Microsoft is forced to pull a disastrous Windows 10 update that caused computers to crash and keep freezing
- The KB4524244 update was supposed to patch a known security vulnerability
- However, many users report experiencing issues after or during its installation
- Microsoft engineers are working on a revised, safer version of the update
- Users experiencing issues are encouraged to uninstall the patch if possible
Microsoft has been forced to pull a troublesome Windows 10 patch that saw computers freeze, fail to update and malfunction when resetting the system.
The security update — named KB4524244 — was first made available for download by the Redmond, Washington-based tech firm on February 11, 2020.
Users experiencing issues after installing the patch are encouraged to uninstall the update and wait for the release of a revised version in the near future.
Microsoft has been forced to pull a troublesome Windows 10 patch that saw computers freeze, fail to update and malfunction when resetting the system. It’s no secret that software could malfunction; this is particularly true when installing updates that could potentially mess with the already existing settings of your desktop. To be able to fix app settings, that for one reason or another may be crashing or not opening, a little research is required. As with any problem, the key is to narrow down the issue and search for help in forums and help centers that can have the answers you are looking for.
According to Microsoft, the KB4524244 security patch was designed to ‘address an issue in which a third-party Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot manager might expose UEFI-enabled computers to a security vulnerability.’
Instead, many users reported that the update either failed to install, caused their PC to freeze, or caused issues when trying to boot up the operating system.
In addition, the patch appears in some cases to break Windows 10’s ‘Reset This PC’ feature, which is supposed to re-install the operating system while retaining personal files.
After installing KB4524244, however, Microsoft warned that ‘you might restart into recovery with “Choose an option” at the top of the screen with various options.
‘Or you might restart to desktop and receive the error “There was a problem resetting your PC”.’
In response to the bugs experienced with the update, Microsoft have now pulled the security patch from Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services and the Microsoft Update Catalogue — meaning that users can no longer download or install the troubled upgrade.
Windows software engineers are now working on a revised version of the update — however, it is not yet known when this will be ready for release.
‘Removal of this standalone security update does not affect successful installation or any changes within any other February 11, 2020 security updates, including Latest Cumulative Update (LCU), Monthly Rollup or Security Only update,’ Microsoft said.
‘We’re working on an improved version of this update in coordination with our partners,’ a Microsoft spokesperson told the MailOnline.
‘Please see here for more details including a workaround.’
The security update — named KB4524244 — was first made available for download by the Redmond, Washington-based tech firm on February 11, 2020
The bug with the KB4524244 update comes in the wake of a previous faulty patch — KB4532693 — which saw some users lose access to their user profile, apps, data and start menu configurations.
The issues also emerged as Microsoft unveiled its new Windows 10X operating system, which has been designed to power both dual- and folding-screen devices.
The new operating system has reportedly been designed to tackle a number of common complaints with its predecessor — including cutting the time it takes to download and install updates down to around 90 seconds.