[German]Some February 11, 2020 update kills the user profile during installation. Where do we stand regarding the bug at the end of February 2020 after the C and D Week updates are out?
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Windows 8.1: Update KB4537821 kills user profile
The update KB4537821 (Monthly Rollup for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2) for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, which was released on February 11, 2020, causes some users to load a temporary user profile after installation.
I had reported this issue in the blog postWindows 8.1: Update KB4537821 kills also user profiles. The situation is unpleasant for administrators of Windows Server 2012/R2 if they run into the problem. Here is a user comment on this:
Yes, the problem also occurs on our server 2012 R2. It only affects the user account that was active during the installation of the update. All other user accounts do not seem to be affected.
he hope was that Microsoft is now sitting on a fix. On February 25, 2020, Microsoft released the monthly Preview Rollup Update KB4537819 (Preview of Monthly Rollup for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2). In the update change log (see Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 Updates (Feb. 25, 2020)) I didn't read anything about fixing the profile bug. User Ankephalos confirms in a comment that this update does not fix the profile bug. So the update is a total failure in this respect.
Windows 10: Update KB4532693 kills the user profile
The cumulative update KB4532693, released of February 11, 2020 for Windows 10 versions 1903 and 1909 shows the same behavior. For some users, the desktop was gone or the files and icons disappeared after installation. For most users, Windows 10 used a temporary user profile after the update was installed the next time they logged on. I had reported about this in the blog post Windows 10: Update KB4532693 kills user data/profile. .
Windows 10 KB4532693 Update Bug Reportedly Deletes User Files – by @LawrenceAbramshttps://t.co/2jqX7PNLVR
— BleepingComputer (@BleepinComputer) February 19, 2020
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In the above tweet, Bleeping Computer points out that for some users, the user profile files were completely deleted during the update installation. Then these files could only be restored from backups. And this comment says the same.
In the meantime, Microsoft has released Update KB4535996 for Windows 10 Version 190x (see Windows 10 Version 190x: Update KB4535996 (Feb. 27, 2020)). The update unfortunately does not fix the bug with the broken/deleted user profile – but at least includes a correction for the bug with the display of the Windows search box.
Similar articles:
Windows 8.1: Update KB4537821 kills also user profiles
Windows 10: Update KB4532693 kills user data/profile
Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 Updates (Feb. 25, 2020)
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This is all a big incentive to keep a Windows 7 system in reserve. At least it cannot be rendered unusable by Mr Nadella's chaos. I will bet that my 64bit Windows 7 Ultimate system will not be subverted by malware, with or without the considerable hardening I have developed over many years and especially in the lead-up to EOS and since. In the last resort, I have system backups.
Please keep up your excellent work Herr Born. Your website is by far the best and most timely supplier of security intelligence available. I use it to my great personal advantage and hope others do too.
check the recent comments here (in dutch):
https://www.gratissoftwaresite.nl/comment/58528#comment-58528
and read this topic from the Askwoody forums – "Lost My User Profile"
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/lost-my-user-profile/
especially the comments made by patch lady Susan