Bork Tuesday, Any Problems Yet?

I had to delete that previous post because of a strange link in the copy.

I got this from the Microsoft Net Engineers website. I was trying to include it.

Today, we are releasing the January 2018 Security and Quality Rollup.

Please avoid installing this update on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. See .NET Framework January 2018 Rollup Known Issue KB4074906 – “TypeInitializationException” or “FileFormatException” error in WPF applications for more information.

 

I got the first offered as important and recommended.
The second I got as important, not recommended.

 

Because of the setting "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" recommended updates are offered the same way as important updates, but still they're only recommended updates, not important updates in the true sense.
That default setting "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" is a really great way to make things very confusing.
And Microsoft changing updates from important to optional or recommended, or the other way round, in only a couple of days time, makes things even more confusing, of course.
Great going, Microsoft.

 

My Lenovo AMD laptop updated and booted to the desktop without incident.

 

after a list of KBs on my friend laptop (some old, some newer), I lost ability for using microsoft updates in WUMT and also ability for using offline mode with .cab file.
only "windows update" option works and others just keep searching for updates that never end.
any advice?

edit: solved by uninstalling/installing silverlight again.

 

^^ i'm frequently visiting this board: www(.)bleepingcomputer(.)com: it has a very good reputation.
...simply create a thread in this section: "Windows Crashes, BSOD, and Hangs Help and Support".

I updated one of my (three) laptops (my old one with i5-2430M; GT540M) few hours ago: everything seems to work fine so far..... .
My two (gaming-) laptops have Broadwell and Haswell CPUs threfore i will wait a while before updating this machines.

https://www.ciodive.com/news/wait-i...security-patches-for-meltdown-spectre/514691/

 

The Microsoft January 4th rush security patches for X86 systems did not address the Meltdown vulnerability.
That would be the security-only patch from the MS Catalog and the monthly rollup sent through Windows Update,
KB4056894 (W7) and KB4056898 (W8.1)

So if you have a 32 bit system, Microsoft has not sent anything in the way of protection. All Intel 32 bit systems after 1995 are affected by Meltdown and Spectre. Most AMD 32 bit processors are affected by Spectre.

NB: The Microsoft January 4th patches for 64 bit processors did address the Meltdown vulnerability. Intel and AMD BIOS updates for Spectre are for 64 bit systems only.

I was made aware of this when I came across this discussion on a Linux site (32 bit systems have no patches available either). All my Linux systems are 32 bit. There is no word as yet as to when these systems will receive protection.

 

^^ is there a way to install all necessary security updates for windows without installing patches for Meltdown/Spectre?
It seems that patches for Meltdown/Spectre are not stable enough therefore i wanted avoid problems (e.g. bricking my systems).

I havent updated my laptops yet, because the patches for metdown/Spectre could cause heavy problems... ...but on the other side i cant wait forever for stable Spectre/Meltdown patches....

 

Hi emmjay, to take care of this issue for my W7 32 bits laptop, I downloaded from the catalogue security only update KB4056897.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4056897/windows-7-update-kb4056897

Bo

 

Tnx Bo, I got that one too. It appears that Microsoft addressed the Meltdown vulnerability in KB4056897, though their documentation is fuzzy at best. When I Googled for more info, I came across a lot of articles where doubt was expressed. IMO: Microsoft did what could be done for the 32 bit architecture and that is about it. Also, I do not think we will see anything for Spectre. Several security mavens and software engineers believe that it is going to be very costly for Microsoft, Intel, AMD to develop fix(s) for the 32 bit architecture (performance degradation and design restrictions are major issues). And it is no secret that 80% of active X86 Windows users have an Intel 64 bit system.

Intel has already gone AWOL on 32 bit. So will Microsoft even bother?

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it is probably an on-coming train.

 

Windows patches are rolling out NOW
January 17th, 2018
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/windows-patches-are-rolling-out-now/

Windows 10 KB4057142, KB4057144 and KB4073290 released
https://www.ghacks.net/2018/01/17/windows-10-kb4057142-kb4057144-and-kb4073290-released/

 

"More Windows patches, primarily previews, point to escalating problems this month...

...Never give a sucker an even break. Yesterday, on a very out-of-band Wednesday, Microsoft released preview patches for Windows 8.1 (but not 7!), Server 2012, and Windows 10 1709 (for bricked AMD machines only), with preview cumulative updates for Win10 1703 and 1607. There are also nine different .NET preview patches.
What should you do? Nothing. More accurately, make sure you DON’T install any of them. Fortunately, all of these patches require that you download and install them — and you’d have to be crazy (or an admin trying to shore up some critical servers) to dive into the cesspool..."

https://www.computerworld.com/artic...-point-to-escalating-problems-this-month.html

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...lup-for-net-framework-3-5-1-4-5-2-4-6-4-6-1-4

 

I had a .net patch in Jan but MS took it away before i installed it. They did not give me another one today to take its place.

 

May be worth looking at this: http://www.novirusthanks.org/products/win-update-stop/

 

More problems with this month’s patches
January 21, 2018
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/more-problems-with-this-months-patches/

 

I haven't been in windows 7-SP1-64bit since mid December. I expected to see January patches when I ran Win 7 yesterday, but all I got was MSRT. Normal?
It's fine with me since there seem to be problems, still, I'm surprised.

 

Do you use antivirus on this system? If you do, you should update it so it is compatible with latest Meltdown patch. If you don't use any, you can set appropriate registry key manually and you'll get updates offered.
More info here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...stems-for-the-meltdown-and-spectre-cpu-flaws/

 

No AV. Just Outpost firewall and MSE. I read about and checked that thingie in the registry and I do have it.

 

You use MSE, so after update it set that registry key. Do you use AMD CPU? Microsoft halted updates for some of them because of unbootable state after update. They also issued a patch, but IDK if updates through WU were released for all AMD systems. More info here: https://www.pcworld.com/article/324...tdown-patches-windows-amd-pcs-unbootable.html

 

Hi act8192. In my case, I don't use AV in my W10 or W7 and dont have the registry key. In neither computer I was offered the January Meltdown patch via Windows updates. For both computers, I downloaded the corresponding update from the Microsoft catalogue, and updated. I havent experienced any issue.

For my W7, when I ran Windows update manually, all I was offered was the MSRT for the month, like you. So yes, what you got was normal. The package I installed in W7 was KB4056897. You have the registry key, you ll be fine. I didnt have it but I dont use AV. You are better off than I was. When I ran the update in W7, I felt very confident all was going to be well. And it has.

Bo

 

Microsoft release fix for bug that crashes Win8.1 machines running both PIC and APIC controllers
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/micro...chines-running-both-pic-and-apic-controllers/

 

Maybe we should start a new thread for people that have W7 and don't have the registry key like me.

 

I can't describe how I currently feel about Microsoft without using profanity, so I won't. The boss' PC is not compatible with the Fall update. Yet every day for weeks it tries to install it, gets to 83%, freezes, and after a forced reboot it rolls back. I have tried multiple times to resolve the issue but it never finishes. I have tried to block it and cannot. It is downloading it again as I type this. I now understand his preference for Apple. I think Microsoft should be sued for the forced updates and lost productivity by breaking machines that are not compatible and cannot be opted out.