The Windows 20H1 evolution continues as build 19041.173 goes live

Windows Insider Preview build 19041.173 is now live in the Slow ring. The release is an update to build 20H1, which has undergone significant improvements since it hit the Fast ring last year.

Cumulative update KB4552455 fixes multiple bugs, although it does not add new features to build 20H1.

Issues fixed

Microsoft said that this CU includes solutions that came with build 19041.172. Extra fixes include:

App compatibility

The update minimizes app compatibility problems with build 20H1. According to Microsoft, outdated versions of certain Windows 10 applications would fail to launch in some cases.

Resource allocation

The update solves a resource allocation glitch during device initialization. The problem would cause the failure of certain mass storage devices that connect to Windows 10 PCs via USB.

Mute button

Some insiders reported the malfunction of the mute button on specific devices with the Your Phone app. Update KB4552455 fixes this volume control problem.

Other issues the update addresses are:

• We have fixed an issue that causes a fault in the input-output memory management unit (IOMMU) and a DRIVER_VERIFIER_DMA_VIOLATION (e6) error. This issue occurs after resuming from hibernate on systems that have Kernel Direct Memory Access (DMA) Protection and Dynamic Root of Trust Measurement (DRTM) enabled.
• We have updated the Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) to increase the coverage for automatic cellular provisioning on devices with mobile broadband.

Persistent screen reader issues

There is one issue that build 19041.172 does not fix, though. It has everything to do with the incompatibility of certain screen-reading apps and the new Microsoft Edge.

As such, Narrator and NVDA users are still unable to access some content when browsing the web via the Chromium-based browser. These apps work well with the old Edge, however.

Windows 10 20H1 gets closer to general availability

Microsoft may release Windows 10 20H1 to general availability any time in April or even May. Also known as the Windows 10 April 2020 Update, the OS sports a bunch of new features and improvements.

This build has a much-advanced Windows Search experience based on what Fast ring insiders have sampled so far. Virtual assistant, Cortana, also gets some substantial enhancements in this version of Windows 10.

Build 20H1 constitutes a major Windows 10 upgrade that many users cannot wait to download. Hopefully, the current COVID-19 crisis will not significantly delay the release of the OS.