Windows 11 operating system Preview Build 25276 is currently available for download from the Windows Insider Program. The big draw is a new diagnostic tool that will help in troubleshooting. Also in the latest package from Microsoft are some design tweaks and several bug fixes.
The new tool will allow users to create a Live kernel memory dump (Opens in a new tab) (LKD) for their system to help diagnose problems. A memory dump, also known as a kernel dump, is a record of a computer’s memory at a certain time, usually when an operating system or an application is experiencing some performance issues. Microsoft states that you will be able to get a history of these problems as they happen in real time without interrupting Windows 11 from working as usual. The goal is to speed up the troubleshooting process for “high impact failures and hang-ups”.
The LKD tool will have its home in the Task Manager under the Details section. Right click on the system process and there will be an entry that reads “create direct kernel memory dump file” in the context menu. You can also configure the tool to capture hypervisor pages or abort the process if the memory is not enough.
It is important to note that not everyone will get this feature. Microsoft says it will see a limited release for Insider Program members so you can keep an eye on the feedback. From this feedback, the company will then decide whether or not to roll out the LKD tool to everyone.
additional features
In terms of design tweaks, it’s nothing major. The Settings app will now display Outlook Attachment Data as part of the new visuals introduced in November for the Microsoft 365 subscription. The Network troubleshooter is replaced by the more “modern” Get Help app to help you get “specific recommendations” for fixes.
The fixes cover a variety of original Windows 11 features. To name a few, users can expect the search layout to be fixed for text in right-to-left languages like Arabic, voice access to work properly with the calculator app, and file explorer not to crash when loading recent files. Microsoft is currently investigating other known issues, including reports of Insider Program members experiencing system freezes after downloading new versions.
But one of the more interesting aspects of Build 25276 is what has yet to be officially shown. Users Online (Opens in a new tab) I discovered Microsoft plans to decommission the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) within the next two years. This is probably for the best because MSDT has suffered many zero-day vulnerabilities in recent years with Microsoft being slow to fix them. The last fix happened in August 2022 when the company Patched the DogWalk vulnerability on MSDT, more than two years after it was first discovered.
On the face of it, it appears that the company is no longer interested in supporting MSDT and is preparing to move on. Currently, it is not known what the future replacement will be – assuming there will be one.
Also in release are preview builds for both Apple Music and Apple TV on Windows 11, though they’re missing a few key features. Make sure you check out TechRadar’s coverage of these experimental apps.