blue screens Archives

Winsage

August 24, 2026

Microsoft says RGB is responsible for recent Windows 11 and game crashes

RGB lighting setups may be causing system instabilities on Windows 11, particularly during gaming sessions, as reported by Microsoft. The issue affects PCs running Windows 11 version 25H2 or newer, especially after the August 11 KB5121003 update, and is linked to driver or code components associated with 'inpoutx64'. Users have experienced 'ExceptionAccessViolation' blue screens, which occur when software accesses memory outside its designated boundaries. The problem may be related to anti-cheat technology in various games conflicting with RGB software. Affected titles include Arc Raiders, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals. Microsoft and game developers are working on solutions and recommend temporarily disabling inpoutx64, which may result in loss of RGB functionality. The issue also affects internal RGB components.

Winsage

August 22, 2026

Microsoft blames RGB peripherals for crashing Windows 11 — RGB software is causing blue screens, crashes, and game freezes

Windows 11 users are experiencing system instabilities, including game freezes, crashes, and blue screen errors, following the KB5121003 update. The issue is linked to RGB software that conflicts with essential system components. Affected online multiplayer games, such as Arc Raiders and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, are particularly impacted, with players encountering "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION" errors. The problematic driver, often named "inpoutx64," is associated with RGB lighting control and operates in kernel space, leading to vulnerabilities that anti-cheat mechanisms aim to mitigate. When the driver is blocked, it causes critical errors resulting in system crashes. Microsoft has suggested temporary workarounds using compatible programs like SignalRGB or OpenRGB to manage RGB devices without triggering anti-cheat alerts. Users are encouraged to report issues through the Feedback Hub for resolution prioritization.

Winsage

August 20, 2026

Microsoft says August Windows updates may cause gaming issues

Microsoft is investigating issues related to the August 2026 updates that may affect the launch of certain games or cause crashes on select Windows 11 systems. Users have reported problems such as games freezing, closing unexpectedly, encountering "EXCEPTIONACCESSVIOLATION" errors, and unexpected system restarts. The updates in question include KB5121003, which was part of the August 2026 Patch Tuesday and included enhancements like Secure Boot updates and improvements to File Explorer and Windows Search. Microsoft has encouraged affected gamers to report issues via the Feedback Hub app. In the past, Microsoft had to block Windows 24H2 upgrades due to known issues and lifted compatibility holds for several popular games.

Winsage

August 10, 2026

Which Windows 11 Update Is Causing Problems in 2026? – TheZeroNet

KB5094126, released in June 2026, is causing significant issues for Windows 11 users, including BSODs, boot failures, BitLocker lockouts, and problems launching Office applications. This update has particularly affected HP enterprise hardware, leading to BitLocker recovery loops and black screens. The issues stem from disk space limitations related to Secure Boot certificate handling and restricted EFI partition space. Affected users are advised to locate their BitLocker recovery keys and consider workarounds, such as launching Office applications directly. Windows 10 users are also experiencing similar problems due to the related update KB5094127. Microsoft is expected to release fixes in subsequent updates, including KB5101650 in July 2026.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

Windows 11 update is breaking some PCs with boot and BitLocker issues

Windows 11 update KB5094126 (Build 26200.8655), released on June 9, 2026, has caused boot failures, blue screens, and BitLocker recovery prompts for users, particularly affecting business devices from HP and Dell, including models like HP EliteBook 840 G10 and Dell Precision 7530. The issues stem from changes in Secure Boot and EFI partition modifications, with insufficient EFI partition space leading to errors. A workaround involves disabling Secure Boot in BIOS. Additionally, users have reported disruptions with OneDrive and Microsoft Word integration, particularly in enterprise environments. Microsoft has not yet acknowledged these problems.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

Windows 11 KB5094126 BSODing, freezing, forcing BitLocker lockout, breaks OneDrive, and more

Microsoft rolled out Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11, specifically KB5094126 and KB5093998, along with dynamic updates KB5094149, KB5095971, and KB5094156. Users have reported various issues post-update, including access difficulties with OneDrive and Dropbox, BitLocker recovery lockouts, and blue screens of death (BSOD), particularly the 0xc0430001 error on HP systems. This error may be linked to a previous bug affecting HP devices related to Secure Boot certificate updates. Users experiencing this error are advised to verify the presence of the boot.stl file on their installation media, as it is essential for Secure Boot. Microsoft recommends using the Update WinPE script to ensure the boot.stl file is included or manually transferring it from the WindowsBootEFI directory. Additionally, some Lenovo PC users have reported system freezes after the update. One user identified a conflict between KB5094126 and User Account Control (UAC) that affects OneDrive and Dropbox access in Explorer, noting that enabling UAC resolves the issue.

Winsage

June 9, 2026

Microsoft is usually blamed for every PC bug, but Dell and HP’s latest Windows 11 BSOD reboot fiascos are all on them.

Dell users reported issues with Dell SupportAssist causing system crashes, blue screens, and reboot loops on Windows 11. Dell stated the problems were not due to Microsoft's operating system and initially recommended uninstalling the software. An expert suggested disabling the service as an alternative. Dell later confirmed that Remediation Dell SupportAssist (version 5.5.16.0) and Alienware SupportAssist can trigger blue screen errors and reboot loops on Windows 11. HP also faced issues with a BIOS bug causing high-end Windows 11 PCs to get stuck in a BitLocker recovery loop, advising users to disable automatic updates while they worked on a fix.

Winsage

May 14, 2026

Dell confirms its SupportAssist software causes Windows BSOD crashes

Dell's SupportAssist software is causing blue-screen crashes on certain Windows systems, attributed to a recent update to the SupportAssist Remediation service, specifically version 5.5.16.0. Users experiencing these crashes are advised to uninstall or disable the service to resolve the issue. Dell has acknowledged the problem and is working on a solution. Uninstalling the service may result in the loss of system repair points created by Dell OS SupportAssist Recovery. Users still facing issues after uninstallation should contact Dell support. This incident follows previous software challenges faced by Dell, including blue screens from earlier SupportAssist versions and BIOS updates that prevented some laptops from booting. Additionally, vulnerabilities have been identified in the BIOSConnect feature of Dell SupportAssist, posing security risks.

Winsage

May 14, 2026

Dell SupportAssist is crashing some Windows 11 PCs, causing them to enter reboot loops. Here’s how to stop it.

Dell users on Windows 11 are experiencing frequent blue screens and reboot loops after updating the Dell SupportAssist Remediation software to version 5.5.16.0, released on April 30. This issue particularly affects models like the XPS 15 9530, with crashes occurring approximately every thirty minutes and a common error message being "CRITICALPROCESSDIED." The problem has been traced to the DellSupportAssistRemediationService.exe, which is pre-installed on many Dell systems and designed to manage diagnostics, driver updates, and recovery tools. Users are advised to uninstall or disable the software to restore normal functionality. Dell has acknowledged the issue and is working on a resolution. Temporary workarounds include disabling the service via Command Prompt or fully uninstalling the SupportAssist components through the Settings app. However, uninstalling may result in the loss of system repair points created by the service.

Winsage

May 6, 2026

Why are 25%+ gamers still using Windows 10 despite its EOL status?

A significant portion of gamers, over 25%, continues to use Windows 10 despite its end-of-life status declared on October 14, 2025. Reasons for this preference include: 1. Windows 10 has reached peak stability after years of updates, providing reliable performance. 2. It is compatible with older PCs, allowing gamers to use existing hardware without costly upgrades. 3. Windows 10 has fewer AI features, offering a streamlined experience preferred by many gamers. 4. Basic applications launch more swiftly in Windows 10 compared to Windows 11, enhancing performance. 5. Windows 10 has fewer ads and bloatware, resulting in a cleaner user interface. 6. Users can create a local account during setup in Windows 10, unlike the mandatory Microsoft account requirement in Windows 11. However, Windows 10 is no longer receiving security updates, which poses a risk as vulnerabilities may arise without patches.