August update leaves Windows reset and recovery dead in the water
- Reference: 1755602894
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/08/19/windows_reset_recovery_broken/
- Source link:
While Windows 11 24H2 and Windows Server are not affected, the [1]issue , which turned up in the August 2025 security update, has hit many other versions, including the outgoing Windows 10.
Thanks to Microsoft's legendary approach to quality control, installing Windows patches these days is getting to be less like Russian Roulette and more like accidentally stepping on a rake left in the grass.
[2]
The problem is especially unfortunate since Microsoft [3]issued a 60-day warning for the end of servicing for Windows 10 22H2 a few days earlier. The company's approach to hardware compatibility means that millions of Windows 10 machines cannot be updated to Windows 11. The problem with the August 2025 security update also means that handing down an old machine could be problematic, since the "Reset my PC" function could fail.
[4]
[5]
According to Microsoft, "attempts to reset or recover the device might fail." This could be through "Reset my PC" or "Fix problems using Windows Update" in the System/Recovery settings, or running RemoteWipe CSP .
[6]Microsoft keeps adding stuff into Windows we don't want – here's what we actually need
[7]Voice, vision, pen: Oh dear. Windows boss says Microsoft is again reshaping OS
[8]Microsoft patch Tuesday update fails to install
[9]Latest Windows patches cause false alarm error to appear in event viewer
Microsoft also confirmed that starting August 12, "some Windows upgrades might fail with error code 0x8007007F ." The problem affected the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2, as well as Windows Server upgrades. The company reckoned the issue had been fixed by August 15, and the error should have gone away. However, if the code comes up, "retrying the upgrade process will typically resolve the issue."
Comforting. Almost like waving away [10]errors Microsoft acknowledged were caused by in-development code bobbing to the surface of production environments.
Affected users cannot ignore the reset and recovery issue, and there is no simple workaround, so Microsoft will be patching the patch ahead of the next scheduled round of updates. The company said: "Microsoft is working to release an out-of-band update for the affected platforms to resolve this issue in the coming days."
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In the meantime, affected users will have to hold off recovering or resetting their devices. ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23H2#3640msgdesc
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aKSfm97OWsXPNMCfV7LKEwAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows-message-center#3632
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aKSfm97OWsXPNMCfV7LKEwAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aKSfm97OWsXPNMCfV7LKEwAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/16/microsoft_windows_features_help_productivity/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/14/microsofts_windows_revision_comment_opinion/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/14/microsoft_patch_tuesday_update_fails/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/13/microsoft_lets_more_development_code/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/13/microsoft_lets_more_development_code/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aKSfm97OWsXPNMCfV7LKEwAAARM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Seems like the perfect opportunity...
I've never had any difficulty wiping Windows and installing a different Windows or an unrelated OS.
Pushing Windows 11
Windows Update doing nasty things to existing Windows 10 installations?
One is hard pressed no to suspect willful interference on the part of Microsoft.
Re: Pushing Windows 11
One day there is going to be an update that breaks Win 10/11 so badly that it all becomes unrecoverable.
Re: Pushing Windows 11
One day there is going to be an update that breaks Win 10/11 so badly that it all becomes unrecoverable.
That seems normal for Win11. I'm becoming used to partner or kids presenting me with laptops showing Win11 recovery screens because it's fallen and it can't get up. Then going through the boot loop into recovery where it says it's repairing, but doesn't. And being the most godawful excuse of an OS, gives no useful indication of what it thinks the problem is, or why it can't fix it. So then its usually a case of watching it spin it's wheels while it reinstalls. Which is another pet peeve because it gives no indication about what it's doing, or whether its hung.
And.. another thing I noticed. One of the recovery options is to use system restore points, except for some reason, when system update does its thing, it doesn't create a restore point so the update can be rolled back. This seems a rather bizarre decision by MS.
Copilot
Vibe coding operating system updates is going great I see.
Re: Copilot
You saying Copilot can't code worth a damn? Perhaps Microsoft should have HR send him/her/it a memo saying that he/she/it has 12 months to either shape up or find a new job within the company that doesn't involve coding. Maybe something in sales? Or the executive suite?
Windows Fail
less like Russian Roulette and more like accidentally stepping on a rake left in the grass
The latter sounds preferable as it is less likely to be fatal, albeit more likely to happen.
Unfortunately the latest Windows Fail may well be fatal for the PC if a fix isn't applied to prevent it.
No need for me to worry, I abandoned ship years ago and all my computers from Pi up to workstation run Linux.
Silver lining
Maybe the broke-ass bitches among us will be finding donated/ $50 old laptops that won't work with Windows anymore
Is there any good open source or free programs to "Freeze" a computer like they used to do in CyberCafes?
Is it just me, or has there been a rash of severe Windows issues lately? Excellence seems not to be on the menu at Microsoft these days.
"Excellence is not an Option"
Intentional
Let's see here now, they install crapware to auto repair the OS after they install updates that breaks hardware(SSD's. and spinning rust drives) and none of it works right.
If this isn't intentional then I'm mentally handicapped.
You just can't make this shit up. Please, somebody shoot me with a brand new big fucking gun and get it over with now.
Excuse me now, I have to contact a bunch of customers and explain to them how to block updates.microsoft[.]com at the firewall.
This shit is getting real old real fast!
Seems like the perfect opportunity...
To install a completely different OS instead of trying to reset/recover Windhose...