Latest Fast Ring build grazes big red button, unintentionally ejects some Windows Insiders

Meanwhile, Skip-Ahead testers glimpse Notepad of the future

Some excited Windows Insiders, breathlessly awaiting the first 19H2 build of the operating system, instead found themselves booted off the programme after installing the latest Fast Ring emission.

While the slightly wobbly and very preview Android mirror in the Your Phone app pleased those with hardware able to run it, some found themselves unceremoniously opted out of receiving any further builds, as Windows Insider supremo Dona Sarkar confirmed.

#WindowsInsiders: some of you may have had your devices opted out of receiving new builds after installing 18356. You can check via Settings > Update and Security > Windows Insider Program. If your device was opted out, you can simply opt back in to receive the next new build <3

— Dona Sarkar (@donasarkar) March 13, 2019

Oopsie.

With 19H1 nearasdamnit done (if weren't for that pesky anti-cheat code), Insiders are eagerly anticipating their first glimpse of 19H2. The accidental dumping may well be an indicator that Microsoft is readying the rings to receive a preview of October's Windows 10. It is, after all, the company's MVP Global Summit next week.

Or it could just be a good old-fashioned cock-up.

Away from glamour of the Fast Ring, Insiders in the Slow Ring found themselves with yet another build to install. Still based on the 18351 build, the code received a "minor update" to bring the number up to 18351.8. The Insider team were tight-lipped about what had actually changed, saying only that the fix would "improve how we service builds".

Leave Notepad aloooooone

Those on the Skip Ahead ring running the 2020 version of Windows 10, 20H1, received much of the fixes already being enjoyed by their 19H1 brethren in the form of build 18855.

Unlike 19H1, however, the list of fixes was headed with a tweak to the venerable Notepad application, which has been a mainstay of Windows since version 1. If Windows decides it needs to restart for an update, Notepad will now restore unsaved content.

Rejoice!

Notepad has been the subject of much tinkering during this release cycle, including receiving support for UTF-8 encoding without a byte order mark back in December 2018 and an interface tweak to show if files were unsaved. Heck, Microsoft even added the option to send feedback from within the app itself.

The Register's feedback would be – to paraphrase Chris Crocker – to leave the thing alone. After all, there are plenty of alternatives out there if one needs modern fripperies such as tabs or syntax colouring. Notepad has managed to spend the last few decades aloof from fads like Universal Windows Platform and PWA and instead remained a steadfast reminder of simpler times.

At least until it is cast to the winds of open source. ®