If your gaming experience has been disrupted by unexpected crashes following a Windows update on or after August 11, you are not alone in this predicament. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is currently investigating the matter. According to the tech giant, a limited number of games have exhibited the following symptoms:
Reported Symptoms
- The game application becomes unresponsive
- The game application closes without notice
- The error message “EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION” appears
- The device restarts unexpectedly
So far, confirmed crashes have been reported in titles such as Arc Raiders, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Gamers experiencing similar issues are encouraged to provide feedback through the Feedback Hub app to assist Microsoft in addressing these concerns.
While a definitive fix may require a future Windows update, Embark has suggested a temporary workaround. Users can enter the following commands in Command Prompt:
- Type sc stop inpoutx64
- Then type sc delete inpoutx64
- Finally, delete the inpoutx64.sys file from the drivers folder
It is important to note that this method has not been personally tested by all users, so proceed with caution.
The update in question, KB5121003, is said to contain over 400 security updates. However, it remains unclear whether any of these changes are directly linked to the gaming issues being reported. Additionally, some users have experienced graphical corruption problems in games like Valorant and Roblox, regardless of whether they are using dedicated or integrated graphics cards. A number of users have found that uninstalling KB5121003 resolved black screen issues.
Rolling Back Your Windows Version
If you wish to explore the option of rolling back your Windows version, you can follow these steps:
- Search for Windows Update in the Start menu
- Click on Update history
- Scroll down and select Uninstall updates
- Uninstall update KB5120708
While a timeline for a permanent patch remains uncertain, uninstalling the latest update may serve as a viable interim solution for those affected.