As the weather cools, many gamers are returning to their desktop PCs, eager to dive back into their favorite titles. However, a recent update to Windows 11 has introduced a bug that has left some users grappling with unexpected crashes. This issue emerged following the August 11 (KB5121003) update, impacting installations of Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, specifically affecting OS builds 26200.9168 and 26100.9168.
Embark Studios, a game developer, has acknowledged the problem through their Discord channel. They stated:
“We’re aware of a new crash introduced with the release of a Windows update (KB5121003) that may be affecting some of you. The team is working on a fix, and we will keep you posted on any updates.”
Embark Studios (via Discord)
Further investigation by Embark revealed that the crashes are linked to a change in the inpoutx64.sys file, a kernel-level driver that appears to be struggling with communication. While the team is working on a long-term solution, they have also provided a temporary workaround for affected gamers.
A temporary fix for the new Windows 11 gaming issues
To alleviate the crashing and freezing issues associated with the KB5121003 update, users can follow these steps:
- Launch Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Type “sc stop inpoutx64” and press Enter.
- In the same Command Prompt window, type “sc delete inpoutx64” and press Enter.
- Navigate to C:WindowsSystem32drivers in your PC’s File Explorer.
- Locate the file named inpoutx64.sys and delete it.
By following these steps, gamers should be able to return to their gaming sessions without interruption. Alternatively, users can opt to roll back their Windows 11 installation to a previous version until Microsoft releases an official fix.
While this issue may seem relatively minor compared to previous Windows 11 challenges, it remains a source of frustration for those affected. Just last month, Microsoft had to block the Windows 11 KB5101650 Patch Tuesday update on Dell PCs due to reports of unexpected shutdowns, overheating, and overall poor performance.
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