You know, I’ve been thinking of how could Microsoft improve the update process lately. I think that moving the entire OS to use packages to deliver updates (like how Linux does). Since NT (in theory) is made to be a customized for each SKU while still using the same essential code, packaging each component to separate packages has a nice balance: you can still download the packages that are known to work fine all the while the annoyance from downloading 100+ packages is almost gone since you only download the latest version of the component, rather than download 6 (or more) just to do the same thing. Combine it with delta patches, Active Hours and restarting non-essential components (and releasing hotfixes a lot faster, as long as it doesn’t require a computer restart) and you have a pretty robust update system.
So, if it is pretty good, then why Microsoft can’t implement it? Well… trying to implement it will take a significant work to implement it in the kernel level. And it will break programs in the process. Plus, the Update Deployment Servers for businesses will need an overhaul as well. Maybe when a new kernel is being developed?
