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Updated, Oct. 22 with Microsoft\u2019s confirmation of another serious Windows flaw and a fix \u2014 albeit this fix is complex and fraught with risk.<\/p>\n
Microsoft\u2019s mandatory security update this month has been described as a \u201ctotal disaster<\/a>,\u201d with localhost connection issues and a nightmarish WinRE breakdown that stops mice and keyboards working, rendering PCs inoperable.<\/p>\n The disaster warning came courtesy of Windows Latest<\/a>, which has now confirmed the promised emergency update has now been released. \u201cWindows 11 KB5070773 is rolling out as an out-of-band update,\u201d to address \u201cthe keyboard and mouse no longer working in WinRE, which renders the recovery process unusable.\u201d<\/p>\n ForbesGoogle\u2019s App Tracks Your Phone Online\u2014One Click Stops ItBy Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n While the localhost issue was addressed server-side, this other, more serious issue<\/a> requires users to download and install an update. Kind of. The download and install should happen automatically, and affects all Windows 11 PCs on 24H2 and 25H2.<\/p>\n Windows Latest explains the \u201c2025-10 Cumulative Update for Windows 11, version 25H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5070773) (26200.6901)\u201d patch shows for download automatically, whether you want it or not.” Microsoft confirmed this \u201cwill automatically install via Windows Update. After you install the update, version 25H2 bumps to Build 26200.6901, while version 24H2 gets 26100.6901.\u201d<\/p>\n You should install the update unless you\u2019re especially green-fingered and know you cannot be affected by the WinRE issue. If you don\u2019t install it now, it will be wrapped in with next month\u2019s updates anyway, so there\u2019s little point in waiting.<\/p>\n Microsoft told Windows Latest that \u201cthis issue prevents navigation of any of the recovery options within WinRE,\u201d which really is a \u201ctotal disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n Emergency update is now here.<\/p>\n Windows Latest<\/p>\n \u201cIf the mouse and keyboard don\u2019t work in WinRE, the recovery tools are basically useless\u2026 You can\u2019t click or type. What are you going to do? Your only chance might be an old PS\/2 keyboard, but only if your PC still has a PS\/2 port and it actually works.\u201d<\/p>\n Windows 11 now has its largest install base since launch \u2014 well over 50%, with last minute switchers from Windows 10 bloating its numbers. While we await any data on Windows 10\u2019s ESU take-up, what is clear is that the October 14 deadline has shaken stubborn users to finally make the move to the new OS. <\/p>\n Those than can, of course. There remains the issue of eligible or ineligible<\/a> PCs to content with for at least 200 million users. We can but hope all those users have taken up the free 12-month security extension<\/a>, and aren\u2019t running at risk. Time will tell.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, this isn\u2019t the only Windows issue prompting a fix from Microsoft. Although this one is complicated and fraught with some risk.<\/p>\n Per Neowin<\/a>, \u201cafter installing the latest security updates, some users began experiencing errors related to smart card authentication and certificates. Their smart cards were not recognized as valid Cryptographic Service Providers (CSPs) in 32-bit applications, they were unable to sign documents, and application functions which rely on certificate-based authentication kept failing.\u201d<\/p>\n