boot failures Archives

Winsage

March 1, 2026

Windows 11 continues gaining traction, nears 75% market share — Windows 10 finally on the way out, some five months after Microsoft axes support

Windows 11 has an installation rate of nearly 75% on desktop PCs globally, with a market share of 72.78%, up from just over 50% in late 2025. Windows 10's installations have decreased to 26.27% from around 45% during the same period. Launched in October 2021, Windows 11 gained popularity after Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows 10, although its adoption faced challenges due to hardware requirements and the need for a Microsoft account. Users have sought workarounds for these limitations, but Microsoft has tightened restrictions. Some former Windows 10 users are switching to alternatives like macOS or Linux instead of upgrading to new Microsoft-promoted PCs. Windows 11 has also encountered technical issues, including a missing sign-in password icon, reduced gaming performance on certain Nvidia GPUs, and data loss due to BitLocker recovery. Microsoft has committed to addressing these issues in the near future.

Winsage

February 26, 2026

Windows Update KB5077241 February 2026 Issues Nvidia GPU Bugs Task Manager Errors and ViVeTool Guide

Windows Update KB5077241, released in February 2026, is a 4.5GB feature update for the 24H2 and 25H2 versions. It poses significant performance risks for older hardware, particularly laptops and desktops without a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Users with outdated Nvidia graphics cards, specifically the 900 Series (Maxwell) and 1000 Series (Pascal), report issues such as game stuttering, screen flickering, and system boot failures. The update also contains a flaw that inaccurately displays CPU usage in Task Manager, showing 0% utilization even under load. Many users face installation issues, encountering Error 0x800F0983, requiring them to delete update cache files and run repair tools. The update introduces features like a Taskbar Speed Test, Sysmon Security, improved Sleep/Wake functionality, and WebP wallpaper support, but many remain locked. Users can enable these features using ViVeTool with specific commands. Overall, the update is advised against for those with older Nvidia GPUs due to potential conflicts and performance issues.

Winsage

February 17, 2026

Microsoft Windows 11 KB5077181 Update Triggers Infinite Restart Loop on Some Devices

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday update, KB5077181, released on February 10, 2026, has caused significant boot failures for users of Windows 11 versions 24H2 (OS build 26200.7840) and 25H2 (OS build 26100.7840), resulting in endless restart loops. Users are reporting over 15 reboot cycles, preventing access to their desktops. Issues include System Event Notification Service (SENS) errors and DHCP problems affecting internet connectivity. Installation errors with codes 0x800f0983 and 0x800f0991 indicate potential hardware, driver, or servicing stack incompatibilities. The update was intended to address 58 vulnerabilities, including six zero-days, but the boot loop issue has overshadowed these enhancements. CVE IDs and their CVSS scores related to the vulnerabilities addressed include: - CVE-2026-21510: 7.5 - CVE-2026-21519: 7.8 - CVE-2026-21533: 8.8 - CVE-2026-20841: 7.1 As of February 15, 2026, there is no "known issues" entry in Microsoft's release notes despite user reports. Users can uninstall the update through the Control Panel if their systems are accessible, or use the Windows Recovery Environment to execute commands for uninstallation if their systems are unbootable.

Winsage

February 16, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 fixes boot failures linked to failed updates

Microsoft resolved a critical bug affecting some commercial systems running Windows 11 that caused boot failures due to an "UNMOUNTABLEBOOTVOLUME" error. This issue was linked to problematic updates from December 2025 and primarily impacted devices on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. The resolution was included in the February 2026 Patch Tuesday update, specifically the Windows 11 KB5077181 security update released on February 10, 2026. An initial fix was provided in the optional update KB5074105 on January 29, 2026. Affected devices experienced failures after installing the January 13, 2026, security update KB5074109. Microsoft recommends that enterprise customers with still unbootable systems contact Microsoft Support for Business for assistance.

Winsage

February 16, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 Security Update Causing Some Devices to Restart in an Infinite Loop

Microsoft's security update KB5077181, released on February 10, 2026, for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, has caused critical boot failures, leading to infinite restart loops for users. The update addresses 58 vulnerabilities, including six zero-day exploits, and introduces new Secure Boot certificates. Users have reported errors such as “a specified procedure could not be found” and DHCP failures, with installation errors like 0x800f0983 and 0x800f0991 affecting specific hardware. To resolve issues, users are advised to uninstall the update and pause Windows Update. Accessing the Windows Recovery Environment may also be necessary for persistent boot loops. While some users experienced improvements, the overall instability highlights risks associated with updates. Microsoft has not acknowledged any known issues related to this update as of February 15.

Winsage

February 15, 2026

Windows 11 KB5077181 fixes gaming bugs, Nvidia black screen, and performance issue affecting explorer.exe, taskbar, and Start menu

Windows 11 KB5077181 is a mandatory update that resolves up to 58 critical vulnerabilities, including a serious flaw in Windows Notepad that could allow for remote code execution. It introduces new features like an Apple Handoff-like Resume function and addresses gaming issues, particularly graphical artifacts in games such as Forza Horizon 5. The update fixes the black screen problem affecting certain Nvidia GPUs and resolves issues related to explorer.exe freezing or crashing upon login. Microsoft has confirmed that the update addresses black screen problems in isolated multiuser environments and rectifies boot failures linked to specific GPU configurations. Users can check if the update is installed by navigating to Settings > System > About, with the latest version being Build 26200.7840 or newer.

Winsage

February 1, 2026

Microsoft confirms that a stack of bad Windows updates is causing boot issues

Windows 11 is facing significant issues following the January Patch Tuesday, particularly with boot failures on commercial devices. These problems are linked to both the January update and a flawed December update, leading to a "UNMOUNTABLEBOOTVOLUME" Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error. Microsoft has indicated that devices that did not successfully install the December security update are left in an improper state, which can prevent booting when subsequent updates are attempted. While Microsoft is working on a partial solution to prevent further installations that could cause boot failures, this fix will not resolve issues for devices already affected. The company is investigating the causes of these update failures and their consequences.

Winsage

January 30, 2026

Windows 11 KB5074105 update fixes boot, sign-in, and activation issues

Microsoft has released the KB5074105 preview cumulative update for Windows 11, which includes 32 enhancements to improve user experience. This optional update allows administrators to test upcoming fixes and features before the next Patch Tuesday. It addresses issues such as Explorer.exe hanging during login with specific startup apps, system unresponsiveness during startup with Windows Boot Manager debugging enabled, iSCSI boot failures, and problems with Windows license migrations during upgrades. The update elevates Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 devices to builds 26200.7705 and 26100.7705, respectively. Key highlights include enhanced Cross-Device Resume functionality, support for peripheral fingerprint sensors in Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security, fixes for unresponsiveness when running Windows Terminal with elevated permissions, resolution of GPU-related system errors, and improvements to Windows Sandbox. Microsoft will also introduce distinct identifiers for Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 updates starting with the January 2026 security update, and has simplified update titles for better accessibility.

Winsage

January 29, 2026

Windows 11’s Gaming Gains Overshadowed by Stability Crisis: Performance Tests Reveal a Troubled Transition

Microsoft's Windows 11 version 24H2 shows performance improvements in gaming, with frame rate enhancements ranging from 2% to 8% across various titles, particularly benefiting newer DirectX 12 games. However, users report significant stability issues, including Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors, crashes during gameplay, and compatibility problems with certain hardware and software. These issues affect a wide range of systems, suggesting systemic challenges rather than isolated incidents. The operating system's hardware compatibility requirements, such as TPM 2.0 support, have also limited upgrade eligibility for many users. Microsoft has acknowledged specific issues related to Intel and AMD processors, antivirus software conflicts, and outdated drivers. Despite ongoing patch deployments, user frustration persists due to the slow pace of fixes. The stability concerns have led some businesses to delay Windows 11 24H2 deployments, prioritizing reliability over performance gains. The driver ecosystem's lag in updates from hardware manufacturers has further complicated stability. The gaming community remains divided, with many users opting to stay on Windows 10 due to these stability risks.

Winsage

January 28, 2026

‘Windows 11 25H2 edges ahead of Windows 10 in gaming performance’: testing proves newer OS is faster — but there’s an elephant-sized BSOD in the room

Windows 11 version 25H2 has outperformed Windows 10 (22H2) in gaming benchmarks, a shift from earlier assessments where Windows 10 was faster than Windows 11 23H2. The improvements in Windows 11's gaming capabilities were largely due to the 24H2 update. Testing was conducted on high-end hardware, specifically with an AMD Ryzen 9800X3D processor and Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU, and results may vary with different setups. Games like Arc Raiders and Borderlands 4 showed performance increases of 11% and 9% to 13%, respectively, on Windows 11. However, Windows 11 has faced bugs and glitches, including boot failures and sleep mode issues, particularly on older PCs, leading to hesitation among gamers about upgrading from Windows 10, which remains stable with only security updates. The deadline for Windows 10's extended support is October 2026, prompting users to consider upgrades or new purchases.