A few weeks ago, Microsoft rolled out its monthly patch update, which addressed 100 security vulnerabilities and fixed a flaw that was already being exploited. However, many users reported that the update disrupted critical recovery and reset functionalities in Windows. In response to these complaints, Microsoft has released an out-of-band update, KB5066189, to rectify the issues.
Affected users reported an inability to successfully reset their Windows operating system. Microsoft outlined three specific scenarios where the problems occurred:
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Users trying to reset their PC via System > Recovery > Reset my PC found the process failing, with the system rolling back to its previous state.
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Users attempting to repair issues by utilizing Windows Update through System > Recovery > Fix problems using Windows Update also encountered failures.
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IT administrators faced challenges when trying to wipe PCs remotely, a necessary action in cases of stolen or lost devices that contained sensitive data.
For users impacted by these issues, it’s essential to apply the latest out-of-band update. They can do so by navigating to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Update.
Interestingly, this isn’t the only out-of-band fix Microsoft has issued recently. Just last week, they released another emergency fix targeting installation issues with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). A list of previous updates that had been affected can be found on Microsoft’s official website.
For further details, you can check the recent update information here.