Latest MS patch causing BSOD

Microsoft is advising users to uninstall a recent patch that's causing BSOD's for some. Details here: http://arstechnica.com/information-...technology-lab+(Ars+Technica:+Technology+Lab)

 

Hi BOBBO, I saw this advice from MS:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2975719

Obviously there can be hiccups with updates. Neil.

 

So, I take it that this is a Windows 8 issue, alone?

 

(Quote) "last week's security updates has bricked an unknown number of PCs running Windows 7 "

Stop 0x50 error mostly on Windows 7 64-bit

 

As I read it James - yes.

 

No problem here that I am aware of - yet.

The update in question KB2982791.

Should I remove it?

 

There are two bad updates for Windows 7, KB2982791 and KB2970228.

The two for Windows 8 and 8.1 are KB2975719 and KB2975331.

Microsoft Yanks Botched Patches

MS14-045 applies to Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Vista and Windows Server 2003.

AFAIK, the problem is only with 64 bit versions.

The issue in Windows 7 64-bit is with shortcuts to Open Type fonts that are not in the Windows Fonts directory (C:\WINDOWS\Fonts or %WINDIR%\Fonts).

Such shortcuts are created by entirely legitimate apps.

Shortcut Arrows in Fonts

The Microsoft Answers forum thread is a Windows 7 thread, but there was one Vista 64, and a few 8.1 users, who also replied.

Some of the apps mentioned are Bitstream Font Navigator, Sparx System's Enterprise Architect 9.3, Autocad and Adobe Photoshop Elements 11.

So, your machine may be working fine, and then you install or use an app which puts a new font shortcut in play. At the next boot, you have the problem when the font cache is recreated.

That's my best attempt at understanding this so far.

 

Quote from InfoWorld Tech Watch...

About the same time, KB 2982791 was modified to include detailed instructions for removing the FNTCACHE file, rebooting, editing the Registry, removing the bad patches, and optionally, restoring the Registry. It'll help if you have a Computer Science degree. At the same time, the TechNet post for MS14-045 continued, "Microsoft recommends that customers apply the update at the earliest opportunity using update management software, or by checking for updates using the Microsoft Update service. "​

Computer science was not my major in tech school. Ugh.

Did anyone see if MS offered an uninstaller for the offending updates? Sorry for the detailed question. I have been extremely busy of late.

 

I am thinking about doing a system restore. I take it that the offending updates will *not* be re-offered?

Will system restore take care of the issue, or will I have to drill-down into the registry by hand?

 

First try uninstalling the offending updates:

How to uninstall Windows Updates

You will have more control over the situation if you disable automatic updating.

You will have to go back before the 12th of August with System Restore. That will undo more changes in addition to the problem updates.

If you have not experienced any problems, and uninstalling the updates is successful, it should not be necessary to make changes to the registry.

Note that these updates were intended to address vulnerabilities which you will still have.

Review the latest information from Microsoft:

MS14-045: Security Bulletin

 

I removed KB2982791 successfully via Add Remove Programs. Is a restore operation still necessary?

I couldn't find KB2970228. Is there an easier way to track down installed updates instead of viewing them one by one?

 

Thanks, Pete!

I never saw that until now.

 

(Quote) "I removed KB2982791 successfully via Add Remove Programs. Is a restore operation still necessary? "

No.

(Quote) "I couldn't find KB2970228. "

If it is not installed, no need to worry about it.

 

Three Win 7 and one Win 8 and no problems with any of them. I know that it doesn't affect all of the PC's with 7 and 8.
Maybe my luck is changing. Well not much. Still ain't hit the lottery.

 

Many thanks, antik.

 

You are welcome.

 

MrBill, Computerworld reports on a post by "Kurt Philips ":

Unidentified Microsoft Engineer Speaks Out on MS14-045 Problem

(Quote) "... the company has yet to provide a working fix for either the original vulnerability or the resulting problem for people affected by the broken update. "

(Quote) "The reason we pulled this patch was that IF you ran into the problem specified, it's a horrible user experience, "

(Quote) "there are definitely problems in our test coverage and design process that we need to address. "

(Quote) "One thing to keep in perspective here -- the failures are only happening in ~0.01% of the overall population," Phillips said. "So, about 1 in 10,000 machines are crashing. "

(Quote) "If you installed [the update] and haven't seen a Stop 0x50 [error], there's no guarantee you won't see one before we fix it, but look at the odds," Phillips wrote. "I'm not uninstalling. You need to make your own decision on that, of course. "