Some people are adventurous, and seek to be the first to work with new Windows 10 features via Microsoft's Windows Insider program. Others aren't, in support of want a stable system to utilise on day-to-day basis.

If you're on the list of latter, don't go clicking Windows Update's "Check for updates" button willy-nilly, as your may unwittingly join the ranks of this Windows pioneers-even if yourrrve been simply longing for a patch to improve a problem with your operating-system.

In a text this week, Microsoft said that those users who choose the "Check for updates" button (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) are opted in to testing new Windows features on top of a one-time basis, when happen to select the button through the entire third and fourth week of your month. Microsoft calls those updates "C" and "D" releases, and issues those who are "seeking" them should they click the update button.

Michael Fortin, the organization vice president manage Windows, described the of the updates from a blog post. "The intent worth mentioning releases is to provide visibility into, and let testing of, the non-security fixes to be included in the next Update Tuesday release."

Separately, Microsoft claimed it also issues "on demand" releases that don't enjoy a standard schedule, in an attempt to provide critical fixes. "They are utilised in atypical cases where we detect a worry and cannot wait for next monthly release because devices will have to be updated immediately to fix security vulnerabilities as well solve a superior issue impacting multiple devices," Fortin added.

The drawback with issuing these so-called "C" and "D" releases is this : occasionally they introduce new problems. In late November, just like, Microsoft issued a patch that caused Surface Book 2s to crash with BSODs, throwing a "thread not handled" error. That patch was issued within the last few week of November-meaning that, as reported by Microsoft and How-To Geek, as opposed to only have been issued to many of these who went trying to get it through "Check for updates" button. Microsoft rescinded the patch, but the damage was completed.

What this means to you: Microsoft's blog post notes that they has to protect ample devices month-to-month, and the most effective way to do that usually is to acquire data assessing how its patches are functioning. What's cloudy is whether these "optional" "C" and "D" releases are actually known as options. Instead, do not apply to users looking for a patch for Windows between regular updates should proceed with caution.