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Multiple Problems Reported With New Windows 10 Updates

This article is more than 4 years old.

For Microsoft and Windows 10 right now, it never rains but it pours. So it should come as no surprise that, despite recent update changes, the run of frustrating, limiting, chaotic and quite bizarre updates continues with new warnings every Windows 10 user needs to know about. 

Picked up by the always excellent BleepingComputer and Windows Latest is news that two recent Windows 10 updates are breaking boot-ups, printing, the Start Menu, Windows Search and VMWare Workstation. And that’s just what we know so far. 

BleepingComputer pins the boot, printing and Start Menu issues on Microsoft’s new KB4524147 cumulative update. The printing issue appears to be a repeat of the KB4522016 mess, while the Start Menu bug warns users: "Your Start menu isn't working. We'll try to fix it the next time you sign in" - and no, signing in again does not help. 

But the boot issue is most concerning with BleepingComputer citing multiple sources as well as contact from an IT support worker who states “My phone has been ringing all day with customers with machines that won't boot after yesterdays update".

“This update totally screwed up my computer, Microsoft repair screen at startup. None of their auto-fixes work!!!” wrote one impacted user. 

“The reality is that this update is a hot mess of confusion,” concludes BleepingComputer. “The description of what it fixes was worded poorly, and nobody has any idea whether this is a cumulative update with a security fix or primarily a security update with non-security fixes.”

So stay away. 

Meanwhile, Windows Latest reports that KB4517211, an optional cumulative Windows 10 update, is behind problems with Windows Search and Cortana with users making complaints on Microsoft’s community forum as well as Feedback Hub.

“After installing KB4517211 and rebooting, you cannot type anything into the search field,” wrote one user on Feedback. “You can’t even get your cursor in there.” 

As for the VMWare issues, Windows Latest reports impacted PCs are hit with the message: “VMware Workstation Pro can’t run on Windows: Check for an updated version of this app that runs on Windows.” But no updated version exists. 

The good news is users have found that uninstalling both updates will fix these problems, but this will do little to quell wider user fears after a former Microsoft employee blew the whistle on why Windows 10 updates have become so buggy

And this is being born out. In the last month alone, you can add these five new bugs into a list of Windows 10 updates which have already broken Search and the Start Menu (yes, again), caused USB and audio problems, screen discolouration, spiked CPU usage and disconnected users from the Internet

With Microsoft also continuing to push its troubled Windows 10 1903 build onto users, I suspect these problems will be just the tip of the iceberg. 

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