Most of the Windows testing world anxiously anticipated that Microsoft would drop Win10 version 1803 yesterday, but we got bupkis — and a tiny patch that may hold the clue for the delay. Most of us expected Microsoft to drop its latest and greatest version of the last version of Windows yesterday. The highly anticipated version 1803, Redstone 4 — which many of us have been testing for weeks — looked ready to go … until it wasn’t. Rumors are flying but, as of this writing, the actual cause for the delay isn’t public. Microsoft, of course, has never committed to a release date. Or a build number. Or even a hokey “Spring after Fall Creators Update” style name, for that matter. (I’m still plugging for “Terry Myerson Swansong version” but doubt it’ll gain traction.) Instead of a new version, all we got was a little patch, KB 4100375, that raised the build number from 17133.1 (which was released to the Fast ring on March 27) to 17133.73. The official blog post, co-authored by Dona Sarkar and Brandon LeBlanc, says: UPDATE 4/10: We have released KB4100375 (OS Build 17133.73) to Windows Insiders running Build 17133 in the Fast, Slow, and Release Preview rings. This update includes the following quality improvements (no new OS features): Addresses a PDF security issue in Microsoft Edge. Addresses an issue that, in some instances, prevents Internet Explorer from identifying custom controls. Security updates to Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft scripting engine, Windows kernel, Microsoft graphics component, Windows Server, Windows cryptography, and Windows datacenter networking. Which seems suitably generic, but it leaves a lot of wiggle room — and absolutely no explanation for the delay. The download is coyly labeled “Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version Next.” Woody Leonhard/IDG Zac Bowden, reporting on Windows Central, attributes the delay to a “blocking bug” — which, in normal English, just means “a bug so bad that Microsoft figured they better stop the rollout”: According to my sources, over the weekend Microsoft found a blocking bug that, while apparently rather rare, is impactful enough to hold the release until the issue is fixed. … Thanks to feedback from Insiders in the Fast, Slow, and Release Preview rings, this bug was caught before rollout began. Which is rather remarkable, because “Windows Insider” beta testers have had 17133.1 for two weeks — Fast ring got it on March 27, Slow ring on March 30, and Preview ring on April 10. Hard to understand how it could take two weeks to discover a bad bug. Bowden goes on to tweet: Not sure if bug was fixed in 17133.73 or if it’ll come in another patch. RS4 will likely begin rollout in a couple weeks now. Microsoft, of course, is mum. My guess — and it’s only a guess — is that Microsoft found some conflict with this month’s Patch Tuesday crop that blew two weeks of Fast ring testing out of the water. Got a better guess? Join us on the AskWoody Lounge. Don’t forget to block the forced upgrade to Win10 version 1803, when and/or if it’s released. Related content opinion On a personal note... Woody Leonhard looks back a bit, looks ahead to retirement — and shares good news about who's picking up the Windows patching torch. By Woody Leonhard Nov 09, 2020 3 mins Small and Medium Business Computers Windows news analysis Get Microsoft's October patches installed — and seriously consider Win10 2004 Odd ancillary patches have their problems, but the mainstream October patches look pretty reliable. The big question: Is Win10 version 2004 up to your stability standards. I’m skeptical -- especially because it has few worthwhile improvements. By Woody Leonhard Oct 30, 2020 6 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Computers news analysis Microsoft Patch Alert: October 2020 The big news with this month’s patches – aside from the usual smorgasbord of strange errors – has more to do with the patches that are outside the regular cumulative update stream. Remarkably, we didn’t get any security fixes By Woody Leonhard Oct 22, 2020 189 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Office Microsoft news analysis With Patch Tuesday here, be sure Windows Update is paused With all the flotsam floating around, it’s easy to lose sight of Second Tuesdays. October’s arrives tomorrow and, with it, another round of Windows and Office patches. Take a minute to make sure you aren’t in the front lines, as eve By Woody Leonhard Oct 12, 2020 5 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Windows Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe