Microsoft has stopped the distribution of the optional Windows Update preview for Windows 11. This is due to unplanned side effects, the reasons for which Microsoft is now investigating.
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In the Windows Release Health notes explain Microsoft developersthat after installing the Windows Update preview KB5039302, some devices would no longer start. They would then restart repeatedly. Microsoft further states that affected PCs require the application of recovery options to ensure normal operation again.
Systems more likely to be affected
The error is more likely to occur when virtual machines and associated tools are used on PCs, Microsoft developers explain. The use of nested virtualization functions also promotes the error, with examples such as CloudPCs, DevBox or Azure Virtual Desktop. Windows Home users are therefore less likely to be affected, as the use of virtualization is less common there.
While the investigation is ongoing, Microsoft is pausing the offer of this update via Windows Update and Windows Update for Business.
Manual fix in Windows Recovery Mode
In order to get a functioning system back in the event of an error, those affected must uninstall the update in the Windows Recovery environment. After several unsuccessful restarts, Windows boots into the recovery environment on its own. This may also be possible by selecting “Restart” after clicking the power button while holding down the Shift key. In the Windows Recovery environment, you will then find a “Troubleshooting” option.
Windows Recovery: Select Troubleshoot.
(Image: Screenshot / dmk)
From there you can continue with the “Advanced Options”.
Windows Recovery: Then select Advanced options.
(Image: Screenshot / dmk)
And then click on “Uninstall updates”.
Windows Recovery: Weier about “Uninstall updates”
(Image: Screenshot / dmk)
There, those affected must select “Uninstall current quality update” to remove the faulty update and make Windows bootable normally again.
Windows Recovery: … to then be able to “uninstall the current quality update” at the end.
(Image: Screenshot / dmk)
Potentially many affected
The update previews are optional updates, so in theory they require manual searching and installation. However, Microsoft has been offering a “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” switch in the Windows Update settings for some time now, which ensures that optional updates such as the previews are automatically downloaded and installed early. Therefore, numerous users are probably already affected by the problem, at least more than would be intuitively expected for an optional update that has to be installed manually.
On Wednesday, Microsoft began distributing the preview version of the non-security update components for the upcoming patch day. In addition to bug fixes, they also contain new functions. For example, the integrated compression tool in File Explorer should be able to handle .tar and .7z formats as target formats for compression in addition to the .zip format.
(dmk)