A number of Windows 11 users have started reporting system instability issues following the deployment of Microsoft’s most recent security update. These complaints surfaced just days after the patch was released, with affected individuals describing system freezes, unexpected reboots, and various application malfunctions.
This pertains to the cumulative update KB5079473, which was rolled out on March 10th for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. After installation, systems transition to build numbers 26100.8037 and 26200.8037. Officially, the update was intended to primarily address security vulnerabilities, alongside introducing enhancements for Secure Boot certificate handling, improving File Explorer search reliability, and implementing changes to the WDAC policy for COM components.
Nevertheless, shortly after the update began rolling out, reports detailing various issues started appearing across support forums and Microsoft’s Q&A sections. Some users claim their machines started experiencing hangs or spontaneous restarts. One individual recounted their system completely locking up three times consecutively, necessitating hard reboots and resulting in the loss of unsaved work. Other complaints involve total screen lockups or reboots occurring every ten to twenty minutes.
Several reports also mention error codes such as 0×800704b3 and a critical fault described as “ATTEMPTED WRITE TO READONLY MEMORY (0xBE)”. Certain users noted that upon installing the patch, applications such as Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook ceased to launch, and specific system utilities—for instance, the command prompt or certain keyboard shortcuts—became non-functional.
Isolated reports of hardware compatibility problems have also surfaced. Owners of Samsung Galaxy Book laptops suggest that their storage drives became temporarily inaccessible post-update, while users of Dell Precision workstations are reporting graphical glitches and issues with applications that heavily rely on GPU acceleration. While these incidents currently seem sporadic, they could signal latent compatibility challenges introduced by the update.
Users encountering these difficulties are advised to temporarily halt further updates or uninstall the problematic patch via the Windows Update settings. Furthermore, submitting feedback through the built-in reporting system can assist Microsoft in quickly pinpointing the root causes of these emerging problems.
About the Author
