14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has pulled a series of Meltdown and Spectre vulnerability patches for AMD devices after it discovered they caused several issues, including Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors.
One of the updates impacted by this temporary pause on shipping updates is KB4056892, which was specifically aimed at the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and brought several other bug fixes and improvements in addition to the said security patches.
Microsoft explains on the KB page of the update that it’s aware of a bug causing specific AMD systems to fail to boot after installing cumulative update KB4056892, adding that it decided to pull it temporarily until a fix is ready.
As compared to Windows 7 Meltdown and Spectre patches, which were only available via the Microsoft Update Catalog, Windows 10 cumulative update KB4056892 was also delivered via Windows Update to all systems, including the affected AMD ones. Following today’s decision, the update is no longer up for grabs from the Update Catalog and AMD devices won’t receive it via Windows Update either.
“Microsoft has reports of some customers with AMD devices getting into an unbootable state after installing this KB. To prevent this issue, Microsoft will temporarily pause Windows OS updates to devices with impacted AMD processors at this time,” Microsoft says.
Patch Tuesday starts in just a few hours
This month’s Patch Tuesday cycle takes place today, and Windows 7 and 8.1 patches for the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities were supposed to be published on Windows Update as part of the rollout. After the update was pulled for AMD devices, only non-AMD systems will get them via Windows Update.
“Microsoft is working with AMD to resolve this issue and resume Windows OS security updates to the affected AMD devices via Windows Update and WSUS as soon as possible. For AMD device specific information please contact AMD,” the firm says.
All patches, including Windows 10 cumulative updates, will be re-issued for AMD devices once the problems are fixed, and in the meantime, users are recommended to follow this guide to remain protected against Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities.