Microsoft has confirmed an unusual warning for Windows users updating their PCs. If you make a simple mistake, your PC “might remain in a state where it cannot accept further Windows security updates.” Bad news, especially as it will clearly be confusing if and when it happens.
As Windows Latest reported on Christmas Day, “if you use a USB or drive to install Windows 11 24H2 with the October 2024 or November 2024 security updates included, you might end up breaking Windows Update. By default, Windows 11 24H2 ships without October or November security patches.”
What Microsoft says in its documentation is that “when using media to install Windows 11, version 24H2, the device might remain in a state where it cannot accept further Windows security updates. This occurs only when the media is created to include the October 2024, or November 2024, security updates as part of the installation (these updates were released between October 8, 2024 and November 12, 2024)… This only occurs when utilizing media – such as CD and USB flash drives – to install Windows 11, version 24H2. This issue does not occur for devices where the October 2024 security update or the November 2024 security updates are installed via Windows Update.”
Still, a confusing way to spend Christmas Day catching up on belated security updates to find yourself in something of a frozen update state. Windows Latest puts the issue down too the way in which users might create their Windows 11 external media copy to install the OS with newer updates.
Microsoft remains in a bind with Windows 11. The stats are refusing to budge in its favor, as hundreds of millions of users vote with their PCs to stick to Windows 10. And to add to the messy situation, conflicting media reports suggest the company either is or is not relaxing its hardware hurdle for taking. the leap from Windows 10 to Windows 11. It is not.
There have been a raft of these type of update and upgrade issues in recent weeks. Certain brands of PC or PCs with certain software installed being taken off update lists as software conflicts cause crashes or worse. It’s not been smooth running.
At least this time it’s only relatively few users impacted. Microsoft told Windows Latest “the company is aware of these reports and that they only affect a very small number of PCs… What can you do if you’re unable to install new cumulative updates after installing Windows 11 24H2? You’ll need to download the Media Creation tool, create a fresh media file, and reinstall the OS.”