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03/12/2026

Microsoft released the mandatory March 2026 Patch Tuesday updates on March 10, 2026, to address critical security vulnerabilities and system reliability. These updates are cumulative and include patches for 79 flaws, including two publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerabilities.
Update Overview
KB5079473: Applies to Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, advancing the OS to builds 26200.8037 and 26100.8037.
KB5078883: Applies to Windows 11 version 23H2, advancing the OS to build 22631.6783.
Microsoft Support
Microsoft Support
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Key Fixes and Features
Secure Boot Transition: Both updates begin the process of replacing Secure Boot certificates that are set to expire in June 2026. This is a critical preemptive fix to ensure devices remain trusted and can continue to receive boot security updates.
New Native Features (KB5079473): Includes a built-in network speed tester in the Taskbar, native Sysmon support, and enhanced camera pan/tilt controls.
System Stability: Fixes a reliability issue in File Explorer when searching across multiple drives and addresses a Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) bug that incorrectly blocked COM objects.
Enterprise Improvements: Adds a trusted catalog file warning to the Windows System Image Manager (WSIM) and updates several AI components to version 1.2602.1451.0.
Installation
These updates are mandatory and will typically download and install automatically via Windows Update. You can also manually trigger the update by navigating to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates or by downloading them from the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Windows 11 users blame Microsoft for forced updates | Windows Central
03/10/2026

Windows 11 users blame Microsoft for forced updates | Windows Central

Frustrated by surprise Windows 11 updates? You’re not alone

02/23/2026
02/18/2026

Reports indicate that the February 2026 Windows 11 update (KB5077181) is causing significant installation failures and system instability across multiple versions, including 24H2 and 25H2. While intended to fix previous boot issues, the patch has introduced a new set of critical bugs for a segment of the user base.
Reported Issues
Boot Loops & Startup Failures: Users have reported critical boot loops and endless restart cycles immediately after installation.
Installation Error Codes: Common failure codes include 0x800F0991, 0x800F0983, 0x800F0922, 0x80073712, and 0x80096004.
Network & Connectivity: Some devices experience DHCP errors, resulting in Wi-Fi showing as connected but having no internet access.
Hardware Malfunctions: Reports include broken Bluetooth connectivity, audio popping or glitches, and system freezes upon sign-in.
SENS Errors: Some systems display "System Event Notification Service" (SENS) errors, preventing interaction with critical system services.
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn
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Potential Fixes and Workarounds
If you are affected by these issues, community and expert sources suggest several recovery steps:
Uninstall the Update: If you can reach the desktop, use the Control Panel to view installed updates, find KB5077181, and select "Uninstall".
Use Windows Recovery Environment: If stuck in a boot loop, enter Recovery Mode and use the Command Prompt to run: wusa /uninstall /kb:5077181 /quiet /norestart.
Network Reset: For DHCP issues, navigate to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset to restore connectivity.
Manual Installation: If the update fails to install through Windows Update, try downloading the standalone package directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Pause Updates: To prevent the buggy version from re-downloading, it is recommended to Pause Updates until a official fix is confirmed.
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn
+5
Are you currently facing a specific error code or are you unable to boot into Windows at all?

02/17/2026

Reports indicate that the February 10, 2026, Windows 11 security update (KB5077181) is causing critical boot issues for some users, specifically triggering infinite restart loops and sign-in failures.
Key Issues Reported
Infinite Restart Loops: Affected systems may restart repeatedly (sometimes over 15 times) during the final installation stages or at the sign-in screen.
Sign-in Failures: Some users encounter a System Event Notification Service (SENS) error stating "The specified procedure could not be found," which blocks desktop access.
Network Connectivity Problems: Reports include a loss of internet access due to DHCP errors, where the device shows as "Connected" but has no internet.
Gaming Performance: Some players have noted rhythmic stuttering in games after the update, which may be mitigated by disabling Fullscreen Optimizations.
Recommended Workarounds
Microsoft has not yet listed these as "known issues" on its official Windows Release Health dashboard, but independent sources recommend the following:
Uninstall KB5077181: If you can reach the desktop, navigate to Control Panel > Programs > View installed updates, select KB5077181, and click Uninstall.
Use Recovery Environment: If stuck in a loop, force a hard shutdown three times to enter the Windows Recovery Environment. From there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.
Command Line Removal: In the Recovery Environment's Command Prompt, you can run: wusa /uninstall /kb:5077181 /quiet /norestart.
Pause Updates: After uninstalling, go to Settings > Windows Update and select Pause updates to prevent the problematic patch from re-installing automatically.
Are you currently stuck in a restart loop, or are you looking for preventative steps before installing this specific update?

02/16/2026

Windows 11 update KB5077181, released on February 10, 2026, was specifically designed to resolve boot failures that plagued systems following earlier failed updates.
The update addresses the following critical issues:
"UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" BSOD: Fixes a bug where commercial devices would fail to boot with this Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) after installing previous updates.
Recovery from Failed December 2025 Updates: Resolves an issue where systems were left in an "improper state" after the December 2025 security update failed to install correctly.
Black Screen Failures: Addresses a problem where users would see a black screen with the message, "Your device ran into a problem and needs a restart," particularly after the January 2026 update (KB5074109).
Explorer.exe & Startup Crashes: Includes fixes for explorer.exe crashes that caused the taskbar and Start menu to disappear immediately after login.
Important Note for Affected Users:
While KB5077181 prevents these issues on healthy systems, Microsoft has noted that devices that already became unbootable before this fix was released may still require manual remediation. If your device is currently stuck, you may need to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to uninstall the problematic earlier updates or contact Microsoft Support for Business for enterprise-level assistance.
Are you currently experiencing a boot loop or looking to confirm the update installed successfully on your device?
Call: PC TECH WORX

02/13/2026

Microsoft's February 2026 Patch Tuesday update addresses 59 unique vulnerabilities, with six confirmed as actively exploited. This release is critical for Windows 11 users, as it fixes flaws that allow attackers to bypass security prompts, elevate system privileges, and execute remote code.
The update focuses on the following high-priority areas:
Zero-Day Exploits: Six flaws were already being used in the wild before patches were issued, including security bypasses in Windows Shell (CVE-2026-21510) and the MSHTML Framework (CVE-2026-21513).
Privilege Escalation: Nearly half of the fixes (25 total) prevent attackers from gaining administrator-level control over a system once they have gained initial access.
Critical Severity: Five vulnerabilities were rated as "Critical," primarily affecting Azure cloud services, while 52 others were rated as "Important".
Secure Boot Milestone: Microsoft began rolling out updated Secure Boot certificates to replace legacy versions expiring in June 2026, which is vital for maintaining OS startup integrity.
Microsoft Office Fixes: A high-severity bypass in Microsoft Word (CVE-2026-21514) was addressed, alongside an out-of-band fix for a separate Office zero-day (CVE-2026-21509) released just before the main update.
How do you want to verify if your current Windows 11 version has successfully installed these security updates?

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