Tech Company Urges Immediate Update Removal
- A recent Windows 11 security update triggered widespread system failures, leaving millions of users with crashing computers and unusable applications.
- The update, targeting Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 versions, promised performance improvements for new-generation neural processing units (NPUs) and various security fixes.
- Microsoft acknowledged the issues in a post on the Microsoft Health dashboard (https://status.microsoft.com/en-us/status-center/service-communications/KB5074109-Known-issues-January-2024). The company is investigating the root cause and working on a resolution.
A recent Windows 11 security update triggered widespread system failures, leaving millions of users with crashing computers and unusable applications. Microsoft released the KB5074109 update on January 13th,intending to improve security and system stability.Rather, it caused systems to crash, display black screens, and prevent critical applications from opening. The company now advises affected users to immediately uninstall the update.
SYSTEM INSTABILITY AND CRASHES
The update, targeting Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 versions, promised performance improvements for new-generation neural processing units (NPUs) and various security fixes. However, users quickly reported system instability after installation. Manny with NVIDIA graphics cards experienced random black screens and display issues. Some users couldn’t boot their computers normally and had to resort to Safe Mode.
Microsoft acknowledged the issues in a post on the Microsoft Health dashboard (https://status.microsoft.com/en-us/status-center/service-communications/KB5074109-Known-issues-January-2024). The company is investigating the root cause and working on a resolution.
“Affected users should uninstall the update,” Microsoft stated. Instructions for uninstalling updates in Windows can be found on Microsoft’s support website (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uninstall-or-remove-updates-in-windows-11-19357d1a-6d98-49a8-a992-184539f99698).
The problems highlight the risks associated with rapid software updates, even those intended to enhance security. Users should consider delaying non-critical updates until reports of widespread issues subside.