Microsoft Expands Windows 10 Version 2004 Rollout

Microsoft Giveth and Microsoft Taketh Away

Thanks to some machine learning-based training and the resolution of several blockers, Microsoft has expanded the rollout of Windows 10 version 2004.

“Windows 10 version 2004 is available for users with devices running Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909, who manually seek to ‘Check for updates’ via Windows Update,” a recently-updated Microsoft support document notes. “We are now starting a new phase in our rollout. Using the machine learning-based (ML-based) training we have done so far, we are increasing the number of devices selected to update automatically to Windows 10 version 2004 that are approaching end of service. We will continue to train our machine learning through all phases to intelligently rollout new versions of Windows 10 and deliver a smooth update experience.”

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Recent data from AdDuplex suggests that this smooth update experience is slowing down the delivery of Windows 10 version 2004, which is acquired by installing the May 2020 Update. In June, this release accounted for only 7 percent of all Windows 10 version in use, and by the end of July, that number had grown only to 11.6 percent.

The key factor impacting this rollout, of course, is the number of deployment blockers that are still in place. But as a reader pointed out on Twitter, Microsoft is quietly closing the gap on deployment blockers, with 9 previous blockers resolved and only three remaining.

Those three remaining blockers are:

Errors or issues during or after updating devices with Conexant ISST audio drivers. Devices with affected Conexant ISST audio drivers might receive an error or have issues with Windows 10, version 2004. This issue dates back to May 2020.

Issues updating or starting up devices when aksfridge.sys or aksdf.sys is present. Devices with apps or drivers using certain versions of aksfridge.sys or aksdf.sys might have issues updating or starting.

Dragging with the mouse in some apps might cause issues for some IME [Input Method Editor] users. Users of the Microsoft IME for Chinese and Japanese might receive an error or the app might stop responding or close.

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Conversation 24 comments

  • StevenLayton

    02 August, 2020 - 12:54 pm

    <p>Someone, please tell me I’m not the only one who misread the file name as “askfridge.sys” and wondered what small subset of Windows users have a smart fridge that might be blocking them from updating!</p>

    • sgbassett

      Premium Member
      02 August, 2020 - 1:33 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#558490">In reply to StevenLayton:</a></em></blockquote><p>I did too. </p>

    • SvenJ

      02 August, 2020 - 2:06 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#558490"><em>In reply to StevenLayton:</em></a><em> </em>You are not alone.</blockquote><p><br></p>

    • DavidSlade

      Premium Member
      02 August, 2020 - 7:20 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#558490">In reply to StevenLayton:</a></em></blockquote><p>"aksfridge.sys" These are drivers used with HASP dongles. I have a pc with these drivers. After they were updated 2004 installed. </p>

    • proftheory

      Premium Member
      02 August, 2020 - 8:16 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#558490">In reply to StevenLayton:</a></em></blockquote><p>It must be that Cortana interface in my fridge which keeps getting blocked with ice.</p>

  • SvenJ

    02 August, 2020 - 4:48 pm

    <p>My Surface Pro7 still promises it's coming, as soon as my device is ready. Wonder what the excuse is now. It has Intel/Realtek audio, not Conexant. Those aks files are nowhere to be found. I'm not using IME for Chinese or Japanese, and I promise not to sell to anyone who might. So?…. </p>

  • Singingwolf

    02 August, 2020 - 6:52 pm

    <p>Long live 1703 and Media Center. </p>

    • pwingert

      03 August, 2020 - 4:02 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#558523"><em>In reply to Singingwolf:</em></a><em> So say we all!</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    02 August, 2020 - 8:12 pm

    <p>Thanks for the heads up Paul. I have a 2019 Lenovo Thinkpad X1 carbon and the May 2020 2004 update only just became available last week. Downloaded and installed it, the machine went into a tizz for a few days possible hardwaresoftware driver incompatibilities before settling down, ok since. Just wondering are people with recent surface laptopsdevices receiving the update yet? </p>

    • mattbg

      Premium Member
      02 August, 2020 - 9:24 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#558529">In reply to brettscoast:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have a 2017 X1 Carbon which I believe has Conexant audio and I didn't get it yet, but I do now have an ad of sorts in the Windows Update app saying that it will be available soon.</p><p><br></p><p>As an ad, it looks kind of dumb to be telling me to look forward to the "May 2020 Update" when it's August already…</p>

  • dave.liao

    02 August, 2020 - 9:30 pm

    <p>I've been using 2004 on a Surface Laptop 3 and it's been smooth sailing so far…</p>

  • victorchinn

    Premium Member
    03 August, 2020 - 1:55 am

    <p>Just bought a new Surface Book 3 this week … still no update to 2004 available yet … wearing out the check for updates button in the meantime while I hurry up and wait … which will come first ? vaccine or 2004 update for SB3 owners? </p><p><br></p>

  • Sihaz

    03 August, 2020 - 6:53 am

    <p>My SP7 got a firmware update this morning but still doesn't want 2004 :-)</p>

    • pwingert

      03 August, 2020 - 4:01 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#558578"><em>In reply to Sihaz:</em></a><em> Trust me you don't want it. In my case my machine start up time went to 45 minutes and half the time is BSOD'd. Some programs would even load and I kept getting memory availability erors. None of this was happening on 1809. I had to restore from a factory image of 1809 from Dell's install partition.. The windows reset wasn't working it said the operating system version was invalid. luckily my data was on a NAS, I am on 1909 and am going ot try to skip the entire 20xx series. it a complete dumpster fire.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • pesos

    Premium Member
    03 August, 2020 - 10:27 am

    <p>Surface Pro X also still being blocked. Had to get a hold of the 20h2 ISO and do a manual IPU. Machine's running great.</p>

  • blue77star

    03 August, 2020 - 10:33 am

    <p>I am on 20H2 19042.423, runs great. Update never worked for me, so if you are not getting update just do format and clean install. That will go through.</p>

  • StephenCWLL

    03 August, 2020 - 10:59 am

    <p>I'm the reader in question – and I've still not got the blooming update :D</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      04 August, 2020 - 11:35 am

      🙂 Sorry.

  • ebraiter

    03 August, 2020 - 3:53 pm

    <p>Ummm. The fall release could be out in September [we know it could be October!]. may want to wait until thrn.</p>

  • pwingert

    03 August, 2020 - 3:56 pm

    <p>2004 was so unstable I had to do a factory restore to 1809 on my Dell G5. I am skipping the entire 20xx series if I can.</p>

  • pwingert

    03 August, 2020 - 4:06 pm

    <p> I am having issues with the Intellimouse pro acting erratically and selecting when it shouldn't. I had this starting in 1909 nad the mouse was almost unusable in 2004 since it would select files in file explorer and then delete them all without me having my hands on the muse.</p>

  • LouS

    04 August, 2020 - 12:35 am

    <p>My advise is to skip it 2004/2020H1 or whatever it is they are calling it this week. I received the update via Windows update on several machines, thankfully my Surface Laptop 3 was not one of them; nor my development desktop machine.</p><p><br></p><p>On all of the computers I have it installed the picture viewer will often just show a blank screen. I am trying to clean up the files on one of my notebooks and I find this very annoying. How hard it is it to display a JPG file???</p><p><br></p><p>On my HP Omen gaming notebook I must either click Alt-Ctrl-DEL or wait 30-60 seconds for before pressing a key for the login screen to appear. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There is a setting for this, and I verified that it is unchecked. </span>Obviously I can get around it, but it is annoying and doesn't happen on any of the other computers that I have 2004 installed on. </p><p><br></p><p>A few other nits along the way. Nothing major, but enough to make me glad I don't have in on my development machine. </p><p><br></p><p>YMMV. Member FDIC, all rights reserved, and any other disclaimers you can think of… lol</p><p><br></p>

  • epguy40

    04 August, 2020 - 8:08 pm

    <p>The v2004 issue with old nVidia graphics hardware &amp; their drivers STILL REMAIN, PAUL!</p><p><br></p><p>"<strong>Issue with older drivers for Nvidia display adapters (GPU)</strong></p><p>You might have issues if you are using an Nvidia display adapter (GPU) and drivers with a version below 358.00."</p><p><br></p><p>and Microsoft says this:</p><p><br></p><p><strong>"Next steps:</strong> Microsoft is working on a resolution and estimate a solution will be available in mid-August."</p><p><br></p><p>and Ms Susan Bradley still has not received the 2004 feature update on her machines, including her Surface &amp; Surface Go devices:</p><p><br></p><p>www.askwoody.com/2020/hello-has-anyone-seen-2004/</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • ezab

      07 August, 2020 - 10:28 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#559094">In reply to epguy40:</a></em></blockquote><p>Why not just update the Nvidia Drivers? The latest version I installed is 451.67! Who uses old drivers unless you want to prevent a Windows 10 Feature update! LOL!</p>

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