in theory that should not matter using the update approach MS is using.  

 We'll see what the next set of builds in February provide..


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