Latest Patches can BSOD Windows 7 64bit

[sparky]

I see good old MS have done it again.

Be warned if your running W7 64 bit!

http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/blue-screen-stop-0x050-error-reported-systems-installing-kb2976897-kb2982791-and-kb2970228-248363

[Simon]

I had a big update this morning, but mine is 32 bit so hopefully should be OK.  That said, I haven't restarted it yet.

[sparky]

It seems like users are finding a way to fix it by booting from a DVD and removing the following file:

c:\Windows\System32\FNTCACHE.DAT

It seems to be only Windows 7 64 bit and possibly Windows Server 2008 64bit, at least only those being reported so far.

More info here: http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/users-find-fix-botched-kb-2982791-and-kb-2970228-windows-update-248476

[zappaDPJ]

I'm running Windows 7 64 bit and I got those updates yesterday. So far I've not encountered a BSOD but I have only rebooted once. Thanks for the heads up

[Technical Ben]

Same here. I hold off of most updates for a little while because of this (and backup before most big updates ).

[zappaDPJ]

I'm fairly sure Microsoft performs a system save before applying any update so in theory you can always roll back assuming you can get your PC to boot!

[Technical Ben]

That's if it boots. Thus the manual backup on a non-OS dependant choice.

[Clive]

Unforgivable!  Two of my machines are Win 7 64 bit but I always wait a couple of weeks before unleashing the patches.  I was caught once before when using Win 95 and had to phone MS in America to get it sorted.  To be fair, a very cute American girl phoned me every day for over a week until it was fixed.   

[sparky]

Well, it looks like the patches have been pulled as of Midnight last night.
Microsoft seem to be recommending uninstalling them.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/microsoft-yanks-botched-black-tuesday-patches-kb-2982791-kb-2970228-kb-2975719-and-kb-2975331-248582

[Simon]

Again... 

[sparky]

I have developed a different approach to these patches lately, since being caught out once before.
I have automatic updates turned off, I get the notification only.
I'll then wait for a few weeks and install them just before the next lot are due!    Hopefully any bugs have been fixed by that point.

[zappaDPJ]

I had all these updates but now I can only find one which I've uninstalled. Odd.

[Technical Ben]

Unforgivable!  Two of my machines are Win 7 64 bit but I always wait a couple of weeks before unleashing the patches.  I was caught once before when using Win 95 and had to phone MS in America to get it sorted.  To be fair, a very cute American girl phoned me every day for over a week until it was fixed.   

Everyone looks cute over the phone/radio to me. 

[Clive]

   too true!  I can see that on Mrs Clive's machine, they are downloaded but waiting installation.  How can I stop that batch of patches from installing?  MS has deleted the rogue patch from future downloads. 

[Simon]

Turn off automatic updates?

[Clive]

They are turned off on both my computers and they were turned off on Mrs Clive's.  But somehow the setting has changed which allows the updates to download but not install until I OK it.  I've now disabled automatic updates but now I'm left with a time bomb lurking on her computer!  How can I remove the offending download before it gets accidentally installed?

[Simon]

I expect there is a way, but it's in a kind of limbo state at the moment, so it might not be easy...  and I don't know it. 

[Clive]

   A very useful answer.   

[Clive]

Ha!  A system restore should do it!   

[Clive]

Sorted!  It's rolled back to August 5th which is before the current batch of updates was downloaded.  Now I can choose to not install that one once I find the KB number of the MS malware. 

[Simon]

By which time it will have downloaded it again! 

[sparky]

Clive, you should be safe now.

MS appeared to have pulled the dodgy ones and they are not now being "offered".

[Clive]

Thanks Sparky!  But I've now disabled automatic updates again so there will be no more unwanted downloads on that computer.   The system restore took forever and a day!