The good news: Windows 10 is still a free upgrade for the millions of Windows 7 users who must now upgrade. The bad news: as new update warnings hit users, sometimes it feels like you get what you pay for. (02/02 new update below)
Windows 10 updates continue to cause problems
Picked up by the eagle-eyed WinCentral, Microsoft’s long-awaited fix for Windows 10’s File Explorer issues (KB4532695) is now causing a wide array of new problems itself, including broken audio, slow performance, game incompatibilities, driver issues and blue screen of death (BSOD) crashes.
“This installed and now I do not have any sound. I have two different sources. HDMI cable and soundcard. Neither works now... I have not changed anything, just updated Windows and now no sound!! **** MICROSOFT!!! FIX YOUR ****!” - source
“I have also lost my TPM Driver and now bitlocker is not working and I am constantly getting BSOD (Memory Management). Not expecting anything better from MS though.” - source
“I AGREE !! Installed update and Sound went bonkers. Multiple devices installed by update in Bluetooth. In addition my PDF Software ceased to function from MS Office 365. Menu creation broken. Am getting sick and tired of MS fouling up my computer through updates.” - source
“This update was such a hassle for me, I had to do a clean install of Windows… I have been on the phone with Microsoft technical support for hours now (they have been VERY helpful!)”. This mostly boiled down to a problem with drivers, and all the error codes I was getting from the BSOD were all driver related (so I was told by the helpful technician). Instead of me trying to update any driver, it was less time and hassle to do a clean reinstall of Windows, but quite a hassle none the less.” - source
“Installed this in an Intel NUC8i3BEH and encountered very slow boot times. Windows would get stuck at splash or welcome screen for around 5 minutes. I deinstalled this update and reinstalled twice, with the same results.” - source
“As soon as I got the latest update, I keep going in these boot cycles... Just endless, telling me an error had been found... Then when Windows boots up, it eventually crashes. I've reinstalled Windows from an ISO image, same problems. I've restored from a back up from three weeks ago, same problems. I've come realize that this new update is huge trouble." - source
Others are reporting it breaks popular anti-cheat software Battle Eye for some titles and Windows Latest has found, for some, it also fails at its primary task: fixing the File Explorer issues.
The good news at this point is KB4532695 remains an optional update, but enthusiastic updaters need to be careful because on the patch’s official support page Microsoft still states it “is not currently aware of any issues with this update.” This is familiar territory with Microsoft often using this statement long after problems have been reported (1,2,3,4,5) and it means Windows 10 users continue to be given the green light for updates which may prove damaging.
02/02 Update: reports of problems with KB4532695 continue to build. "Yea I'm getting the BSOD after installing the update, I've had a different code every time...got the BSOD about 15 times since updating last nite," notes one user.
Windows Latest also reports new complaints: "My desktop just updated to 1909 and tried to reboot. It locked up and won’t boot up. In fact, it does not respond to the power button at all. I can not access the BIOS or do anything at all. This update had been a problem in all my computers, usually slowing down the computer or locking up the screen. This is the first time that I have been unable to uninstall the update to regain the use of the computer."
As such, definitely be careful with this update as Microsoft continues to state it “is not currently aware of any issues with this update.”
06/02 Update: Microsoft has still not acknowledged any problems with KB4532695 on the patch’s official support page.
To its credit, Microsoft has long-admitted to shortcomings in its Windows 10 testing processes changes are being made (a whistleblower is a fine motivator) but there’s still a long way to go.
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