Microsoft says premature patch could make Windows Recall forget how to work
- Reference: 1733320995
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/12/04/microsoft_update_recall_bug/
- Source link:
[1]KB5046740 , which emerged on November 21, represents the final non-security preview release for 2024 (although there will be a monthly security release in December).
The problem came when users installed this preview update, saw the Recall [2]announcement , joined the Windows Insider Dev channel to get their hands on the code, and then... nothing.
[3]
It's reasonable to think that users willing to install a preview update from Microsoft might also be keen to join the Dev Channel. They might want to check out the company's latest attempt to convince the world that Recall is not an ill-thought-out privacy nightmare but instead a reason to spend some cash on a Copilot+ PC.
[4]
[5]
However, it appears that those users stand every chance of falling victim to Microsoft's legendary quality control.
Microsoft's advice? "We recommend you not install this preview update before joining the Dev Channel until we fix the issue in a future update."
[6]
It sounds like anybody who has installed the patch, then joined the Dev channel, and then encountered the Recall issue might have to reinstall Windows. Then again, this is the Windows Insider program, and being prepared to nuke a PC from orbit when something goes wrong is all part of the experience.
[7]Are Copilot+ PCs really the fastest Windows PCs? X and Copilot don't think so
[8]Microsoft preps big guns to shift Copilot software and PCs
[9]Microsoft reboots Windows Recall, but users wish they could forget
[10]Now's your chance to try Microsoft's controversial Windows Recall ... maybe
Recall first arrived in preview earlier this year. It takes snapshots of the desktop to allow users to search for activities that took place in the past. An implementation of AI was used to parse the snapshots to permit users to use ordinary text search to get back to where they were.
As a demo, it looked great. The reality was different as security researchers soon poked holes in the service, and Recall was described as a " [11]nightmare " from a privacy and security perspective.
Microsoft thenv [12]pulled the service , although this writer has noticed the branding plastered all over a local computer retailer attempting to persuade shoppers that they really want a Copilot+ PC.
After repeated delays transforming what could be described as half-baked demoware into something more suitable for production, Microsoft re-released the code to Windows Insiders in November. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/november-21-2024-kb5046740-os-build-26100-2454-preview-2040f716-b719-482a-8aff-f7f02c79b147
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/22/microsoft_recall_release/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cso&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Z1CKtIV9VxBt4bCF0Gp1JwAAAII&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cso&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z1CKtIV9VxBt4bCF0Gp1JwAAAII&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cso&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Z1CKtIV9VxBt4bCF0Gp1JwAAAII&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cso&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Z1CKtIV9VxBt4bCF0Gp1JwAAAII&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/03/are_copilot_pcs_fastest_windows_boxes/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/29/microsoft_preps_big_guns_for/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/25/windows_recall_preview/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/22/microsoft_recall_release/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/22/windows_recall/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/14/microsoft_recall_release_delayed/
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"However, it appears that those users stand every chance of falling victim to Microsoft's legendary quality control."
What do you mean? They're not victims, they become Microsoft's quality control.
They're called betatesters....
Or, as Microsoft calls them, customers. /rimshot
I'll bet 10 cents
that a good amount of those wanting into the Preview, are looking how to exploit it. Which is it's only "real" use.
MS could make things more secure, less bloatware, but that doesn't earn money. Harvesting data does.
Secure by accident?
Microsoft has pinned down why some eager Windows Insiders could not persuade the Recall preview to save any snapshots. It's all down to a pesky non-security preview.
Oh I don't know - having it not save any snapshots sounds like a perfect security improvement to me...
DNA
They might want to check out the company's latest attempt to convince the world that Recall is not an ill-thought-out privacy nightmare but instead a reason to spend some cash on a Copilot+ PC.
Why does that bring this quote from Douglas Adams to mind?
"Oh dear," says God, "I hadn't thought of that," and promptly vanishes in a puff of logic. "Oh, that was easy," says Man, and for an encore goes on to prove that black is white and gets himself killed on the next zebra crossing.
Re: DNA
Zebra crossings will mean nothing to many readers, and they will stand no chance with pelican crossings. Then we get to the Belisha Beacons, which are only a few minutes drive away from the Brecon Beacons.
Is Wishbone Ash's song "Ballad of the Beacons" about the Belisha or Brecon ones?
Hang on.....
Recall not working - So that's a problem HOW?
Hey Recall can you
recall how you work?
Microsoft patch disables Recall functionality
So an actual patch then?
+1 for MS I guess.
Another botched patch, business shrugs its shoulders, sighs and the world continues as Microsoft knows, businesses have too much invested in any other platform for them to be concerned.
patch could make Windows Recall forget how to work
Hooray! :-)