Windows 10 Warning: Anger at Microsoft Rises With Serious New Failure

Gordon KellySenior ContributorConsumer Tech Mar 14, 2020,08:55am EST

Windows 10 users, you’ve had a rotten couple of months, but now is no time to relax because Microsoft updates have struck again. This is what is happening as well as what you need to know to stay safe. 

Spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft’s newly released KB4540673 update was meant to be a low key patch designed to improve Edge and Explorer security, but users are reporting a whole host of problems. These are the primary ones:

02/13 Update: important additional update news today (via BleepingComputer) with Microsoft announcing it has patched a critical Windows 10 vulnerability in Microsoft Server Message Block 3.1.1 (SMBv3). The update - KB4551762 - patches "a network communication protocol issue that provides shared access to files, printers, and serial ports." It is rolling out to Windows Update now but can also be manually installed via the Microsoft Update Catalog. "We recommend that you apply this update to your affected devices with priority," states Microsoft with the company noting that no real world exploits have been developed, though with the problem now out in the open that will be only a matter of time. The exploit, known as SMBGhost or EternalDarkness, affects 1903 and 1909 versions of Windows 10 and Windows Server. Edit: following the Bleeping Computer report, there is an excellent analysis of the problem from Davey Winder here.

03/14 Update: Problems with KB4540673 are getting worse. In a new report, Windows Latest states that multiple users are now facing audio problems (particularly with older sound cards) and uninstalling the update, rolling back to an older version of Windows and reinstalling drivers does not fix it. In addition to this, KB4540673 is resulting in a user profile bug which causes Windows 10 to load a temporary user profile when booting up. Users have been able to log back into their original profiles and remove the temporary account, but it's an irritating fault which also has a depressing sense of deja vu. Beyond these, there are also isolated cases of Internet connectivity problems, freezes and app crashes being reported. Back to the drawing board with this one, Microsoft.

Blue Screen Of Death Crashes And Boot Failures

“After installing it I started having BSOD every time I started my PC,” stated one user who contacted Windows Latest. “Only solution I had was rolling back to a previous restore points of some days ago.”

“This March update installed automatically on my devices and it leads to BSOD errors on my gaming PC and my work laptop,” wrote another. 

Others took to Reddit: 

“I'm in the same boat. Black screen after BIOS since yesterday morning. Haven't been able to format hard drive to reinstall. It's been a total nightmare” - source

“Installed KB4540673 today got blue screen while playing CS:GO… All my drivers are updated but with recent windows 10 updates I am running into problems constantly.” - source

“After the update I am stuck on the "welcome" screen, loading forever. If I press the power button it changes to the "shutting down" screen but it's still stuck there forever. I have to forcibly press the power button until the pc shuts down if I want to exit...but I'm completely locked out.” - source

“I had the same. I ran WinRE startup recovery which removed the update so my laptop is working again. I'm deciding what to do next.” - source

If this sounds familiar, it should. The exact same problems occurred with another recent Windows 10 update - KB4535996 - earlier this week. 

Serious Installation Errors 

Remarkably, it seems KB4540673 doesn’t even need to complete its installation to cause significant problems or just hang for hours. 

“Looking for help with this update gone wrong. It never fully installed. Windows started checking for errors upon restart and I can't get past that point…  I've tried restore point and uninstalling the update, but no luck.” - source

“I keep getting an error whenever trying to install this update, so I guess I'll just skip this one out. What a predictably awesome experience Microsoft! Seriously, hats off to you gents!” - source

“I have the same issue, only mine doesn’t go far as 1% and it won't allow the other updates to download so I really don’t know what to do.. like I’ve had my pc opened all day and is still 1%, 

As it stands, Microsoft has confirmed one issue with the update on the official KB4540673 page, stating that 32-bit applications and processes “might encounter issues” on Windows Server. But nothing has been recognised for the problems everyday Windows 10 users are currently experiencing. 

As some affected users noted above, if your PC will still boot after installing KB4540673 (a big IF in a lot of cases) then the problems can be reversed by uninstalling the update. You can do this by following these steps: 

• In Windows Desktop Search type ‘update history’ then click ‘View your Update history’
• Select ‘Uninstall Updates’
• On the Installed Updates dialog window, find and select KB4540673, click the Uninstall button
• Restart

If you want to proactively block KB4540673 for installing in the first place, download the Windows Update troubleshooter. This can also stop it from attempting to install later. One caveat: if your computer is running fine and you find KB4540673 is installed, do not remove it, instead buy a lottery ticket.

To Microsoft’s credit, it has now rolled out important Windows 10 update improvements it first promised in September, but the testing methodology for updates clearly remains flawed. What the company plans to do about this is unclear, but if there’s one message to convey it’s this:

Time to shape up, Microsoft.  

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2020/03/12/microsoft-windows-10-warning-freeze-crash-boot-failure-installation-problems-upgrade-windows-10-free/#2c4e5703161e