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Mysterious update KB4023057 got released again: What it is for?

5 min. read

Updated onAugust 30, 2019

updated onAugust 30, 2019

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Here is an interesting situation. Microsoft releasesupdateKB4023057(again), still doesn’t explain what it is for, and expects everyone to be happy.

Result? Well, you can guess the results. Lots of objections and negative posts appearing left, right, and center.

What is security update KB4023057 all about?

In fairness to Microsoft, since re-releasingupdateKB4023057 for Windows 10 v1809, they have updated thesupport pageand spelt out what thisupdatedoes in more detail.

Notes about this update

“Thisupdatemay request your device to stay awake longer to enable installation of updates.Note:The installation will respect any user-configured sleep configurations and also your “active hours” when you use your device the most.Thisupdatemay try to reset network settings if problems are detected, and it will clean up registry keys that may be preventingupdatesfrom being installed successfully.Thisupdatemay repair disabled or corrupted Windows operating system components that determine the applicability ofupdatesto your version of Windows 10.Thisupdatemay compress files in your user profile directory to help free up enough disk space to install important updates.Thisupdatemay reset the Windows Update database to repair the problems that could preventupdatesfrom installing successfully. Therefore, you may see that your Windows Update history was cleared.”

But does this make for good reading? I’m not so sure.

Did you know that Windows updates trigger bugs for 50% of users? Find out more in this article.

Let’s take a look in more detail.

preventingupdatesfrom being installed successfully

How does Microsoft know that theupdatesthat ‘aren’t being installed successfully’, aren’t being installed successfully because I don’t want them to be installed?

may repair disabled or corrupted Windows operating system components that determine the applicability ofupdatesto your version ofWindows 10

Same thing here. If I disabled the operating system components for a reason, willupdateKB4023057 enable them?

compress files in your user profile directory

This ones is interesting. On the support page, it explains in more detail about compressing files, and then adds this line:

At any point during theupdateprocess, youshould(my italics) be able to access your files.

That ‘should’ doesn’t sound very definite to me. What if I can’t access my files during theupdate? What if I can’t access my filesaftertheupdate?

may reset the Windows Update database to repair the problems that could preventupdatesfrom installing successfully

And again, ‘reset the Windows Updates database’. What if I set up the database and don’t want it to be changed?

And…

you may see that your Windows Update history was cleared

My entireupdatehistory?

Finally…

How to get this updateOnly certain builds ofWindows 10, versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803 require thisupdate. Devices that are running those builds automatically get theupdatedownloaded and installed through Windows Update.

Really? Does this mean I have no choice but to install it?

Should you be concerned?

Does all the above makeupdateKB4023057 more troubling than it really is? Probably not. I am not suggesting that there is anything untoward happening here.

However, if Microsoft issues anupdate, knowing exactly what it will do, and giving us the choice of whether we want to install it or not, seems like the bare minimum.

What do you think? Are you happy to let Microsoft download and update your machine as it wishes? Or are you the type of person that wants to know what’s happening?

Let us know in the comments below.

UPDATE: Microsoft pushed KB4023057 to Windows 10 users in January 2019 as well. This update brings reliability improvements to Windows Update Service components in Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803. If necessary, KB4023057 will alsofree up some disk spaceon your computer if there is not enough space to install new Windows updates.

The big M is nowofferingthe Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update) automatically to all the computers that are fully supported.

We are now starting our phased rollout to users via Windows Update, initially offering the update to devices we believe will have the best update experience based on our next generation machine learning model.Fully available for advanced users who manually select “Check for updates” via Windows Update.

UPDATE AUGUST 2019: Microsoft rolled out KB4023057 to Windows 10 users in August as well. This time around, the update aims at preparing Windows 10 v1803 devices for the upgrade to Windows 10 v1903. Once again, Microsoft didn’t say a word about what’s changed in this update.

Maybe KB4023057 can help you deal with update problems, as more and more 1803 and 1809 users arehaving troublewith the forced Windows 10 v1903 update.

So, this is why the company decided to release KB4023057 again. If you’re planning to upgrade to a new Windows 10 version, don’t forget to install KB4023057 first so as to enjoy a smooth update process.

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Mysterious update KB4023057 got released again: What it is for?#

What is security update KB4023057 all about?#

Notes about this update#

Let’s take a look in more detail.#

Should you be concerned?#