Microsoft pauses Windows 11 update as its sending some PCs into an infinite reboot hell

Date:
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:55:55 +0000

Description:
Those of you who have experienced an infinite reboot loop will appreciate why this latest update had to be pulled.

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Windows 11 just got its latest update , but Microsoft has put it on hold following the discovery of a bug thats seriously bad news.

This is the KB5039302 update, which is an optional download for Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, so its still in preview, ahead of its release as the
cumulative update for July 2024 next month.

The showstopper of a bug puts affected PCs into whats known as reboot hell whereby the PC keeps failing to start, rebooting, failing again, then rebooting, and so on ad infinitum well, until the user intervenes and tries to initiative a recovery. (Or in some cases, unplugs their PC out of frustration, no doubt never do this if you can at all avoid it, we should add, as cutting power at the wrong time can be bad news for your system
drive, as it could corrupt files potentially).

Whats the root cause here? Well, it appears to have something to do with PCs using virtual machines (running another OS inside the current operating system, essentially).

Neowin noticed that in its release health dashboard, where this gremlin has been flagged up, Microsoft tells us : This issue is more likely to affect devices utilizing virtual machines tools and nested virtualization features, such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop. We are investigating to determine the precise conditions under which this issue can trigger.

While that investigation is taking place, Microsoft has paused this update,
so it wont be offered to Windows 11 home users or businesses. (Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes) Analysis: Room for doubt

Clearly, given that having a PC trapped in a reboot loop is a dire scenario, its a good idea that Microsoft has pulled this update until the firm can work out whats really going on here. This is an optional update anyway, so its not like KB5039302 is crucial, or even finished which is why this flaw is present, no doubt.

Although youd really have hoped Microsoft would have picked up on such a calamitous bug before the final preview release of the update but at least its being fixed now. This also goes to illustrate why its always a risk to download an optional update for Windows 11 wed recommend steering clear of these in case there is a last-minute showstopper, just like this glitch.

Granted, as Microsoft observes: Users of Windows Home edition are less likely to experience this issue, as virtualization is less common in home environments.

Even so, some Windows 11 Home users will use virtualization features, no doubt, and Microsoft isnt 100% clear about the bug not affecting other PCs either. The language used is that the problem is more likely to hit PCs using virtual machines in some way, leaving room for doubt that it could affect other systems too. This is likely why the update has been retracted, for now, wed wager.

The crucial thing is that Microsoft fixes this one up, or at least pushes the feature or code thats caused the problem aside, before the full release of
the July 2024 cumulative update, clearly enough. You might also like... Microsofts embarrassment over Recall fiasco gets worse as Windows 11 feature becomes the butt of Apple execs joke Windows 11 remains an unloved OS but
why won't people upgrade? Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-pauses-windows-11-update -as-its-sending-some-pcs-into-an-infinite-reboot-hell


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