Microsoft pulls its August Windows update after users report crashes
 

I just read about this.

Has anyone crashed?

My pc does auto updates. Will the next update fix the broken one?

Do I need to uninstall the update or do you think if my machine was going to crash due to the faulty update it would have crashed by now.

Has anyone done the uninstall?

If I had an extra $1,000 dollars I would by an apple laptop today. So consider any apple advice you may have as redundant.

just another why I have switched to Mac and there is no looking back!

:agree: We switched a year ago well worth the money, no problems at all (exempt learning their browser and all the features) but that said their support is awesome pus they offer free clinics! Granted you have to drive far to go to them however we have a nice lunch at Mall of Millennia and make a day of it! Love Love Love Apple!

I feel it is incumbent upon me to put in my two cents by bragging that I have been using Windows based computers exclusively since 1987 and have never had cause to fear crashes, viruses or all of the other ghastly predictions perpetrated by "The Dark Side" users.

I make a significant part of my living using PCs and have always felt that I benefitted from the excellent value and vast software availability afforded by Windows based products.

That being said the Apple vs. PC controversy is much like discussions of religion, politics, chili, pizza and BBQ...forever unresolved.:1rotfl:

If you're not into heavy movie or photo editing, and your usage is mostly internet, you might want to consider one of the Chromebook OS computers. Very fast, lightweight, long battery life, low cost, and totally virus proof.

Back on track, if you are not having problems with crashes, then I would do nothing. You might want to change your settings (temporarily) to ask before updating. I have auto updating also, have not experienced any problems so far (running Windows 7 professional, 64 bit).
Hope this helps.

By the way, I did custom hardware and software designs as a side business for a few years, the last Apple PC is used was awful since I could not get the same plug in boards that I could get for the IBM PC, had to spend lots of time with software work around. Anyway stuck with IBM style PCs since, cut my teeth with DOS, then early windows (yuk) and now Windows 7. Just my 2 cents.

I'd also be interested in a response to the OP's questions. I do have an iPad that I really like.
But I also have an Acer laptop which seems to do automatic Windows updates anytime I log off.

Computers and their operating systems is definitely like politics, many different experiences and opinions, that's for sure. My husband and I have been using computers since internet started and before that in our work environment. He has been a tech specialist with a couple of major corporations for many years. That said. over that last few years or more there have been a number of issues with Microsoft Windows. Then we got tired of always having to upgrade our computers either with hardware or software to meet our needs and wants. We now feel we have something that will last us well into our later years. Apple does what we need it to do with no hassles. They continue to enhance their products regularly. So for us it has worked exceptionally well and we are very happy. We love our Mac laptops I have the small Mac Air very light and portable he has the Pro. We both have IPad Airs which we love and of course iPhones, love how smoothly everything works together. Again it all works for us. There is no right or wrong find what works your needs best and makes you happy!

It helps, thank you.

My Windows 7 Dell laptop automatically installed Windows updates on 8/13/14. I use the laptop daily and have not experience any problems.

This a window8/8.1 problem. If you are running W7 you will not have a problem.

The August month for Microsoft Windows 8/8.1 users came with a surprise. The updates from the Microsoft arrived on schedule but this time there was an erratic behavior in one of the updates. The update MS14-045 can make using the fonts in Windows 8/8.1 a trying experience. This update may lock the fonts, render them incorrectly or in the worst case scenario throws the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) on your screen. Listening to the outcry of the Windows users, Microsoft has issued a guideline for removing this update from your Windows.

Z

Has anyone crashed?

Has anyone done the uninstall?

I use 8.1.

How do you change Windows settings to ask before updating?

you did answwer my question and i am sorry i missed it.
if my system has not crashed by now then it probably will not crash at all.
thank-you

I have update both a 32 bit and 64 bit computer with the latest updates in August and have seen no problems.

The 32 bit is my main machine. The 64 bit is a laptop used mostly as a print server but gets some other use when we are on the road. I'm going to put Windows 9 preview on that one when it comes out at the end of September.

From the Start Menu, go to your control panel and do a keyword search on "update". It should return a result for Windows Update with a choice to "Turn Automatic Updating On or Off."

If you so turn automatic updating off (which I always have), be sure that you go to Start>All Programs>Windows Update a least once a week and check for updates.

MS updates come out on the second Tuesday of the month. I do my check on Monday. That give me six days to make sure that the updates do not have problems.

It is a ritual for me.

Z

I tried to do the Windows 8.1 upgrade a couple days ago. It totally locked up my computer and asked for a password. I entered the password and it didn't accept it. I could not exit that screen, my computer was totally locked up. The control/alt/delete didn't even work. I called Microsoft and they said for them to HELP me fix their problem, I had to pay $109. Arguing didn't help so I hung up on him. I unplugged the computer and plugged it back in and it went back to the same screen. I unplugged it again and waited about a half hour. When I plugged it back in and turned it on, it asked if I wanted to open using Windows 8, which I did. Microsoft really pi$$ed me of and I have used them since windows started.

Back everything up to the cloud or an external hard drive just in case your hard drive is starting to go.

The window 8.1 upgrade is older then the august patch that is faulty. That's a different problem.

I watch many podcasts about technology. Most of them star Leo Laporte, the tech guy from TWIT [this week in technology]. No one on that network is happy with microsoft right now. You can use an online version of office for free and they are predicting windows 9 will also be free. That used top be their money makers.

I bought my wife a chromebook and it's carefree for the both of us.

I started this post and did not turn off auto updates. I had the troubled update with no problems and figured i was safe.

wrong

Windows said that I needed to reboot to complete an update it automatically downloaded last night. I thought that update was not the faulty one and it crashed my HP laptop. I could not boot.

Fortunately, HP includes a system repair on a partition and fortunately I could go back to an earlier system restore. For HP you hit the escape key and system recovery is an option. An hour later, the problem was solved. For some reason I had to uninstall and reinstall chrome. I had to reset IE too.

I back up in the cloud so if some files went away, it would be ok.

yep----I wish I turned off the auto back up last week when you told me to.
[i hope you don't say ---i told you so :) ]

Thanks for the tips.

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