Windows Server 2025: An Update You Didn’t See Coming

This Week in IT, Microsoft teases putting one of the best features of Windows Server behind a paywall, Arch Linux is now officially supported in Windows, and Windows Recall and improved search finally get launched on ARM Copilot+ PCs.

Links and resources

• Windows Server 2025 Hotpatching to Require Monthly Fee
• Tired of all the restarts? Get hotpatching for Windows Server – Microsoft Windows Server Blog
• Robin Candau | Arch Linux now has an official WSL image
• Microsoft Launches Windows Recall for Copilot+ PCs
• Copilot+ PCs are the most performant Windows PCs ever built, now with more AI features that empower you every day | Windows Experience Blog

Episode overview

This Week in IT, Russell discusses:

• Hot Patching Subscription Model: Microsoft will introduce a subscription fee for the Hot Patching feature in Windows Server 2025, charging $1.50 per CPU core starting July 1st. This may affect organizations that were not budgeting for this additional cost. 
• Arch Linux Support in WSL: Arch Linux is now officially supported in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), making it easier for developers to run Linux applications on Windows without the overhead of a virtual machine. 
• Windows Recall Launch: After previous security concerns, Windows Recall is finally available on ARM-based Copilot Plus PCs. It allows users to search through screenshots taken by the application. 
• AI-Powered Search Improvements: Microsoft has enhanced Windows search capabilities with AI, allowing users to use natural language for queries and providing options for highlighted text in browsers. 
• Copilot Usage Statistics: Microsoft is reportedly struggling with Copilot adoption, with only about 20 million users compared to 400 million for ChatGPT, indicating a need for improvement in user engagement.