Microsoft releases Windows 10 19H1 Build 18342 with Timeline for Chrome and access to Linux files from File Explorer [Updated]

[Update] This build is now available on the Slow ring.

Microsoft has released a new Windows 10 build to insiders -- Windows 10 19H1 Build 18342. This new build sees improvements to gaming that fix problems with State of Decay. There is also the new and much-requested ability to access Linux files from Explorer, a host of bug fixes, and the launch of a Chrome extension for Timeline. But while this is a significant update with a lot to explore, it's not for everyone. Microsoft has disabled the rollout of the build for systems with certain processors.

See also:

• Microsoft brings Windows Timeline support to Chrome with Web Activities extension
• Updated WSL in Windows 10 version 1903 lets you access Linux files from Windows
• Microsoft reveals Russian hacking attacks as it expands AccountGuard protection across Europe

For Linux enthusiasts, the ability to access Linux files in a WSL distro from Windows is probably the most welcome feature of build 18342, but many people will also be happy to see the arrival of Timeline support for Google Chrome -- albeit through an extension rather than natively.

One of the highlights from Windows 10 Build 18334 was the fact that insiders were given the chance to try out State of Decay for free. In this new build, Microsoft is asking users to uninstall and reinstall the game "to make sure everything still works", and also requests anyone who had problems with the game to simply try it again to see if these issues have now been addressed.

Microsoft acknowledges a problem with build 18342 which means some people won't get it. The company explains:

PCs with the following chipsets processor model numbers will not receive this build due to an issue with Connected Standby: Intel64 Family 6 Model 142 and Intel64 Family 6 Model 158.

It goes on to explain how to "check to see if your processor falls into these two buckets":

1. Open Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button on your taskbar.
2. Open up the Processors group and right-click on one of the processors listed (you will see multiple for each core of the processor in your PC).
3. Click properties and go to the Details tab.
4. Choose "Hardware Ids" in the property dropdown. This will give you the model number of your processor.

As ever, there are a number of other known issues with this build:

• Launching games that use anti-cheat software may trigger a bugcheck (GSOD).
• Creative X-Fi sound cards are not functioning properly. We are partnering with Creative to resolve this issue.
• While we've done some work to improve night light reliability in this build, we're continuing to investigate issues in this space.
• When performing Reset this PC and selecting Keep my files on a device that has Reserved Storage enabled the user will need to initiate an extra reboot to ensure Reserved Storage is working again properly.
• Some Realtek SD card readers are not functioning properly. We are investigating the issue.
• In Windows Sandbox, if you try to navigate to the Narrator settings, Settings app crashes.
• Mouse pointer color might be incorrectly switched to white after signing out and signing back in.
• We're investigating reports of the Chinese version of multiple games not working.

Microsoft also warns developers:

If you install any of the recent builds from the Fast ring and switch to the Slow ring -- optional content such as enabling developer mode will fail. You will have to remain in the Fast ring to add/install/enable optional content. This is because optional content will only install on builds approved for specific rings.

The full list of changes and improvements for this build is as follows:

• The new tamper protection setting in the Windows Security app protects your device by helping to prevent bad actors from tampering with the most important security settings. The setting is now on by default for Insider Preview builds.
• We fixed an issue where Windows Sandbox would not start on localized builds.
• We've done some work to improve error reporting in Windows Sandbox. Now the error dialog includes the error code and a link to the Feedback Hub.
• We fixed an issue where Windows Sandbox was unexpectedly throwing an error due to referencing a deleted file under Windows.old.
• Windows Sandbox now captures hotkeys in full screen.
• Windows Sandbox now supports configuration files! These files allow users to configure some aspects of the sandbox, such as vGPU, networking and shared folders. A blog post to explain this new feature will be available here.
• We improved the capabilities of the wsl.exe command line interface, by adding new features such as importing and exporting distros and consolidating existing features from wslconfig.exe, such as listing distros and setting defaults.
• We fixed an issue where if the Magnifier was enabled and set to docked mode, machine would crash and reboot on sign-in creating a boot loop.
• We fixed an issue resulting in build unable to log into WinRE with an admin account in the last couple of flights.
• We fixed an issue where if you unpinned groups from Start, apps might end up thinking their tiles were still pinned.
• We fixed an issue resulting in being unable to re-arrange pinned folders in Start’s tile grid.
• We fixed an issue where the text explaining the Downloads section of Storage Sense had unexpected characters in it.
• We fixed an issue where Settings would sometimes crash when opening "Advanced Display Settings" from Display Settings.
• We fixed an issue where after changing an app's audio endpoint, it might no longer follow master volume changes.
• We fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to add a drive to the list of folders to exclude when setting up Enhanced Search in Settings.
• We fixed an issue with the Settings header at certain window sizes where long names might be truncated in the middle, rather than wrapping properly.
• We fixed an issue from the previous flight where right-clicking the desktop would bring up a light colored context menu in dark theme.
• We fixed an issue impacting Emoji Panel and Clipboard History reliability.
• We've made another fix to address reports of devices getting stuck with "Hibernating..." text on the screen on resume from hibernate.
• We fixed an issue that could cause Windows logon to forget the last logged on user, and instead would display the sign-in prompt for the default user from the list after dismissing the lock screen.
• We fixed an issue where an issue where some of the Real-Time Protection options for Malwarebytes Premium are not able to be turned on.
• We fixed an issue resulting in Internet Explorer's menu bar not always appearing if enabled.
• We fixed an issue resulting in CDPUserSVC using an unexpectedly large amount of CPU for prolonged periods of time.
• We fixed an issue resulting in DWM crashing frequently for some Insiders on the previous flight.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain games recently going into a black screen/not responding state if their resolution was lower than 1920*1080 and the game entered fullscreen.
• We fixed an issue resulting in certain games no longer rendering UI updates (appearing visually stuck) after using Alt + Tab to quickly switch away and back to the game.
• We fixed an issue resulting in significant video and audio lag when projecting videos from certain devices on recent builds.
• We fixed an issue where turning off Location from the Action Center might take multiple clicks to react.
• We fixed an issue resulting in single Unicode character insertion failing for IMEs, the touch keyboard, and the Emoji Panel in certain types of edit controls recently.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the left and right arrows on the touch keyboard inserting 4 and 6, respectively, in certain languages.
• We fixed an issue where newly installed apps might not show up in search results.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the Search pane becoming truncated if launched after rotating the device orientation from horizontal to vertical.
• We fixed a high impact issue resulting in a decrease in Start reliability in the last couple of flights.
• We fixed a recent issue where if you hid the search icon in the taskbar, a number of win32 apps would unexpectedly redraw when opening the Start menu.
• We fixed an issue that could result in unexpected flickering if you used pen or touch in certain win32 apps to launch a second instance of the app when in tablet mode.
• Have a need to create a file that starts with a dot? File Explorer will now allow you to rename a file to be something like ".gitignore" -- previously there would be an error siting that you needed to provide a name.
• We fixed an issue resulting in File Explorer potentially hanging when trying to rename, delete, or move MKV files in the previous flight.
• We fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders not being able to open Cortana when in Tablet Mode.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the taskbar blinking if an AC adapter was attached when the device had less than 20% battery.
• We fixed an issue resulting in the taskbar disappearing for a second when dismissing Start/Cortana/Search on a secondary monitor.
• We're updating the name of the "Windows Light" theme to now be "Windows (light)".
• We fixed an issue where Cortana’s icon on secondary monitors wouldn’t update colors after switching between light and dark theme.
• We fixed an issue where when using light theme + small icons + a vertical taskbar orientation, text written on the taskbar would stay white and thus wouldn’t be readable.
• We fixed an issue that could result in open apps not being shown on the taskbar (but being visible in Alt + Tab).
• We fixed an issue resulting in greys having an unexpected slight pinkish/purple-ish tinge on some devices in recent flights.
• We fixed an issue that could result in DWM crashing after enabling high contrast.
• We fixed an issue in Ease of Access's Cursor and pointer settings, mouse pointer size and color are now retained on upgrade. There is a remaining issue with mouse pointer showing white color instead of the selected color after signing out and signing back in.
• When using the Magnifier with larger pointers, it pans smoothly as the pointers change shape.
• We fixed an issue where navigation mode on Orbit display could not be changed.
• We fixed an issue where Narrator paused unexpectedly when reading through a PDF.
• We fixed an issue where users were unable to join or switch between Windows Insider rings.
• We fixed an issue where the Windows Security app may show an unknown status for the Virus & threat protection area, or not refresh properly.

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