Windows 10 update disaster — Microsoft confirms app crashes and blue screens of death

By Tom Pritchard
last updated

Windows 10 updates strike again, but fortunately a fix is imminent

blue screen of death
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Another day, another Windows 10 update that’s causing problems. Well, technically it’s two updates this time, and Microsoft has confirmed (via BetaNews) that they’re causing issues for users.

The specific updates are KB4598299 and KB4598301, with users reporting that both are causing Blue Screen of Deaths as well as various app crashes. 

If you’ve been suffering from issues with your Windows machine following an update, check to see which version of the operating system you have installed. Versions 1909, 2004, and 20H2 are the ones responsible for this latest problem.

Ironically, the updates were supposed to deal with issues in .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8, but instead just introduced a different issue.

One of the most affected apps is Visual Studio, which obviously makes life more difficult for developers. In fact, it was the Visual Studio forums where Microsoft admitted that the updates were causing problems, and that a fix would be coming soon. 

Apparently the update has already been implemented internally, and is being prepped for release, so it shouldn’t take very long for it to start reaching users. If you’ve been affected by those crashes on a regular basis, that’s good news. 

You just have to keep your machine up to date, even if the constant barrage of Windows 10 update issues may make that feel counterproductive. In the meantime you can always uninstall the offending updates in the Windows 10 settings app, if the problem is getting too much to handle. Members of the Visual Studio forums also have workarounds you can try if you’re feeling confident

Sadly this is far from the only issue Windows 10 has had as of late. It feels as though every update comes with a slew of new problems, ranging from small and annoying to major issues like sending PCs into an endless boot cycle. 

Tom Pritchard
Tom Pritchard
Automotive Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's Automotive Editor, which means he can usually be found knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won’t let him buy the stuff he really needs online. 

Topics
Software
Windows
5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • russell_john
    I'm on pause until the 22nd ..... Maybe longer because for the last year or more I've only been doing updates every 3 months and when I do I always do it late in the month

    It is sad that Windows Updates are a bigger risk than getting a virus or trojan since I haven't had a successful infection in years .... actually well over a decade ..... But Windows update the odds are you are going to get 3 or 4 bad ones every year
    Reply
  • Oops!
    Same here. I won't do another update for a while.
    One update broke my go-to desk top.
    I had to re-install and turn of updates.

    Next new hardware won't have a Windows OS on it.
    Reply
  • kep55
    You'd think after nigh unto 40 years of writing code ms would have figured how design, build AND test its software for bugs, conflicts, and compatibility. I guess meeting / beating what Wall Stree says their stock should do is more important than clean, functioning software.
    Reply
  • gmathol
    Oops! said:
    Same here. I won't do another update for a while.
    One update broke my go-to desk top.
    I had to re-install and turn of updates.

    Next new hardware won't have a Windows OS on it.
    Well I run Windows on a virtual box out of a Linux. I even converted an old complex Windows 7 into a VHD and run it virtually. If something goes wrong I pull a new copy. It also becomes handy if you get infected by viruses.
    Reply
  • Oops!
    gmathol said:
    Well I run Windows on a virtual box out of a Linux. I even converted an old complex Windows 7 into a VHD and run it virtually. If something goes wrong I pull a new copy. It also becomes handy if you get infected by viruses.

    I no longer have a need for Windows products, thank God.
    Reply