Windows 11 Preview Build 25276 is currently available for download from the Windows Insider program. The big highlight is the new diagnostic tool that will help with troubleshooting. Also included in Microsoft’s latest package are some design tweaks and some bug fixes.
The new tool will allow users to create live kernel memory dump (opens in a new tab) (LKD) of your system to help diagnose problems. A memory dump, also known as a memory dump, is a record of your computer’s memory at a specific time, usually when the operating system or application has performance issues. Microsoft says you’ll be able to get a real-time record of these issues without interrupting normal Windows 11 operation. The goal is to speed up troubleshooting for “severe crashes and freezes.”
The LKD tool will have its home in the Task Manager under the Details section. Right-click on the system process and the context menu will show the entry “Create Live Kernel Memory Dump File”. You can also configure the Hypervisor page capture tool or abort the process if there is not enough memory.
It should be noted that not everyone will receive this feature. Microsoft says it will see a limited version for Insider members to monitor feedback. Based on these opinions, the company will decide whether the LKD tool will go to everyone.
Additional features
As for the design tweaks, they are nothing major. The Settings app will now include “Outlook Attachment Data” as part of the new visuals introduced in November for Microsoft 365 subscriptions. The Network Troubleshooter is being replaced with a more “modern” Get Help app that helps you get “specific recommendations” for fixes.
The fixes cover a wide range of native Windows 11 features. To name a few, users can expect a search layout fix for text in right-to-left languages such as Arabic, Voice Access to work properly with the Calculator app, and File Explorer not should no longer crash when loading recent files. Microsoft is currently investigating other known issues, including reports from Insider Program members experiencing system freezes after downloading new builds.
But one of the more interesting aspects of Build 25276 is what hasn’t been officially shown. Users all over the internet (opens in a new tab) discovered Microsoft’s plans to retire the Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT) within the next two years. This is probably the best solution, as several zero-day vulnerabilities have appeared in MSDT in recent years, and Microsoft has been reluctant to fix them. The last patch was in August 2022 when the company patched a vulnerability in DogWalk on MSDT, more than two years after the first discovery.
At first glance, it looks like the company is no longer interested in supporting MSDT and is preparing to move on. It is currently unknown what the future replacement will be – assuming there will be one.
Previews for Apple Music and Apple TV for Windows 11 are also included in the build, although they lack some major features. Be sure to check TechRadar coverage of these beta apps.