Microsoft Removes Windows Update Causing PC Startup Problems

At the end of last week, we reported on Windows users facing various problems following Microsoft's February 2020 Patch Tuesday security updates. Problems ranged from files going missing from the desktop to systems not booting following the patch. Regarding the latter issue, Microsoft says it has now removed the security update that caused it. The standalone security update is no longer on the Windows Update servers. Microsoft says the reason for the removal is because of “an issue affecting a sub-set of devices.” The company is now “working on an improved version of this update in coordination with our partners and will release it in a future update.” Labeled KB4524244, the security update was rolled out across all Windows 10 versions last week. It was launched to fix a vulnerability in the non-Microsoft Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) boot managers. Microsoft has now confirmed the following two problems with the update:

• “You might encounter issues trying to install or after installing KB4524244.
• Using the “Reset this PC” feature, also called “Push Button Reset” or PBR, might fail. You might restart into recovery with “Choose an option” at the top of the screen with various options or you might restart to desktop and receive the error “There was a problem resetting your PC.””

Removal

In the KB update page, Microsoft explains why it decided to remove the updateL “This standalone security update has been removed due to an issue affecting a sub-set of devices. It will not be re-offered from Windows Update, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Microsoft Update Catalog. Note Removal of this standalone security update does not affect successful installation or any changes within any other February 11, 2020 security updates, including Latest Cumulative Update (LCU), Monthly Rollup or Security Only update.”