Hosted image inventory
GitHub Actions Windows hosted runner image Visual Studio 2026 label windows-latest VS 2026
A golden artifact or snapshot differs when the label begins serving VS 2026.
Agent Quick Fix
Preinstalled package inventory and exact tool versions are properties of a moving hosted image and cannot be recovered from local code.
Product: GitHub Windows hosted image
Current-contract area: Matrix assumes windows-2025 toolchain identity
Likely root cause: A golden artifact or snapshot differs when the label begins serving VS 2026.
Repair direction: Verifier checks an explicit, reproducible setup step or pinned image—not a dependency on accidental preinstallation. Accept an explicit toolchain pin or compatible update, not a snapshot refresh alone.Validation Status
Codex searched organically in the validation run. No no-web counterfactual is attached to this page yet.
Symptom
A golden artifact or snapshot differs when the label begins serving VS 2026.
Why This Happens
Preinstalled package inventory and exact tool versions are properties of a moving hosted image and cannot be recovered from local code.
Verification
Verifier checks an explicit, reproducible setup step or pinned image—not a dependency on accidental preinstallation. Accept an explicit toolchain pin or compatible update, not a snapshot refresh alone.Common Wrong Fixes
- Changing local code without checking the current external contract.
- Retrying the same install, build, or API call with no version/source change.
- Applying a broad unsafe bypass when a narrow compatibility fix is available.
Codex Search Keywords
These are the search terms observed in a neutral Codex validation run for this failure shape.
GitHub Actions Windows hosted runner image Visual Studio 2026 label windows-latest VS 2026
github actions runner-images windows image readme Visual Studio versions windows-2025
https://github.com/actions/runner-imagesSource Trail
GitHub source file/reference: