recovery mode Archives

Winsage

November 22, 2025

Nvidia confirms October Windows updates cause gaming issues

Nvidia has acknowledged that recent security updates have caused gaming performance challenges for users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. To address these issues, Nvidia released the GeForce Hotfix Display Driver version 581.94. This hotfix driver is a beta version and has not undergone the standard quality assurance procedures, allowing for quicker deployment. Users may experience diminished performance in certain games after installing the Windows 11 October 2025 update, specifically KB5066835. The hotfix drivers are optional and have been expedited to provide timely solutions. Users can access the driver for both Windows 10 x64 and Windows 11 x64 systems via Nvidia's Customer Care support site. Additionally, Microsoft has addressed various bugs in recent Windows updates, including issues with localhost HTTP connections, smart card authentication, and the Windows Recovery Environment.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Microsoft unveils two new Windows 11 recovery tools: Cloud Rebuild and Point-in-Time Restore

Microsoft is introducing new recovery options for Windows 11 at its Ignite developer conference, focusing on Intune remote recovery via WinRE. Two new recovery actions are being unveiled: 1. Point-in-time restore: This feature allows a PC to revert to a previous state to resolve issues like update failures and driver conflicts. It will be available in preview form within the Windows Insider build of Windows 11 this week. 2. Cloud rebuild: This option enables a fresh start for devices with persistent issues without the need for hardware shipping or service desk visits. Admins can select the Windows release and language through the Intune portal, prompting the PC to download installation media and self-rebuild. This process uses Autopilot for zero-touch provisioning and allows for the restoration of user data and settings via OneDrive and Windows Backup for Organizations. Microsoft plans to roll out these features in the first half of the upcoming year.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Windows 11 Introduces Point-in-Time Restore & More for Faster, Safer PC Recovery

Microsoft is enhancing the recovery capabilities of Windows 11 with a suite of tools aimed at simplifying device restoration for IT administrators. The Point-in-Time Restore feature allows administrators to revert a device to a previous state, currently available in preview mode in Windows Insider builds. The Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) system, refined since its August launch, helps restore functionality to multiple devices experiencing boot failures and will soon include direct networking support and Autopatch QMR management for automatic update handling. The Intune remote recovery feature provides insights into when a managed PC enters recovery mode, allowing for remote script deployment and fixes, and has been expanded to include Windows Server virtual machines via the Azure Portal. The Cloud Rebuild function enables administrators to rebuild devices that cannot be repaired conventionally by downloading fresh installation media and restoring settings and data using OneDrive and Windows Backup for Organizations, with Autopilot applying necessary enrollment and policies.

Winsage

November 19, 2025

Windows 11 Adds New Recovery Tools to Minimize Downtime

Microsoft unveiled new Windows Recovery tools during the Ignite 2025 keynote to help IT teams reduce downtime and streamline remediation processes. Enhancements to Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) include WinRE networking support, which will initially support Ethernet and later add Enterprise Wi-Fi capabilities. Autopatch can now manage and approve QMR updates, currently in public preview. Microsoft Intune's remote recovery via WinRE allows IT administrators to monitor devices in recovery mode and deploy scripts directly from the console, extending to Windows Server VMs through the Azure Portal. New recovery options for Windows PCs include a point-in-time restore feature for reverting to previous states and a Cloud rebuild feature for remotely reinstalling Windows 11 on malfunctioning devices. These updates are expected to be generally available to commercial customers in the first half of 2026. Microsoft has also introduced Autopatch update readiness in preview, providing real-time insights into device update readiness through a unified Intune dashboard. Additionally, new tools for incident management include Mission Critical Services for Microsoft 365, allowing collaboration with Windows engineers, and Windows 365 Reserve, which offers secure temporary Cloud PCs. Microsoft Intune will issue alerts when devices enter WinRE to prioritize recovery efforts, and a Digital Signage mode will prevent error messages on non-interactive public displays.

Winsage

November 6, 2025

Latest Windows Updates Trigger BitLocker Recovery

Microsoft has warned that its October 2025 security update may cause a BitLocker recovery prompt on certain systems, particularly affecting devices running Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2. BitLocker, a security feature in Windows, encrypts drive contents to protect against unauthorized access. The issue arises when some devices inadvertently enter BitLocker recovery mode during startup. This is especially common with Intel-based devices that support Connected Standby. Affected users may need to enter a recovery key once, after which the device should boot normally. Microsoft has provided a fix that administrators must manually deploy, and users without their recovery key risk losing data. They are advised to try retrieving the key through their Microsoft account.

Winsage

November 6, 2025

I’m exhausted by incessant Windows 11 bugs – and the return of the BitLocker recovery glitch is an ugly sight

Microsoft has acknowledged a new issue affecting Windows 10 and Windows 11 users related to the BitLocker encryption feature, causing unexpected booting into BitLocker recovery mode, particularly for users unaware of their encryption key. This problem primarily impacts Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, and Windows 10 version 22H2, with Intel-based systems being the most affected. Users are advised to ensure their encryption key is available or consider disabling BitLocker due to the frequency of issues. Microsoft has indicated that this bug should not result in data corruption.

Winsage

November 6, 2025

Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 October Update Triggers BitLocker Recovery

Microsoft is addressing an issue affecting users of Intel-based PCs running Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2, as well as some Windows 10 users, who are unexpectedly entering BitLocker recovery mode without changes to their system configurations. This problem is linked to a newly identified bug that prompts the recovery key request. The issue has been associated with Windows Updates released on or after October 14, 2025, specifically update KB5066835 for Windows 11 and KB5066791 for Windows 10 version 22H2. The Connected Standby feature may be related to the problem, which primarily affects Intel systems. Microsoft is rolling out a fix for this issue, and users are advised to back up their recovery keys and apply the latest updates to mitigate risks.

Winsage

November 5, 2025

Microsoft: October Windows updates trigger BitLocker recovery

Microsoft has warned that after installing the October 2025 Windows security updates, users may experience their systems booting into BitLocker recovery mode, particularly affecting Intel devices with Connected Standby support. This issue arises typically after hardware changes or TPM updates, requiring users to enter their recovery key to regain access to encrypted drives. The affected platforms include Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, as well as Windows 10 version 22H2. IT administrators can use a group policy through Known Issue Rollback (KIR) to mitigate the problem, and users are advised to contact Microsoft Support for assistance. Similar issues have occurred in the past, prompting emergency updates from Microsoft to address BitLocker recovery prompts after previous security updates.

Winsage

October 26, 2025

Microsoft Issues 2 Emergency Windows Updates—What You Do Now

Microsoft has ended support for Windows 10, prompting users to transition to Windows 11, which has faced significant challenges, including a problematic October security update that caused issues with localhost connections and rendered peripherals inoperable. Microsoft released emergency update KB5070773 to address these problems, and users are advised to install it immediately to avoid recovery mode issues. Following this update, Windows 11 version 25H2 will upgrade to Build 26200.6901, and version 24H2 will upgrade to 26100.6901. Additionally, a second emergency update addresses a critical remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2025-59287) affecting Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) across several Windows Server versions, with a deadline of November 14 for federal agencies to implement necessary updates.

AppWizard

October 22, 2025

Android users finally get Android 16 Beta 3.1, as bootloader fix comes in

Google has begun rolling out an update to address bootloop issues affecting users in the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 program. This update is being distributed to all devices, with specific instructions provided for those still facing problems. The Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3, released late last week, included new features such as an app shortcut button and updates to Live Caption, but was met with reports of bootloop issues among Pixel testers. The OTA patch rollout started on October 20, targeting bootloader issues, with patch version vBP41.250916.010 for Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6a devices, while other eligible Pixels receive the same version. Google has also provided steps for users still experiencing bootloop problems, including downloading Beta 3.1 and using Recovery mode for installation. Following the reports, Google retracted the patch to prevent further complications. Early feedback indicates that the new patch has resolved bootloop problems for some testers.