January 2026: updates broke Remote Desktop and cloud storage
The January 13, 2026 Patch Tuesday update for Windows 11 (KB5074109) introduced two serious regressions. First, some users experienced sign-in failures when connecting via Remote Desktop, affecting the Windows App and other RDP clients. Microsoft released an emergency out-of-band patch (KB5077744) on January 17 to fix it.
A second problem emerged at the same time: applications became unresponsive or threw unexpected errors when opening or saving files to cloud storage such as OneDrive or Dropbox. In certain Outlook configurations that store PST files on OneDrive, Outlook would hang completely and refuse to reopen unless the process was terminated or the computer was restarted. Some users also saw sent items disappear or previously downloaded emails being re-downloaded. Microsoft issued a second emergency patch (KB5078127) on January 24 to address the cloud-storage issue.
Two out-of-band patches in the space of eleven days is unusual. For businesses relying on Remote Desktop and OneDrive, this stretch left systems unreliable for nearly two weeks after Patch Tuesday.
September 2024: blue screens, USB failures and reboot loops
The September 26, 2024 Windows 11 update (KB5043145) caused blue screens, frozen PCs and reboot loops for some users. USB and Bluetooth devices including keyboards, mice and headphones stopped working. Some users had to reinstall Windows because of system file corruption, and others lost Wi-Fi connectivity or had problems with VirtualBox and Linux subsystem features.
The Automatic Repair tool could activate on its own if a PC entered a reboot loop, and BitLocker recovery was triggered in some cases, locking users out until they entered a 48-digit recovery key. Similar problems had occurred with the June 2024 update (KB5039302), which Microsoft pulled entirely after it caused reboot loops on systems using virtualisation.
Advice on BitLocker and Device Encryption
I suggest disabling BitLocker (Device Encryption) before installing major Windows updates. Encryption can interfere with the update process during reboots, leading to failures that require the recovery key. After the update completes successfully, encryption can be re-enabled.
Drive encryption is enabled by default on many newer computers. It may also be enforced by organisations to comply with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA. Either way, keep a copy of your BitLocker recovery key somewhere accessible outside of the encrypted PC, for example in your Microsoft account or printed on paper. If you are locked out and cannot locate your key, contact us for recovery assistance.
Windows 10 end of support in 2025
Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. After that date, only devices enrolled in the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme continue to receive patches, and ESU for consumers runs only until October 2026. Businesses can purchase ESU coverage through to October 2028.
If you are still running Windows 10, you should either upgrade to Windows 11 (which requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot) or plan to replace the hardware. Running an unpatched operating system leaves the computer exposed to every new vulnerability that is discovered.
The original Windows 10 upgrade in 2015
One of my customers was tempted to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free. After following the link from an official Microsoft email, the installation process wiped out all passwords: the Windows 7 login, Live Mail credentials and Skype login. Only Firefox saved passwords survived. Desktop icons became unrecognisable, and the existing antivirus software was disabled. After recovering the Windows password, I had to reinstall everything from scratch, fortunately recovering all the data.
Windows 10 was also missing the familiar Windows 7 Start Menu, forcing the use of Windows Search to find previously installed programs. Aside from the lost passwords, the missing Start Menu and a new dark taskbar, we noticed no improvements in speed or functionality.
Other issues reported after the Windows 10 upgrade
- Automatic Updates getting stuck in an endless loop, requiring a registry fix.
- A buggy graphics driver forcibly installed by Windows Update, causing crashes.
- A WiFi driver forcibly replaced, dropping the wireless connection. This often happened when third-party network drivers such as work or business VPN software had been installed on Windows 7.
You still need to update
The issues described on this page are real but not common. The vast majority of Windows updates install without any trouble. Skipping updates is far more dangerous than installing them, because unpatched systems are exposed to viruses, ransomware and data theft. The key is to keep an up-to-date backup before you update, so that if something does go wrong you can recover quickly.
How to protect yourself from bad Windows updates
- Back up before every major update. A full system image or at least a copy of your documents means you can always roll back.
- Use OneDrive folder sync as the easiest continuous backup. It is built into Windows 10 and 11 and automatically copies your Desktop, Documents and Pictures to the cloud. Check the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray near the clock: a steady icon means everything is synced, while spinning arrows mean files are still uploading.
- Keep your BitLocker recovery key accessible outside the encrypted machine.
- Delay feature updates by a few weeks using Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. Let early adopters find the bugs first.
- Check the known-issues list on the Microsoft support page for each KB number before installing.
- If something goes wrong, you can uninstall the most recent update from Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.
If your computer will not boot or you have lost data after a Windows update, contact us for professional recovery and repair.
2015 - 2026