diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 5b7b7b2..bbe5893 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -261,63 +261,6 @@ jobs:
         if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
         run: cargo test --locked -p omnigraph-server --features aws
 
-  test_windows_binaries:
-    name: Test Windows release binaries
-    needs: classify_changes
-    runs-on: windows-latest
-    timeout-minutes: 75
-    permissions:
-      contents: read
-    env:
-      CARGO_TERM_COLOR: always
-    steps:
-      - name: Skip for text-only changes
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci != 'true'
-        run: Write-Host "Text-only change detected; skipping Windows binary build."
-
-      - name: Checkout source
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        uses: actions/checkout@v5.0.1
-
-      - name: Install system dependencies
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        run: choco install protoc -y
-
-      - name: Install Rust stable
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
-        with:
-          toolchain: stable
-
-      - name: Cache Rust build data
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
-        with:
-          workspaces: |
-            . -> target
-          key: windows-release-binaries
-
-      - name: Build Windows binaries
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        run: cargo build --release --locked -p omnigraph-cli -p omnigraph-server
-
-      - name: Smoke test Windows binaries
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        run: |
-          & ./target/release/omnigraph.exe version
-          & ./target/release/omnigraph-server.exe --help
-
-      - name: Check PowerShell installer syntax
-        if: needs.classify_changes.outputs.run_full_ci == 'true'
-        run: |
-          $tokens = $null
-          $errors = $null
-          [System.Management.Automation.Language.Parser]::ParseFile("scripts/install.ps1", [ref]$tokens, [ref]$errors) | Out-Null
-          if ($errors.Count -gt 0) {
-            $errors | Format-List
-            exit 1
-          }
-
   rustfs_integration:
     name: RustFS S3 Integration
     needs:
diff --git a/docs/dev/testing.md b/docs/dev/testing.md
index f18600b..8974a9f 100644
--- a/docs/dev/testing.md
+++ b/docs/dev/testing.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ The engine's `tests/` is the principal coverage surface; most graph-shaped behav
 | `s3_storage.rs` | S3-backed graph (skipped unless `OMNIGRAPH_S3_TEST_BUCKET` is set) |
 | `lance_version_columns.rs` | Per-row `_row_last_updated_at_version` behavior |
 | `validators.rs` | Schema constraint enforcement (enum, range, unique, cardinality) across JSONL, insert, update paths |
-| `maintenance.rs` | `optimize` (compaction) + `cleanup` (version GC): empty/idempotent/no-op edges, policy validation, head preservation; `optimize` publishes the compacted version so the manifest tracks the Lance HEAD and a subsequent schema apply succeeds (`optimize_publishes_compaction_to_manifest_so_schema_apply_succeeds`), and reconciles a pre-existing manifest-behind-HEAD drift forged via raw Lance compaction (`optimize_reconciles_preexisting_manifest_head_drift`) |
+| `maintenance.rs` | `optimize` (compaction) + `cleanup` (version GC): empty/idempotent/no-op edges, policy validation, head preservation; `optimize` publishes the compacted version so the manifest tracks the Lance HEAD and a subsequent schema apply succeeds (`optimize_publishes_compaction_to_manifest_so_schema_apply_succeeds`), and refuses to run while a `__recovery` sidecar is pending so optimize only ever operates on a recovered graph (`optimize_defers_when_recovery_sidecar_is_pending`) |
 | `failpoints.rs` | Failure-injection coverage (gated on `failpoints` feature). Includes the five per-writer Phase B → recovery integration tests (`recovery_rolls_forward_after_finalize_publisher_failure`, `schema_apply_phase_b_failure_recovered_on_next_open`, `branch_merge_phase_b_failure_recovered_on_next_open`, `ensure_indices_phase_b_failure_recovered_on_next_open`, `optimize_phase_b_failure_recovered_on_next_open`). |
 | `recovery.rs` | Open-time recovery sweep — sidecar I/O, classifier dispatch (NoMovement / RolledPastExpected / UnexpectedAtP1 / UnexpectedMultistep / InvariantViolation), all-or-nothing decision, roll-forward via `ManifestBatchPublisher::publish`, roll-back via `Dataset::restore`, audit row in `_graph_commit_recoveries.lance`, `OpenMode::ReadOnly` skip path |
 | `composite_flow.rs` | Compositional/narrative end-to-end stories — multi-step flows that compose mechanics covered by other test files. Catches integration regressions where individual operations all pass their unit tests but their composition breaks (sequential merges, post-merge main writes, time-travel through merge DAG, reopen consistency over multi-merge histories, post-optimize and post-cleanup strict writes). |