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Microsoft: We are working on KB5034441/KB5034440 "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" fix by Sayan Sen Microsoft released the first Windows 10 and 11 Patch Tuesday updates of 2024, last week, with the January updates KB5034122 and KB5034123 respectively. The updates are meant to address security issues within Windows. The one for 11 also fixes the recent Wi-Fi troubles that led to networks not connecting or the Wi-Fi icon not showing. In a separate article, the company has also detailed a fix for a WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) security vulnerability that can lead to BitLocker encryption bypass. The issue is being tracked under ID "CVE-2024-20666". Microsoft said that the security flaw could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption if they are able to get physical access to an unpatched PC. However, this is not one of those WinRE updates that is seamlessly installing on PCs. Users report that the update is failing to install with the error message "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" which indicates insufficient WinRE partition size. The solution is to resize the partition manually. You can do so by following this dedicated guide here. Neowin forum supervisor / mod and ESET's Distinguished Researcher Aryeh Goretsky (X account) also experienced the issue which they were able to fix by increasing the recovery partition. Goretsky writes: Hello, I can confirm that the KB5034441 hotfix failed on a Windows 10 VM with a Windows Recovery partition that was 511MB in size. I decided to increase it to 1024MB in size, just in case more space was needed in the future. The hotfix installed normally afterwards. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky Microsoft of course has been aware of this problem almost from the start which is why it has been recommending the manual resize workaround as soon as it published the WinRE updates. Yesterday, on its Windows health dashboard, the company has added the issue and notes that a fix is coming via a future update. Microsoft says: Devices attempting to install the January 2024 Windows Recovery Environment update ( KB5034441/KB5034440) might display an error related to the size of the Recovery Environment's partition. Resulting from this error, the following message might be displayed. "0x80070643 - ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE" Workaround: It might be necessary to increase the size of the WinRE partition in order to avoid this issue and complete the installation. Note that 250 megabytes of free space is required in the recovery partition. Guidance to change the WinRE partition size can be found in KB5028997: Instructions to manually resize your partition to install the WinRE update. Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Aside from this BitLocker encryption vulnerability, Microsoft has recently updated its Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool to patch against a Remote Code Execution (RCE) security flaw.

New Windows 11 23H2 images are now available with fixes for known issues by Taras Buria Shortly after releasing Windows 11 version 23H2 on October 31, 2023, Microsoft notified users that clean-installing its latest operating system might become a trouble if they rely on assistive technologies: Windows' built-in Narrator would not start during the initial setup. Two months after the release, we finally have the promised new Windows images with the properly working Narrator. The new Windows 11 23H2 images are now available for download with the latest December patches and fixes for Narrator during the initial setup (also known as OOBE or Out of Box Experience). You can download a Windows 11 ISO from the official website or via the Media Creation Tool app. For those unfamiliar, the latter can download ISO files or write them directly to your USB drive for clean installations or in-place upgrades. Starting December 19, 2023, a new file is available to create an installation media to update to Windows 11, version 23H2. The new media does not encounter this issue and contains the December 2023 security update. It is available for download at the Software Download page for Windows 11 in the section “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices”. Guidance on installation can also be found at this site. Note that the Narrator bug was only affecting the initial setup experience—it would work as usual after setting up a computer or getting to Windows 11 version 23H2 using Windows Update. Fixed Narrator in Windows 11 ISO files joined a few other issues Microsoft recently resolved in its operating system. Those include broken Wi-Fi connections after installing the latest updates and all sorts of weird bugs with printers. Microsoft resolved the Wi-Fi bug with the Known Issue Rollback system, which does not require any action from end users. Fixing the printer problem, however, requires more effort: you must download a new troubleshooter from the official website and run it on affected systems.

Microsoft fixes Wi-Fi issues in the latest Windows 11 updates by Taras Buria It did not take too long for Microsoft to confirm and resolve the problem with broken Wi-Fi connections in the latest Windows 11 updates (version 22H2 and 22H3). On December 19, Microsoft acknowledged user reports and promised to release more information when available. After a little more than 24 hours, the company resolved the problem using the Known Issue Rollback system (KIR). Microsoft has received reports of an issue in which some Wi-Fi adapters might not connect to some networks after installing KB5032288. We have confirmed this issue was caused by KB5032288 and KB5033375. As reported, you are more likely to be affected by this issue if you are attempting to connect to an enterprise, education, or public Wi-Fi network using 802.1x authentication. This issue is not likely to occur on home networks. The beauty of Known Issue Rollback is that it does not require uninstalling updates or downloading extra files or patches. Microsoft can undo the damage remotely and deliver the necessary fixes to affected systems (consumer and non-managed devices) in about 24 hours. The company says you can speed up the process by restarting your computer. Things are slightly different on the enterprise side, and users with managed devices must install the Group Policy called "Windows 11 22H2 KB5032288 231029_032011 Know Issue Rollback" to mend their Wi-Fi. You can download the Policy from the official Windows Health Dashboard website. More information about Known Issue Rollback is available here. The problem with broken Wi-Fi connections affects systems with Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 with KB5032288 and KB5033375 installed. It does not affect home networks, and the scope of the damage is limited to enterprise, education, or public Wi-Fi access points with 802.1x authentication. Windows 10 users are also immune to the issue. In case you missed it, Microsoft recently fixed another Windows bug that was causing weird printing bugs and unsolicited app installs. However, that one requires more effort—you must download and run a troubleshooter utility to get everything back to working.

Microsoft confirms Wi-Fi issues in Windows 11 KB5032288 by Taras Buria Microsoft has received reports of frustrated customers unable to connect to their Wi-Fi networks after installing recent Windows 11 updates. The problem mostly affects enterprise, education, and public Wi-Fi access points, preventing users from connecting or obliterating their connection speeds to impossible levels. According to a message published on the official Windows Health Dashboard website, the problem might occur after installing KB5032288, the latest non-security update for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 22H2. Luckily for "regular users," home networks should continue operating as usual, immune to the latest bug. In addition, the problem should not affect systems running Windows 10—only the most recent Windows 11 versions were hit. Microsoft has received reports of an issue in which some Wi-Fi adapters might not connect to some networks after installing KB5032288. As reported, you are more likely to be affected by this issue if you are attempting to connect to an enterprise, education, or public Wi-Fi network using 802.1x authentication. This issue is not likely to occur on home networks. Interestingly, the problem allegedly lurks inside the update that resolved one of the most annoying long-standing bugs in Windows 11, so an attempt to fix File Explorer popping on the screen out of nowhere may result in your laptop not connecting to a Wi-Fi network on your work or university. Microsoft says it is investigating the situation to see whether KB5032288 is to blame. The company plans to provide an update when more information is available. Meanwhile, universities and other establishments recommend that affected customers uninstall KB5032288 to mend broken Wi-Fi connections. Microsoft, on the other hand, asks users to send their feedback using the Feedback Hub app and attach additional telemetric data using the "Recreate my problem" option. If you care enough and want to help Microsoft resolve the situation, check out this post to learn how to send detailed feedback to the company. Alternatively, you can undo the update as described here.

KB5034510 Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter tool fixes the recent printer bug by Taras Buria Microsoft finally has a fix for the recently discovered printer bug. Systems affected by the problem were installing the HP Smart app without permission (even if paired with printers from other manufacturers), renaming existing printers to LaserJet M101-M106, changing icons, and showing the "No tasks are available for this page" error when clicking on a printer. To mitigate the issue, Microsoft published KB5034510 with the Microsoft Printer Metadata Troubleshooter Tool. It can help users and IT admins fix the bug and get rid of the symptoms described above. Microsoft says running the utility will restore the correct printer metadata (names, icons, and more), remove the incorrect HP LaserJet M101-M106 printer, and uninstall the HP Smart app (if incorrect metadata is present). You can download the troubleshooter from the Microsoft Download Center: x86 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe x64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX64.exe ARM32 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm32.exe ARM64 systems: PrintMetadataTroubleshooterArm64.exe If your system is affected, download the file matching your architecture and execute it as Administrator. Microsoft recommends running the troubleshooter using the elevated Command Prompt: Click Start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as Administrator. In the opened command prompt, type cd /d “[path_to_downloaded_tool]” and then press Enter. Type the name of the file appropriate for your device from the list below (for instance PrintMetadataTroubleshooterX86.exe) and then press Enter. Affected systems will return the "Troubleshooter completed successfully" message. Microsoft says a user-initiated troubleshooter in the Windows Settings app will be available in the coming weeks.

Universities recommend uninstalling KB5033375 to fix Wi-Fi issues in Windows 11 and 10 by Taras Buria Last week, Microsoft released December 2023 Patch Tuesday updates with security fixes. However, it appears that the latest round of updates also causes headaches when connecting to specific Wi-Fi access points, especially in universities and businesses. Some cannot connect to Wi-Fi networks, and others report radical performance downgrades that make access to the internet borderline impossible. Microsoft has yet to comment on the situation. Still, it does not seem like another blown-out-of-proportion report. Some universities have already published their advisories, recommending customers roll back KB5033375. The University of New Haven openly blames the latest Windows update for breaking wireless networks and suggests uninstalling it (spotted by Windows Latest): A recent Windows update released on 12/12/2023 has caused users to not be able to connect to the wireless networks. This update is known as KB5033375. Please click here to learn how to uninstall this update and be able to connect to ChargerWiFi on your windows computer. The University of Brunel London published a similar article on its website: If you have a Windows 10 or 11 laptop, and recently downloaded a Microsoft update, you may have difficulty accessing the WiFi on campus. If you have exams next week which require you to use your laptop on campus, please follow the instructions below to uninstall the update. Another university in Belgium experienced the same problem, and a local "IT guy" said turning off 802.11r (a standard that enables a seamless transition from one access point to another) resolved the issue. You can find more information on the official Microsoft Community forum. As a reminder, here is how to uninstall a Windows update in Windows 11: Open Settings and Click "Windows Update." Go to the "Update History" section and check if your system contains the update you want to uninstall. Look under the "Quality Updates" section. Click "Uninstall Updates." Click "Uninstall" next to the problematic update. Are you experiencing Wi-Fi issues on your system after installing the December 2023 Patch Tuesday updates? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft acknowledges it's not HP who's auto-installing printer Smart app on your Windows by Sayan Sen Towards the end of last month, users online started complaining about how their system was automatically installing HP's Smart app for printers, even when there was no printer on their PC. As the issue was fairly widespread, soon after Microsoft acknowledged it too, confirming that almost all versions of Windows were affected. Since it is HP's app that is being installed, the initial impression from many people would likely be that somehow the company may be responsible for this bug. However, after further investigation, Microsoft has confirmed that such is not the case. While the initial post about the issue on the Windows health dashboard only stated that printing processes and jobs shouldn't be affected, the tech giant has now edited that part to add that HP is not responsible for the mishap, along with additional information regarding printer functionality. Here's what the initial post stated: Note: Printing processes are not expected to be affected by this issue. It should be possible to queue printing jobs as usual, as well as other features such as copying or scanning. Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations. As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue. And here's what the updated version of it is now: Note: Our investigations indicate that this issue is not caused by an HP update. In most cases, it should be possible to use the printer as expected, including queueing printing jobs, as well as other features such as copy, scan, or fax. Printers on the device will continue to use the expected drivers for printer operations. However, this issue might affect associations with other manufacturer-supplied printer apps used to extend basic printer capabilities. If this is the case, some or all of those extended functions might not work. As the symptoms are related to the automatic installation of the HP Smart app, Windows devices which do not have access to the Microsoft Store are not expected to be affected by this issue. You can view the issue on this page on Microsoft's official health dashboard website. On a somewhat related note, in case it isn't HP but you instead find Canon driver installed on your PC even if you don't have one, do leave your comment on this thread started by Neowin forum member cosrocket. We are trying to understand if this is an isolated case or more widespread.

Microsoft confirms weird printing issues and uncalled HP Smart App installations on Windows by Taras Buria Microsoft has confirmed weird printing issues plaguing Windows 10 and 11 customers. The company has updated its official Windows Health Dashboard documentation with details about the HP Smart App invading PCs and printers changing their names and icons. Additional symptoms include the "No tasks are available for this page" error when clicking on a printer. According to Microsoft, all three problems are related to printer configurations on systems with access to the Microsoft Store. Therefore, Windows 10 and 11 installations without the Microsoft Store should continue working as they should, with no changes in printer names or apps. Besides, printing processes "are not expected to be affected" regardless of whether your computer has the Microsoft Store app or not. You should be able to queue printing jobs and use additional features, such as copying or scanning. As for affected platforms, according to Microsoft, all Windows 10 and 11 versions, both consumer and server editions, are hit. Those include the following: Client Server Windows 11 23H2 Windows 11 22H2 Windows 11 21H2 Windows 10 22H2 Windows 10 21H2 Windows 10 1809 Windows 10 1607 Windows 10 LTSC 2019 Windows 10 LTSC 2016 Windows 10 LTSB 2015 Windows Server 2022 Windows Server 2019 Windows Server 1809 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 Sadly, the documentation says nothing about workarounds or temporary fixes. Microsoft only said it is investigating the problem with its partners and it would provide an update when more information is available. Also, the issue is not related to Windows Update, so there is no "originating update" you can uninstall to resolve the situation. But if you noticed the HP Smart App on your system and you do not use HP printers, feel free to uninstall it. You can find more information about the issue here.

As Microsoft also pushes it to Windows 10, buggy Copilot puts the brakes on Windows 11 23H2 by Sayan Sen Although initially it was expected that Copilot is going to be an AI assistant exclusively for Windows 11, that changed quickly as Microsoft also introduced the feature to Windows 10. To entice those who weren't too keen about it, Microsoft explained in a lengthy blog post why users would want to have the feature even if they may feel they don't need it. Besides that, the company is also experimenting a lot with the Copilot button placement as it is now testing to see if it fits better somewhere around the corner of the screen where the Show desktop option lies. All this experimentation certainly comes at a cost as Copilot seems to be breaking one thing or the other fairly regularly, though it is sort of expected too given that the feature is pretty new. Still, users shouldn't need to be going through such experiences on non-Insider builds. Microsoft had already confirmed that Copilot can mess up desktop icons on Windows 11 as they would move unexpectedly on multi-monitor setups which is why the feature was blocked on such systems. And now that Copilot is on Windows 10, this unresolved bug, too, has invited itself there with the latest Windows 10 22H2 update (KB5032278). Aside from that, the company has also put a safeguard in place, which is essentially a compatibility hold such that these PCs will not be offered the Windows 11 23H2 update. The tech giant has also urged such users to not manually update their systems to version 23H2. On its Windows health dashboard, Microsoft writes: Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview). To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration. You might also not be able to update to Windows 11, version 23H2 as we have applied a compatibility hold on devices encountering this issue. If your organization is using Windows Update for Business reports, the safeguard ID is 47615939. Note We recommend that you do not attempt to manually update to Windows 11, version 23H2 using the Update now button or the Media Creation Tool until this issue has been resolved and the safeguard removed. You may find more details about it on this page on Microsoft's official website.

Microsoft confirms broken Narrator when clean-installing Windows 11 version 23H2 by Taras Buria Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 on October 31, 2023. However, the updated Media Creation Tool with 23H2 images arrived only in the second half of the month, forcing those wanting to perform a clean install to wait a little longer. If you plan to install Windows 11 version 23H2 from scratch and you rely on its assistive technologies, beware: Microsoft has confirmed a weird bug with Narrator not working. Microsoft says using Windows 11 version 23H2 physical media or disk images may result in Narrator launching in an unresponsive state, even though the component is present in the install media. It is worth noting that the bug only happens during installation and does not affect systems upgrading from Windows 10 or older Windows 11 versions. Please note this issue does not occur when Windows 11, version 23H2 is installed using Windows Update on a device which is already running Windows 10 or Windows 11. This issue only occurs when physical media or ISOs are used for this installation and Narrator is only affected while the installation process is taking place. It should continue to work as expected once the installation is completed. According to a message published in the official Windows documentation, Microsoft is working on a new Windows 11 version 23H2 install media to let users in need use Narrator during installation. You can get your system to Windows 11 version 23H2 using several methods. The latest feature update is available via Windows Update: head to the Settings app and toggle on the "Get the latest updates as soon as they are available." Alternatively, you can perform an in-place upgrade using disk images from the official website or clean-install version 23H2 using Rufus. If your computer does not officially support Windows 11, check out this guide detailing three easy methods to install Windows 11 version 23H2 on unsupported hardware.

Microsoft: Windows 10 Patch Tuesday fails installation with "8007000D (ERROR_INVALID_DATA)" by Sayan Sen Microsoft recently published a blog post looking back at the origins and the journey of Patch Tuesday on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the monthly security update. While this was to celebrate its efforts, oftentimes Patch Tuesdays turn up buggy and sometimes the only way to work around the issue is to perform a rollback. Such is the case with the October 2023 Patch Tuesday as well on Windows 10, though thankfully, it is not affecting all users as it is limited to version 21H2 only. Microsoft says that the bug is causing installation failure of the Patch Tuesday, even though at first glance it may appear to be working. On its Windows health dashboard website, Microsoft explains: Microsoft has received reports of an issue where Windows updates released October 10, 2023 ( KB5031356) fail to install. Devices might initially display progress, but then fail to complete installation. Based on our reports, some of the most common errors being encountered is Error 8007000D (ERROR_INVALID_DATA). This error can be found from the Windows Update view under System settings, by selecting Update History. In the next section, the tech giant has explained how affected users, including enterprises can perform the known issue rollback (KIR). Resolution: This issue is resolved using Known Issue Rollback (KIR). Please note that it might take up to 48 hours for the resolution to propagate automatically to consumer devices and non-managed business devices If necessary, the following manual steps can be used to speed up the recovery: Run command Prompt as Administrator. To do this, you can open the Start menu and type 'cmd'. From the right-side panel of the search results, select the option 'Run as administrator' In the window that opens, type the following to execute a restore command: Dism /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth Wait for it to complete successfully, then close the windows. You can now search for updates again from the Windows Updates from the Settings view. The Windows Updates settings view can always be found by opening the Start menu and typing 'Windows Updates'. Then select 'Check for updates' from the search results. For enterprise-managed devices that have installed an affected update and encountered this issue, it can be resolved by installing and configuring a special Group Policy. The special Group Policy can be found in Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> . For information on deploying and configuring these special Group Policy, please see How to use Group Policy to deploy a Known Issue Rollback. Group Policy downloads with Group Policy name: ​Download for Windows 10, version 22H2 and Windows 10, version 21H2 - Windows 10 20H2, 21H1, 21H2 and 22H2 KB5026879 230627_173533 Known Issue Rollback.msi You may find more details on the issue on this page on Microsoft's health dashboard website.

Microsoft confirms Copilot may mess with desktop icons on multi-monitor setups by Taras Buria On October 31, 2023, Microsoft released Windows 11 version 23H2 as an optional feature update available for those manually checking for Windows updates. The latest release contains plenty of great features, tempting users to pull the trigger and migrate to a newer version or even ditch the old Windows 10. If you are one such user, you should beware of a bug messing with desktop icons. Microsoft has confirmed a bug in Windows 11 23H2, where using Copilot on multi-monitor setups can cause desktop icons to move unexpectedly between screens. Windows devices using more than one (1) monitor might experience issues with desktop icons moving unexpectedly between monitors or other icon alignment issues when attempting to use Copilot in Windows (in preview). To prevent users from encountering this issue, Copilot in Windows (in preview) might not be available on devices that have been used or are currently being used in a multimonitor configuration. We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. It is worth noting that a bunch of icons jumping from one screen to another is probably the most innocent bug in Windows 11 version 23H2. Users have reported cryptic install errors, freezes, and performance degradation when installing the latest update. If you value stability over fancy new stuff, you will be excused for not wanting to get to the bleeding edge and upgrading to version 23H2 before it gets a few patches and fixes. In other Copilot news, Microsoft is testing a new home for the Copilot icon. Users noticed that the latest Dev and Canary builds have a hidden ID that lets you move the icon to the notification area. As for Microsoft Edge, another place hosting Microsoft's new AI assistant, it no longer allows turning off the sidebar if Copilot is disabled.

Microsoft confirms "65000" BitLocker encryption error is haunting Windows 11 and Windows 10 by Sayan Sen Microsoft has confirmed a new issue that is affecting all Windows client versions, be it on Windows 11 (22H2, 21H2), Windows 10 (22H2, 21H2, and Enterprise LTSC 2019). The bug is related to BitLocker CSP encryption reporting. The BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) is used by the enterprise to manage the encryption of PCs and devices. According to Microsoft, a "65000" error code is being displayed in the "Require Device Encryption" setting on Intune for Mobile Device Management (MDM). The tech giant notes here that other than Intune, similar third-party apps may be affected too. It explains: Using the FixedDrivesEncryptionType or SystemDrivesEncryptionType policy settings in the BitLocker configuration service provider (CSP) node in mobile device management (MDM) apps might incorrectly show a 65000 error in the "Require Device Encryption" setting for some devices in your environment. Affected environments are those with the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies set to enabled and selecting either "full encryption" or "used space only". Microsoft Intune is affected by this issue but third-party MDMs might also pe affected. Important: This issue is a reporting issue only and does not affect drive encryption or the reporting of other issues on the device, including other BitLocker issues. Although Microsoft has not been able to devise a resolution for this issue yet, the company has provided a simple workaround that can mitigate it. It involves changing the policy settings to "not configured". Workaround: To mitigate this issue in Microsoft Intune, you can set the “Enforce drive encryption type on operating system drives” or "Enforce drive encryption on fixed drives" policies to not configured. Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. You can read more about the issue on Microsoft's health dashboard website.

Microsoft confirms bugs with emoji and the new color font format in Windows 11 build 23531 by Taras Buria Windows 11 build 23531, released on August 25 in the Dev Channel, introduced several minor changes and improvements (there is one you may actually hate) to try in the Windows Insider program. Like most preview builds, release 23531 contains a list of known issues, and Microsoft has just added another one. The updated release notes for Windows 11 build 23531 mention a bug affecting the recently introduced Unicode Emoji 15 support and the updated color font format with COLRv1 support. According to Microsoft, those changes are no longer available in the latest Dev build, but developers are working to resolve the problem in a future update. [ADDED 8/28] Unicode Emoji 15 support which began rolling out with Build 23475 and the updated color font format with COLRv1 support that began rolling out with Build 23506 no longer appear after updating to Build 23531 due to a bug. This issue will be fixed in a future flight soon. Unicode Emoji 15 adds 21 new emoji, such as a shaking face, more colorful hearts, two hand gestures, several animals, plants, and objects. As for the COLRv1 format, it enables Windows to display richer 3D-like emoji (those responsible for the "emojigate" scandal). You can learn more about COLRv1 implementation in Windows 11 from the official documentation. Full release notes for Windows 11 build 23531 are available here. Three emoji styles available in Windows 11. As a reminder, Dev and Canary builds often contain notable bugs and issues, so those willing to join the Windows Insider Program should back up important data and prepare for potential troubleshooting. Microsoft does not provide official support for PCs running Windows 11 preview builds, so the best idea is to run them on a spare PC or a virtual machine. If you need one, check out Microsoft's official free Windows 11 virtual machines available in four different formats.

Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug by Sayan Sen Update: Intel too confirms Microsoft is right not to take the blame. It has been a pretty eventful week for Microsoft and Intel in terms of major news and rumors. First up, we had the "Downfall" GDS vulnerability which affects almost all of Intel's slightly older CPUs. This was followed by a leaked Intel document which suggests upcoming Wi-Fi 7 may only be limited to Windows 11, Windows 12, and newer. Meanwhile, users of the two latest generations of Intel CPUs were affected by a Windows update issue where the system crashes with a blue screen of death (BSOD) displaying a "UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR" error, even though it is supposed to work perfectly. (Microsoft recently updated its support list for both Intel and AMD.) MSI, which seems to be the most commonly affected motherboard vendor out of all, published a workaround yesterday which you can find here. The problem is mainly affecting Intel's Z690 and Z790 boards, which are chipsets accompanying 12th and 13th Gen Alder Lake and Raptor Lake parts respectively. Microsoft has also updated its health dashboard page today with new information and details about the issue. Interestingly, the company says that its latest non-security preview updates, ie, Windows 11 (KB5029351) and Windows 10 (KB5029331), which seemingly triggered this Unsupported CPU BSOD error, is not really what's to blame for the error. It says that this is an issue with a "specific subset of processors": After investigating these reports, we have found that the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” error was not caused by issues in KB5029351 and is limited to a specific subset of processors. We are collaborating with device manufacturers (OEMs) and will temporarily mitigate this issue by not offering KB5029351 to Windows devices that might be affected by this issue. If you still experience this issue, please contact your device’s processor manufacturer. If you are one of those affected, you can still provide feedback to Microsoft The company's guidance on how to properly give feedback on the issue can be found in this article. You should also contact your motherboard maker and CPU maker, which seems to be Intel at the moment.

Microsoft investigates Windows (KB5029351, KB5029331) Unsupported Processor BSOD crashes by Sayan Sen Update: MSI has offered a workaround. Microsoft is looking into a problem users on the latest Windows 11 and Windows 10 builds are facing. Despite running their systems on supported CPUs, the issue leads to an error wherein the PC crashes with a blue screen of death (BSOD) with an error message that says: "UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR". (Microsoft recently updated its support list for both Intel and AMD.) The tech giant is unsure at the moment if it is an issue with Windows or whether the root cause may be something else. As such, the company has requested feedback via the Feedback Hub app. On the Windows health dashboard it explains: Microsoft has received reports of an issue in which users are receiving an “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” error message on a blue screen after installing updates released on August 22, 2023 (KB5029331) [and KB5029351] and then restarting their device. KB5029331 might automatically uninstall to allow Windows to start up as expected. If you are experiencing issues, please use Feedback Hub to file a report following the below steps: ​Launch Feedback Hub by opening the Start menu and typing "Feedback hub", or pressing the Windows key + F ​Fill in the "Summarize your feedback" and "Explain in more detail" boxes, then click Next. ​Under the "Choose a category" section, click the "Problem" button, and select "Install and Update" category. Then select "Downloading, installing, and configuring Windows Update” subcategory. Click Next. ​Under the "Find similar feedback" section, select the "Make new bug" radio button and click Next. ​Under the "Add more details" section, supply any relevant detail (Note this is not critical to addressing your issue). ​Expand the "Recreate my problem" box and press "Start recording". Reproduce the issue on your device. ​Press "Stop recording" once finished. Click the "Submit" button. Browsing through Feedback Hub, it seems that MSI motherboards, mainly from Intel's 600 series (Z690) and 700 series (Z790), are the ones where the issue is infesting the most, though it is possible the problem is there on other OEM motherboards too. In case you have a board from some other maker, like say Asus, Gigabyte, or ASRock, among others, and experiencing this bug, Microsoft would likely appreciate some feedback about those.

Microsoft Weekly: Paint goes dark, Windows 10 gets new apps, IE celebrates its anniversary by Taras Buria In this episode of Microsoft Weekly, we look at new Windows 11 preview builds and their features, app updates, lots of gaming news, an upcoming Surface hardware event in New York, and blasts from Microsoft's past. Table of contents: Windows 11 (and 10), Surface, and other Microsoft news Updates! Gaming news A blast from Microsoft's past Random fact about Microsoft Windows 11 (and 10), Surface, and other Microsoft news Here we talk about everything happening around Microsoft's latest operating system in the Stable channel and preview builds: new features, removed features, controversies, bugs, interesting findings, and more. And of course, you may find a word or two about older but still supported versions. Last week, Microsoft released the August 2023 Patch Tuesday updates with bug fixes and security patches. Although we have not heard about major earth-shattering bugs, Microsoft confirmed one annoyance affecting Windows 10 users. According to the official documentation, recent Windows 10 updates could cause issues with ClickOnce apps. Microsoft promises to release a fix soon. Meanwhile, affected customers can mitigate the problem by re-installing the impacted ClickOnce programs. On the more positive side, Windows 10 users will soon get another application straight from Windows 11. Sharp-eyed enthusiasts noticed that the latest Microsoft Photos app update introduced support for Windows 10, meaning those sticking to the previous-generation Windows may soon get access to the redesigned app and its features, such as improved OneDrive integration, better import, fancier user interface and more. Check out our coverage to find more details and learn how to install the app right now. Moving to Windows 11, we have the latest post from Microsoft detailing the benefits of using Windows 11 on Surface devices. According to the company, Windows 11 is better at adapting to different modes and "postures," it provides better energy efficiency with dynamic refresh rate support, better security, and more. Speaking of Surface, Microsoft has finally announced the date of its upcoming Surface event. On September 21, 2023, the company will hold a special event in New York, where we expect a bunch of new Surface computers, such as Surface Go 4, Surface Laptop Go 3, and other. Also, with the company no longer making Microsoft-branded PC accessories, one may expect some new accessories under the Surface brand. On the less positive side, a security research team at AquaSec has published a report highlighting a series of major security vulnerabilities found in Microsoft's PowerShell Gallery, a repository with scripts, modules, and DSC resources. More importantly, AquaSec claims Microsoft has been aware of the issues for a very long time. Despite reporting the flaws to the Microsoft Security Response Center on two separate occasions, with confirmation of the reported behavior and claims of ongoing fixes, as of August 2023, the issues remain reproducible, indicating that no tangible changes have been implemented. Also, Microsoft announced it would stop producing Azure Kinect Developer Kits in October 2023. For those unfamiliar, the Azure Kinect Developer Kit is a Kinect-based device made for businesses and enterprise customers. Windows Insider Program Microsoft released a bunch of preview updates to test in the Windows Insider program this week. Here are the details: Server vNext: 25931 Azure Arc-enabled servers support and more. Canary Channel: 25931 with more features coming from the Dev Channel, fixes, the ability to uninstall more stock applications, and in-place upgrade support on ReFS. Dev Channel: 23526 with Start menu, UI, Narrator, and other improvements. The update also changes the built-in time bomb, allowing you to use preview release until September 15, 2024. Beta Channel: 22631/21.2199 with native support for more file compressing formats (RAR, TAR, 7Z, TGZ, and more), UI improvements, never combine mode for the taskbar, and more. The latest Windows 11 preview builds also contain a new feature for Microsoft Paint. After releasing dark mode and improved zoom controls for all users, developers introduced centered canvas support for improved navigation. Also, there is an update for Windows Subsystem for Android. The August 2023 update delivers stability improvements, a more recent Chromium WebView version, and Android 13 security updates. Updates are available This section covers software, firmware, and other notable updates (released and coming soon) delivering new features, security fixes, improvements, patches, and more from Microsoft and third parties. A number of Surface devices received new firmware this week. Usually, these updates fix security issues, resolve various fixes, introduce support with new accessories, improve performance, and more. Surface Go 2 received security patches, support for new docking accessories, and stability improvements for the Surface Dock 2. Surface Pro X (Wi-Fi, SQ2, and SQ1) got app performance improvements, something you can never have enough of. You can download the latest firmware for your Surface Go 2 or Surface Pro X from Windows Update. Earlier this year, Microsoft announced the new default font coming soon to its Office apps. Dubbed Aptos, the font will replace the beloved Calibri introduced in 2007 alongside Microsoft Office 2007. Aptos is already available for testing in the Microsoft 365 Insider program, and it will soon arrive for all customers in the stable channel. According to a recent Microsoft 365 Roadmap update, the company plans to ship the new font somewhere next month. Microsoft PowerToys, one of our favorite Windows 10 and 11 utilities, will soon get a redesigned settings home page. Developers plan to implement a new section with quick toggles and tips about shortcuts and other utility-specific options. Another new feature for Windows 11 and 10 will come in handy for those playing games on their PCs and using Microsoft Teams. The Xbox Game Bar app now received "Play Together," a Discord-like feature that lets you communicate with friends while playing PC games. Here are other notable app updates released this week: AI-generated review summaries are now available in the Microsoft Store, giving you a quick and easy way to learn what other people think about a specific program or game. Another Microsoft Store update lets web developers publish their PWAs for free thanks to Microsoft's partnership with the PWABuilder team. The offer is valid until September 15, 2023. Skype Preview now supports file auto-download. Version 8.102 is available for testers with several notable changes for the file download experience. After a couple of days, Microsoft released another update with drag and drop, GIF, and stability improvements. Microsoft Loop added integrations with Jira and Trello for improved project managing. Paint has finally received dark mode and improved zoom controls. The long-promised update is now available for all Windows 11 customers in the stable channel. Microsoft Dev Home Preview 0.4 added accessibility improvements to let you navigate widgets using a keyboard and more. And here are new drivers you may want to check out to get the latest improvements, fixes, and performance uplifts: Intel Arc WHQL 31.0.101.4644 with fixes for system hangs and power cycle issues. It also contains performance uplifts for DirectX 11-based games. AMD Chipset Driver 5.08.02.027 with new drivers and support for a "new program." On the gaming side Check this section to learn about upcoming game releases, Xbox rumors, new hardware, software updates, and more. Starfield, one of the most anticipated games this year, is getting closer with the release scheduled for September 6, 2023. However, some gamers are already raising concerns about potential delays since the game has yet to "go gold" (a special term to indicate that a game is ready for its initial release). To calm the unrest, Bethesda's head of publishing, Pete Hines, tweeted that gamers should "take a deep breath" and his team "know what they are doing." And just a few days later, Bethesda confirmed that Starfield had gone gold. If you still have a hard time waiting for the release, checking out Starfield's official timeline may help you a bit. Starfield will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6, 2023. You can preorder (and preload) it in the Microsoft Store and Steam or play it on day one with Xbox or PC Game Pass. Tip: You can save $10 on the digital version using a special Newegg promo code. Although everything looks set for Starfield, the same cannot be said about Robocop: Rogue City. The upcoming game from Teyon was delayed from September 2023 to November 9, 2023. In July 2023, developers held a closed beta test, and its results most likely contributed to the two-month delay. Robocop: Rogue City will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Epic Games and Remedy Entertainment also decided to postpone their upcoming title Alan Wake 2. Luckily, only by 10 days: from October 17 to October 27. The reason for this delay is that developers do not want Alan Wake 2 to be jammed up with another games. Finding a good release window for a game is not easy this way, hence such weird delays and changes. Another game getting a release date change is Assassin's Creed Mirage from Ubisoft. However, unlike Robocop: Rogue City and Alan Wake 2, developers moved the schedule in another direction. The game went gold, and fans of the franchise will get access one week earlier. Now the release is scheduled for October 5, 2023. Ubisoft plans to release a new update for Rainbow Six Siege. This week, the studio revealed the Year 8 Season 3 update called Operation Heavy Mettle with a floor-eating robot (what?), a quick match overhaul, a new arcade mode, and a brand-new operator from South Korea. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is another game coming to PC and consoles this month. If you are into such games, check out the recommended specs for running the game in 1080 30/60fps and 4K 30/60fps. Also, there is detailed information about performance targets on the current and past-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will arrive on PC, Xbox (including Game Pass), and PlayStation on August 18. Speaking of Game Pass, check out the latest wave of new games for those subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, or Xbox Game Pass ultimate. The new additions include Firewatch, Gris, and more. Forza Horizon fans received fresh new cars and fixes in the latest update for Forza Horizon 5. The Italian Automotive update is now available with 16 vehicles (free and premium) from Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Italdesign. Another important gaming announcement from Microsoft this week was the new Xbox Enforcement Strike System. Violating the code of conduct may result in receiving from one to three strikes and a suspension from Xbox Live from one day up to one year. Also, Microsoft revealed its plans to put the Xbox 360 store to its final rest. On July 29, 2024, the company will pull the plug on the marketplace. Customers will no longer be able to purchase titles for the console released almost twenty years ago, potentially resulting in more than 220 digital-only games going six feet under. However, the change does not affect the games you own—you can continue playing them on your Xbox 360 (digital or physical copy) even after the specified date. Moreover, backward-compatible titles will remain accessible on more modern consoles, namely the Xbox One and Series family. Finally, Microsoft Flight Simulator marked its third anniversary this week. To celebrate the milestone, Microsoft published a bunch of stats, detailing the most popular aircrafts and airports, total miles flown, number of flights, etc. Deals and freebies Looking for something new to play? Check out this week's Deals with Gold offering notable discounts on Borderlands, Crysis, Grand Theft Auto, Timbleweed Park, and more. On the PC side, the Epic Games Store is giving away Black Book and Dodo Peak. Another game you can snag with a massive discount is Bethesda's Fallout 4 Game of the Year Edition, which is now available DRM-free on GOG Galaxy. To celebrate the launch, Bethesda lowered the price from $39.99 to only $9.99. Finally, check out our weekly series featuring the latest PC game deals with triple bundles, double freebies, free play days, and more. A blast from Microsoft's past Our colleague John Callaham provides weekly throwbacks into Microsoft's past, with multiple look-back articles providing interesting trivia about the company's past products, partnerships, mishaps, and successes. This week's look-back article recalls the Microsoft Songsmith app from 2009. Songsmith was a Microsoft Research project that later became a commercial product ($29.99 or almost $44 in today's money). The idea was to help you generate somewhat bearable music for your lyrics, "more than good enough to make a cute birthday card for Mom or a Valentine's Day love song." Grab a mic, sing any lyric, select the style you want, and watch the app do its magic. The software giant stopped selling Songsmith long ago, but the app is still around. You can try its limited free trial even on a modern PC running Windows 11. With all the latest hype around artificial intelligence, it is beyond interesting to see Microsoft's past experiments with generative software. On August 16, 1995, Microsoft launched the first version of Internet Explorer. It was part of the Microsoft Plus! package for Windows 95 and included basic HTML support with bare-bones, no-frills capabilities. You can learn more about this 28-year-old piece of Microsoft history in John's another look-back article. Random fact about Microsoft And here is a randomly selected piece of trivia about the company, Windows, and other Microsoft-made things. Did you know that the Windows 95 CD-ROM version included a bunch of extra stuff for fun, including a game called Hover! Unlike 3D Pinball Space Kadet, Minesweeper, and Solitaire, many users do not know about this long-forgotten capture-the-flag-like game released 28 years ago. Like other stock games in Windows, Microsoft made Hover! to showcase the "advanced multimedia capabilities" of personal computers of that time. However, not everyone at Microsoft liked Hover!, and some even secretly called it Hoover. Apparently, because the game sucked, just like those vacuum cleaners from Hoover. In 2013, when Windows 8.1 was the latest and greatest, Microsoft released a remake with "brand-new 3D graphics" and touch gameplay. Then-new Hover was also available as a web-based game for showcasing WebGL support in Internet Explorer (rest in peace, old friend). Sadly, like the Windows Store version, web-based Hover is no longer available. You can find other issues of the Microsoft Weekly series using this link. Also, you can support Neowin by subscribing to our Newsletter to get regular news recaps delivered directly to your email.

Microsoft confirms a missing taskbar bug in Windows 11 build 23516 by Taras Buria This week's Dev Channel build 23516 introduced several improvements and new features, such as improved screen casting, HDR wallpaper support, accessibility enhancements, and more. Preview releases often pack multiple known issues and bugs, and build 23516 is no exception. In fact, Microsoft has updated the release notes to mention a new problem reported by some insiders. According to Microsoft, customers might experience issues with the taskbar after updating to build 23516—it might disappear after installing the latest update. The company claims it achieved mixed results when reproducing the problem, and its spread "has proven to be inconsistent." Still, there are several methods to mitigate the problem. Here is what you can do if the taskbar is missing after installing Windows 11 build 23516: If your taskbar is missing, allow the computer to sit idle for 5-6 minutes. Users have reported hearing an audible ding notification after which time the Taskbar reappears. Reboot the device. This has not proven to be a fully reliable workaround, but it has been noted as successful from some users. Lastly, you may choose to roll back from this build to the prior build. This bug was not present in the prior Dev Channel build (23511). To roll back your device if the task bar is missing, please follow these steps: Click the lock screen to display the login page. Select the on-screen Power Button in the lower-right corner. Hold the Shift key and select Restart. (The device will reboot and enter the Windows Recovery Environment) On the "Choose an option" screen, select Troubleshoot Select Advanced options Select Uninstall updates Select Uninstall latest feature update If your device has BitLocker enabled, you will be prompted for the recovery key. Input the key and click Continue. On the next screen select Uninstall feature update. The uninstall process will now begin. Microsoft says developers are busy investigating the problem and hope to resolve it in a future update. If you have more insights on resolving the taskbar issue, let us know in the comments and share your findings with Microsoft in the Feedback Hub. Other users can take this story as another reason why running Windows 11 preview builds on a mission-critical or primary PC is not a great idea.

Microsoft kicks off Windows 11 August 2023 Bug Bash [Update: Now in Canary Channel] by Taras Buria Update: August 3 - Microsoft has announced that the Bug Bash is now available for Windows 11 Canary channel users as well. Original Story - About a week ago, when Microsoft released the latest updates for Windows insiders in the Beta Channel, the company announced a special bug-hunting event known as "Bug Bash." Now, if you are running the most recent Windows 11 preview builds, you can participate in the August 2023 Bug Bash from August 2-7 to help Microsoft detect and fix Windows bugs before shipping the next Windows 11 feature update later this year. To participate in Bug Bash and earn the corresponding badge in Feedback Hub, you must update your computer to Windows 11 build 25915 (Canary Channel), build 23511 (Dev Channel), or build 22621/3.2115 (Beta Channel). Afterward, launch the Feedback Hub app, sign in with your Windows Insider account, and navigate to the Quests section. You will find there a list of various tasks to perform with detailed checklists and a button to share feedback. Sending Microsoft your thoughts and quest results will help the company to make the next Windows 11 version more stable. According to recent reports, Microsoft plans to release Windows 11 version 23H2 in a couple of months. Here are a few examples of quests to perform during the August 2023 Bug Bash: Customize your Taskbar with never combined mode. Control your sound faster with the new volume mixer. Explore the new Windows Copilot. Discover the modern Details Pane in File Explorer. Set a daily or weekly data limit for data usage. Connect to Bluetooth Personal Area Network (PAN) in Settings. Right now, you can complete a total of ten quests, but you can expect Microsoft to add more. The company said it would provide more details about the event in the next build announcement post, so stay tuned. Do you plan to participate in Bug Bash and help Microsoft find and fix Windows bugs? Let us know in the comments below.

Microsoft confirms video codec issue on Windows 10 (KB5028244) and Windows 11 (KB5027303) by Sayan Sen Microsoft has confirmed that there is an issue plaguing WVC1 or VC-1 video codec at the moment. Windows 10 and Windows 11 apps using the codec may fail to playback, record, or capture videos, and the issue extends to cameras and webcams. The bug was introduced with Windows 11 update KB5027303 and Windows 10 users with update KB5028244. On its health dashboard, Microsoft explains that the way to resolve this issue is to perform a Known Issue Rollback (KIR). After installing KB5027303 or later updates, some apps might fail to playback, record, or capture video when using the WVC1 codec (VC-1). Certain cameras or webcams might also fail to work if they use the WVC1 codec by default. Resolution: This issue is resolved using Known Issue Rollback (KIR). Please note that it might take up to 24 hours for the resolution to propagate automatically to consumer devices and non-managed business devices. Restarting your Windows device might help the resolution apply to your device faster. For enterprise-managed devices that have installed an affected update and encountered this issue, it can be resolved by installing and configuring a special Group Policy. The special Group Policy can be found in Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> For information on deploying and configuring these special Group Policy, please see How to use Group Policy to deploy a Known Issue Rollback. Group Policy downloads with Group Policy name: Download for Windows 11, version 22H2 - Windows 11 22H2 KB5027303 230528_03453 Known Issue Rollback Download for Windows 11, version 21H2 - Windows 11 (original release) KB5028245 230630_032045 Known Issue Rollback Download for Windows 10, version 22H2 - Windows 10 20H2, 21H1, 21H2 and 22H2 KB5028244 230627_173555 Known Issue Rollback Important: You will need to install and configure the Group Policy for your version of Windows to resolve this issue. You will also need to restart your device(s) to apply the group policy setting. Both Windows 10 (versions 21H2 and 22H2) and Windows 11 (versions 21H2 and 22H2) are affected by this bug.

KB5028166 is causing system issues, break Secure Channel, forces Synology to release a patch by Mehrotra A Last week, Microsoft released the KB5028166 update for Windows 10 users as a part of its monthly Patch Tuesday updates. However, it looks like the latest update did more harm than good as users are now reporting various issues after installing the new update. According to reports on Reddit, Windows 10 users have reportedly noticed a system slowdown after installing the latest update. The issue extends to apps in general, including Microsoft's own apps as well as games with users reporting a drop in frame rates. Unfortunately, that's not all as reports also suggest KB5028166 causing network issues for Windows 10 users. These issues include problems connecting to the internet and missing Bluetooth drivers after installing the latest update. If that was not all, Microsoft's latest update seems to have hit enterprise customers as well. As pointed out by u/luckman212 on Synology's subreddit, users are facing issues establishing a secure channel after upgrading their system, causing them to lose connection with their Network Attached Storage (NAS). Long story short, Microsoft released some updates for Win10/11 this month that destroyed the ability for our fully patched Win10 22H2 clients to establish a secure channel with the domain controller running on our Synology. The reason I even discovered this was users complaining about not being able to connect via Remote Desktop (RDP) anymore (NLA errors). The usual fixes (unjoin/rejoin, or running Test-ComputerSecureChannel -Repair -Verbose failed. As did all sorts of monkeying around with the Registry, DNS settings, updating NIC drivers, manual editing of smb.conf and mustache files, staring at Wireshark packet dumps, etc... Unfortunately, the issue forced Synology to release an emergency patch to fix the issue. According to the company, the issues impacts users who have Synology Directory Server package installed and have domains created by Synology Directory Server. If a user meets these conditions and installs the Windows 10 KB5028166 update, they will not be able to establish a Remote Desktop session or open specific RSAT management tools. Synology has released a patch to address the issue and the company is recommending users to manually download and install the patch from the Package Center. Microsoft is yet to acknowledge any of the issues that have been raised by users, so we don't know the exact reason or the extent of the impact. We here at Neowin recommend enabling System Restore on the Windows install disk (usually C:\) and doing a System Restore Point before installing Patch Tuesday updates, but also before installing 3rd party software on your system.

Microsoft finally fixes broken Start menu, Windows Search and UWP apps in Windows 11 and 10 by Taras Buria Last month, Microsoft confirmed it could not fix a bug breaking different parts of its desktop operating system. According to the company, the problem could result in the Start menu, Windows Search, and UWP apps no longer working. The only possible workaround was to uninstall programs utilizing Microsoft Office APIs. Now, however, users finally have a permanent solution that no longer requires removing problematic apps. KB5027292, a preview update Microsoft released yesterday, finally fixes the broken Start menu, Windows Search, and UWP apps. Here is how Microsoft describes the problem: The Start menu, Windows search, and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps might not work as expected or might have issues opening. Affected Windows devices might have damaged registry keys or data which might affect apps using Microsoft Office APIs to integrate with Windows, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Calendar. An example of an app affected by this issue is ClickShare. The underlying Issue is not caused by the installation of an update to Windows and might be exposed by an update to an affected app. Unlike regular Patch Tuesday updates that install automatically in the background, preview releases require manual installation from Windows Update. You can install KB5027292 by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update (Windows 10) or Settings > Windows Update (Windows 11) and clicking Check for updates. The problem affects all client Windows 11 versions (21H2 and 22H2) and Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2, and 20H2. Server editions are not affected by the bug. In addition to mending the Start menu and other parts of the operating system, KB5027292 resolves higher-than-usual CPU usage by File Explorer when the user tries to view or edit Effective Access permissions. You can learn more about that bug in our dedicated coverage. Was your system affected by some of the bugs KB5027292 fixes? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft confirms a bug preventing Outlook and other Office apps from opening on Windows by Taras Buria According to Microsoft, Windows 10 and 11 users may experience a bug preventing Outlook and other apps from launching after installing the latest Patch Tuesday update (KB5027231, released on June 13, 2023). The company has updated its Windows Health Dashboard documentation to provide the necessary details about the problem and offer affected customers a workaround. Microsoft says the bug affects 32-bit Office installed on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 (client versions 22H2 and 21H2, plus Windows Server 2022). Even though Microsoft changed the default Office installation from 32-bit to 64-bit in 2018, many people may still be using 32-bit Office. However, you need a specific antivirus and a specific version to experience the problem—according to Microsoft, the issue occurs on systems using Trellix Endpoint Security version earlier than 35.31.25. After installing KB5027231 or later updates on Windows devices with certain antivirus, antimalware or security software installed, you might not be able to open Microsoft or third-party apps. Some known affected apps are Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft Office apps. This issue only occurs with 32-bit apps running on 64-bit Windows with Trellix Endpoint Security version earlier than 35.31.25. When attempting to open an affected app, Event Log indicates an access violation with the error "module is unknown". This issue is not likely to be encountered by consumers using Windows devices in their home. Affected customers can resolve the problem by updating Trellix Endpoint Security Agent to version 35.31.25 and newer. Although Microsoft has only mentioned Trellix Endpoint Security Agent, other antivirus apps might cause the same problem. Therefore, the company recommends that those using other anti-malware solutions and experiencing issues with Office apps should contact customer support of the security software they use. You can learn more about the problem with Outlook not opening on Windows 10 and 11 after the June Patch Tuesday update in the official Windows Health Dashboard documentation.

Microsoft confirms a bug causing higher File Explorer CPU usage in Windows 11, here is a fix by Taras Buria Microsoft has published details about a newly found bug in Windows 11. It affects all Windows 11 versions (21H2 and 22H2) by breaking a specific part of File Explorer and causing higher-than-usual CPU usage after installing KB5026372, released on May 9, 2023 (the May 2023 Patch Tuesday update). According to Microsoft, the problem appears when users try to check Effective Access permissions in the "Advanced Security Settings" dialog for shared files or folders. Clicking the "View effective access" button can result in Windows displaying a "Computing effective access..." message without query results. In addition, File Explorer will continue taxing the CPU, even after closing the Advanced Security Settings dialog. After installing updates released on May 9, 2023 or later updates, you might be unable to view Effective Access in the "Advanced Security Settings" dialog for shared files or folders. On affected devices, when the "View effective access" button is selected, you will receive the message "Computing effective access...." but the results of the query might not be displayed and explorer.exe might continue to use CPU after the Advanced Security settings dialog is closed. This issue is unlikely to be experienced by consumers using Windows devices in their home. Fortunately, the bug is easy to mitigate and is unlikely to affect "regular customers" using Windows 11 PCs in their homes. Microsoft says you can temporarily resolve the issue by restarting your computer or signing out and then back in. Note, however, that just locking Windows will not fix the problem. The bug affects Windows 11 client versions 21H2 (the original release) and 22H2. It may also pop up on systems running Windows Server 2022. Microsoft is already working on resolving the bug and promises to release a permanent fix later this month. In case you missed it, Microsoft recently removed several legacy folder options from File Explorer in the latest preview build from the Dev Channel. You can learn more about this upcoming change here.

Microsoft cautions that Patch Tuesday Windows kernel bugfix could break something by Sayan Sen It was the second Tuesday of the month this week and as such, Microsoft released Patch Tuesday updates on Windows 10 (KB5027215, among others), and Windows 11 (KB5027231). The update addressed security issues, among other bugs, and as is often the case, there are major bugs affecting it as well. On Windows 11, Patch Tuesday was causing Malwarebytes to go a bit haywire and block Google Chrome. Meanwhile, users reported that Windows 10 update is having installation issues. While at the time of writing this article, Microsoft is yet to confirm and document either of these bugs, the company has announced that a kernel patch that was released on all versions of Windows, both 10 and 11, has the potential to break the OS. This issue was being tracked under ID "CVE-2023-32019". The patch notes on the update read: This update addresses an issue that affects the Windows Kernel. This issue is related to CVE-2023-32019. Microsoft gave additional information about the issue on a knowledge base support document on its website. However, since the release of the update, the company has added a portion to the support page which adds that the change has been disabled by default with an option added to enable it. The company explains: IMPORTANT The resolution described in this article introduces a potential breaking change. Therefore, we are releasing the change disabled by default with the option to enable it. In a future release, this resolution will be enabled by default. We recommend that you validate this resolution in your environment. Then, as soon as it is validated, enable the resolution as soon as possible. Here is a summary of the vulnerability as provided by Microsoft: An authenticated user (attacker) could cause an information disclosure vulnerability in Windows Kernel. This vulnerability does not require administrator or other elevated privileges. The attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could view heap memory from a privileged process that is running on the server. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to coordinate the attack with another privileged process that is run by another user in the system. You can find the support document on Microsoft's site under KB5028407.