Don't upgrade to Windows 11 24H2
Microsoft’s latest Windows update is causing all manner of problems. Robert Irvine explains how to fix them and how to get 24H2’s best new tools without installing it
Even Microsoft must admit that the release of Windows 11 24H2 has been an unmitigated disaster. Since it began ‘rolling out’ last October, the update has been beset by problems and new bugs are still being discovered (see www.snipca.com/53495).
These range from Disk Cleanup misreporting how much data can be deleted to driver incompatibility causing the Blue Screen of Death. If you’ve already upgraded to 24H2, you’ve probably experienced some issues yourself, and are patiently waiting for Microsoft to fix them.
Here, we explain how to fix common 24H2 problems, and – if you haven’t upgraded – how to avoid the bother by getting its best tools from third-party software. You can pause the installation of the 24H2 update by going to Settings, Windows Update, ‘Pause updates’ and choosing ‘Pause for 1 week’.
How to fix Windows 11 24H2 problems
Blocked security updates
As we reported in Issue 701 (page 6), Windows users who installed the 24H2 update from a USB stick or CD/DVD between 8 October and 12 November 2024 may be unable to receive critical security patches in future, leaving them open to attacks. Microsoft has advised users who want to install 24H2 from physical media to download a patched version of the update from its website (www.snipca.com/53470), though this won’t fix other problems.