Microsoft wants to update your Windows 11 PC without forcing you to reboot

[Windows Central]

Microsoft is testing a new update method for Windows 11 that will allow the OS to install critical updates without requiring a reboot.

Microsoft wants to update your Windows 11 PC without forcing you to reboot : Read more

 

[naddy69]

How does it work? According to Microsoft's own documentation, hot patching works by "patching the in-memory code of running processes without the need to restart the process."

Huh? So what happens when I shut down for the day and start up tomorrow? Is the patch still there? Or will it be re-downloaded and re-applied every day?

 

[ClemCa]

How does it work? According to Microsoft's own documentation, hot patching works by "patching the in-memory code of running processes without the need to restart the process."

Huh? So what happens when I shut down for the day and start up tomorrow? Is the patch still there? Or will it be re-downloaded and re-applied every day?

Updating files was never an issue, the thing is there are essential components of the OS that are in memory as they're being used. Even if they aren't, changing the files as they're being used (and potentially read) can cause errors, hence why restarting is often the way to go. The patching in memory is essentially a way to apply the patch without restarting, the files could already change without a restart, so now both the files and their representation in memory are patched at the same time.

 

[naddy69]

Ah, OK. I get it now. Patching both in memory and the file makes sense.

Thanks.