Microsoft yanks Windows 11 update after boot loop blunder
- Reference: 1719487932
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/06/27/windows_11_faulty_update/
- Source link:
The problem is the June non-security preview update, [1]KB5039302 , which has left some systems requiring recovery operations to get up and running after install.
According to a [2]message in its Windows Release Health dashboard, Microsoft isn't sure what the problem is, only that it seems to be something to do with virtualization. "This issue is more likely to affect devices utilizing virtual machines tools and nested virtualization features, such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop."
[3]
Azure Virtual Desktop? If only the company had some sort of cloud of its own with which it could test these patches before sending them out. What might that look like?
[4]
[5]
The affected systems are Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2. Microsoft says the virtualization aspect means that users of Windows Home edition are less likely to be affected.
The patch was released on June 26, and Microsoft has wisely opted to pull it from Windows Update and Windows Update for Business while it works out what the problem is.
[6]Microsoft makes it harder to avoid OneDrive during new Windows 11 installs
[7]Microsoft admits to problems upgrading Windows 11 Pro to Enterprise
[8]Microsoft resumes rollout of Windows 11 24H2 to Insiders
[9]Microsoft pulls Windows 11 24H2 from Insider Release Preview Channel
It's a shame because this non-security update has some genuinely useful features. The Show Desktop button has returned the taskbar again by default, and File Explorer was updated with more compression options. For example, 7-Zip and TAR files can now be created from the context menu, and a compression wizard has been added among the tweaks.
Other changes include fixes to the Snipping Tool to deal with distorted video and an update to the "Safely Remove Hardware" option, which had a habit of failing when Task Manager was open.
[10]
Nothing earth-shattering, but useful quality-of-life improvements.
Of course, this assumes that a user can get the update installed without falling into a boot loop and having to explore recovery options.
The purpose of a monthly rollup preview is, according to Microsoft, "for customers to proactively download, test, and provide feedback." In this instance, that proactive testing has shown up a problem serious enough that Microsoft has opted to pause the rollout.
[11]
However, in the same [12]definition , Microsoft also claims that the preview is "a tested, cumulative set of new updates."
"Tested" – customers might not think that word means what Microsoft thinks it means. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/june-25-2024-kb5039302-os-builds-22621-3810-and-22631-3810-preview-0ab34e3f-bca9-4a52-a1a4-404bf8162f58
[2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-23h2#2831msgdesc
[3] 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=2Zn2MsBCvAjynHNezMAMPbAAAAQ4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[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=44Zn2MsBCvAjynHNezMAMPbAAAAQ4&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=33Zn2MsBCvAjynHNezMAMPbAAAAQ4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/26/microsoft_makes_onedrive_avoidance_trickier/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/19/problems_upgrading_win_11_pro/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/17/windows_11_24h2/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/10/microsoft_pulls_windows_24h2_11/
[10] 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=44Zn2MsBCvAjynHNezMAMPbAAAAQ4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] 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=33Zn2MsBCvAjynHNezMAMPbAAAAQ4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/troubleshoot/windows-client/installing-updates-features-roles/standard-terminology-software-updates
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Don't blame MS
Blame the customers. Because they are at fault for buying into this crap.
Literally every business who puts itself into dependency on the Microsoft ecosystem willingly in the light of Microsoft's horrible track record in terms of bugs, security and general business practices actively contributes to cement this sad state of affairs.
The reality is that if customers wouldn't widely and repeatedly give Microsoft a free pass no matter which crap they pull then either Microsoft would change course and improve its offerings or be gone and replaced by another vendor who does.
But because Microsoft customers clearly love being getting it hard while being bent over a barrel, Microsoft actually does everything right - they save a lot of money on QC, they have their customers in a literal stranglehold, free to extort as much money as they want from them, the stock value is up and the business is one of the richest on the planet.
Re: Don't blame MS
Yeah, but for most customers Microsoft might as well plagiarise the Cabalco slogan from the Blood games: "Who Else Is There?". Most people can't afford Apple, and Linux is too scary.
Re: "Who Else Is There?
"Yeah, but for most customers Microsoft might as well plagiarise the Cabalco slogan from the Blood games: "Who Else Is There?".
Apple Mac and mac OS.
Linux.
Chromebooks and ChromeOS Flex.
All software platforms which are much more reliable, more secure and require a lot less maintenance effort than Windows.
"Most people can't afford Apple, and Linux is too scary."
If Linux is scary then what is Windows where basic functionality or even whole system installations become non-functional on a somewhat regular basis through bodged updates, where security and privacy are at constant risk because the vendor doesn't give a shit and is only interested in monetizing its users, and where there are constant changes moving around deck chairs rather than fixing the mountain of systemic problems?
@anthonyhegedus - Re: Disingenuous
We have to put up with this. And we surely will.
If I only had 1 USD each time this discussion was started, I'd be stinking rich by now.
Re: Disingenuous
" This is 2024, and Micro$hit is one of the oldest software companies going, and they still haven't defined what testing is, and they still produce unfinished, largely crap, software"
I fully agree, and one of the great underlying problems goes back to a decade ago when Microsoft pretty much sacked all their quality assurance staff as a cost cutting measure. We are still getting the fallout today from that penny pinching decision what with all the shonky Windows 11 updates, etc.
Disingenuous
Here we go again... more meaningless drivel from Microsoft. This is 2024, and Micro$hit is one of the oldest software companies going, and they still haven't defined what testing is, and they still produce unfinished, largely crap, software. This is straight from their playbook: produce untested, unfinished crap that for some reason we've already had anyway, and release it.
A couple of observations:
1. We've had the 'show desktop' button before in windows 10. They removed it, and it's now a 'quality of life' feature to put it back?!
2. The compress file dialogue, crap though it is, has existed for well over a decade, largely unchanged. It's taken them this long to put a few more features in. Over 10 years. And these are features that winzip, 7zip, etc have had for decades.
We shouldn't have to put up with this: dubious changes that just serve to make more money for Microsoft, and unfinished software - all with the addition of moving goalposts (local accounts, anyone) make Microsoft the most disingenuous large company out there.
I don't mind change, IT **IS** change, but with Microsoft it's always change for some nefarious background reason and it's never for security, or to help the users. In this case, they took out features from WIndows when 11 was launched, only to put them back in and call it a feature.
Disingenuous doesn't really cover this!