Skip to main content

The Windows 10 preview builds are coming fast with 10159

Even though it’s only one day out from the last Windows 10 build, 10158, the next build is already here and rolling out to fast rings users. Build 10159 is an incremental update from 10158, and includes two changes – bug fixes and a new wallpaper. Not just any wallpaper either, but the highly anticipated Windows 10 default background, also known as Hero. It’s hard to beat Bliss for the best wallpaper of all time, but Microsoft is really trying.

The fast update comes as a result of a very stable last build. There wasn’t anything terribly exciting happening in the last build, but a large number of stability improvements were made, as well as enabling some extra functionality in Edge and Cortana. There wasn’t a lot of elaboration as to what the bug fixes in 10159 are, but the Microsoft blog reported that there were over 300 of them.

The big change, however, is the addition of the Hero background. The new default wallpaper for all versions of Windows 10 is now in the hands, and on the desktops, of all fast ring users. Rather than a rendered image, the wallpaper was created from a photo taken of light reflecting through glass panes. Microsoft went into great detail regarding the inspiration and creation of the image with a video that’s posted above.

It looks like updates to Windows 10 are going to keep flowing in as the consumer release creeps closer and closer. The majority of the changes will focus on bug fixes and compatibility improvements, and major features will likely be kept to a minimum. If you aren’t already in the fast ring, it’s the only place to check out all of these fixes and updates as they’re coming through, although there’s a possibility the slow ring will get one or two more builds before July 29th.

Editors' Recommendations

Brad Bourque
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
The Surface Pro 10 sounds amazing, and it may be coming soon
The back of the Surface Pro 9, with the kickstand pulled out.

Microsoft could be getting ready to reveal the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 sooner than expected. Reporting from Windows Central's Zac Bowden indicates the devices might be announced on March 21, and could feature both Intel Core Ultra and Snapdragon X Elite chips under the hood, along with some design tweaks.

These new Surface devices are expected to go all-in on AI features in Windows 11. More important is that we could see the next Surface Laptop in a new ARM-based variant in addition to one with a traditional Intel Core Ultra CPU. This change in chips should not only bring more choice like the Surface Pro 9 did, but also performance gains that can help the devices rival what Apple has accomplished with the iPad Pro, as well as the new MacBook Pro with the M3 chip.

Read more
Microsoft may fix the most frustrating thing about Windows updates
Windows 11 updates are moving to once a year.

Most Windows users will agree that one of the most annoying things about the operating system is the updates. While Windows Updates are necessary, they often tend to come up at the worst possible time, interrupting work and gaming sessions with persistent reminders that the system needs to reboot. Microsoft might be fixing that problem in the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 build, but it's still too early to bid farewell to those ill-timed reboots.

As spotted in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058, Microsoft is testing "hot patching" for some Windows 11 updates. Hot patching refers to a dynamic method of updating that often doesn't change the software version and may not even need a restart. In the context of Windows 11, it's pretty straightforward -- Windows will install the update, and you won't have to reboot your system.

Read more
A new Windows 11 hardware system requirement may be incoming
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Microsoft appears to finally be putting its foot down on how far back it's willing to go when it comes to supporting older hardware. As of the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 build, Microsoft will require that your processor supports the POPCNT instruction. If you're wondering what that is and whether this will affect you, you're not alone.

This new addition was spotted by Bob Pony on X (formerly Twitter). According to the user, if the CPU doesn't support the POPCNT instruction or it's disabled, Windows won't work at all. Multiple system files now require this instruction, starting with the Windows 11 kernel. Long story short -- no POPCNT, no Windows 11 24H2.

Read more