Microsoft’s August security rollup has morphed from routine maintenance into a three-headed warning for anyone who touches Windows updates: emergency fixes for broken recovery functions, emerging reports of disappearing SSDs during heavy writes, and severe streaming stutter affecting NDI workflows — all consequences tied to this month’s cumulative patches and their fallout. The situation is serious enough that industry outlets and Microsoft’s own release-health notices urge caution, and the guidance is evolving day by day. (bleepingcomputer.com)
Key developments verified across vendor and independent reporting:
What happens
Symptoms and anecdotes reported in the field
Technical details and workaround
Expect the following as the situation evolves:
Source: Forbes Microsoft Warning—Do Not Update Windows Until You Read This
Timeline at a glance
Microsoft shipped its August 2025 cumulative security updates in Patch Tuesday fashion. Within days, multiple problem reports surfaced from end users, streamers, and system administrators. Microsoft acknowledged at least three distinct, significant known issues and followed up with targeted guidance and out‑of‑band (OOB) relief for some, while investigations continue for others.Key developments verified across vendor and independent reporting:
- Microsoft published an official Windows release-health advisory acknowledging that some August updates can break recovery/reset operations. Microsoft and support pages note the affected update identifiers and offered a targeted OOB update for impacted SKUs. (support.microsoft.com, bleepingcomputer.com)
- Multiple outlets, plus vendor testing, reported certain SSDs becoming invisible or failing when writing large files after installing the update — an issue being actively investigated and tentatively linked to certain NAND/SSD controller interactions. Users are urged to avoid large file transfers until the problem is resolved. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com)
- Streaming and pro‑AV users saw severe stuttering and choppy audio/video when using NDI (Network Device Interface) with the newer security updates — Microsoft confirmed the issue in release‑health notes and NDI/NDI Tools provided a temporary workaround (change Receive Mode away from RUDP). (bleepingcomputer.com)
Why this matters now
Windows 10 reaches end of support on October 14, 2025, and Microsoft is actively shepherding upgrades to Windows 11 while offering a one‑year Extended Security Update (ESU) lifeline for consumers who need more time. That context amplifies the stakes: update timing matters for security, but forced or poorly timed updates can introduce new operational risks. The current wave of August issues demonstrates the tradeoff between pushing critical security fixes and guaranteeing update reliability across an enormous device ecosystem. (support.microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)What’s broken: a detailed breakdown
1) Recovery and “Reset my PC” failures
Microsoft confirmed a known issue introduced by some August security updates that can cause Reset this PC, Fix problems using Windows Update, and certain remote reset operations to fail on affected client platforms. The affected cumulative updates and platform pairs are complex, but Microsoft explicitly lists which KB packages and OS versions are impacted and has offered OOB updates for some endpoints. (bleepingcomputer.com, support.microsoft.com)What happens
- A user invokes Reset this PC or certain recovery flows and the process fails mid‑operation, leaving the system in a state where reset/recovery cannot complete.
- RemoteWipe and other managed remote reset flows can also be affected, complicating enterprise device recovery plans.
- Microsoft’s guidance: if you experienced this issue, install the offered out‑of‑band update; otherwise defer taking recovery actions until mitigations are in place. (support.microsoft.com, bleepingcomputer.com)
- Recovery and reset flows are the safety valve for many catastrophic failures, ransomware recovery scenarios, and clean reinstall workflows. If they fail, remediation becomes far more time‑consuming and may require manual reimaging or full disk wipes.
- Do not attempt Reset this PC on a machine that has the August patches if you can avoid it.
- If a reset is unavoidable, test the recovery plan on a non‑production machine first.
- Check Microsoft’s release‑health page and the specific OOB KB that applies to your Windows build to decide whether to apply the OOB update (Microsoft documents which SKUs the OOB targets). (support.microsoft.com, bleepingcomputer.com)
2) Disappearing or failing SSDs during large writes
Multiple independent reports and vendor testing show a worrying pattern: after the August patches, some SSDs — particularly under heavy write loads (examples reported are file transfers >50 GB or near‑full capacities) — disconnect or become inaccessible. In some cases drives recover after a reboot; in others, data was reportedly corrupted or the device needed firmware intervention. Initial testing implicated interactions with certain NAND controllers, but the investigation remains ongoing. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com, itpro.com)Symptoms and anecdotes reported in the field
- Drives disappear from Device Manager and File Explorer while large file transfers are underway.
- Some affected SSDs reappear after a reboot (temporary), while others exhibited unrecoverable behavior or data loss.
- Brand and controller variance: tests included SSDs from Samsung, WD, ADATA, SK hynix and also highlighted Phison‑based controllers in some test cases — but the picture is not yet definitive. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com)
- The risk here is data loss, not just inconvenience. For professionals moving huge video files, disk images, or large databases, this is unacceptable.
- Automated backups or archiving jobs that trigger large writes could inadvertently trample important data.
- Immediately pause large file transfers and heavy IO workloads on machines with the August patches until Microsoft or the SSD vendors provide a definitive fix.
- If you must perform large writes, use a tested and unaffected machine or external storage that does not show symptoms, and ensure backups are current.
- Take a full image backup of critical systems before you apply the August updates.
- Monitor SSD vendor advisories and firmware updates — some vendors may release firmware or guidance in coordination with Microsoft. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com)
- Several reputable outlets and vendor tests point to controller interactions, but no single definitive root cause has been publicly confirmed at time of writing. Treat claims about specific controllers (e.g., “Phison controller is the sole cause”) as preliminary until vendors or Microsoft publish validated findings. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com)
3) NDI streaming — severe stutter, RUDP failures
Pro‑AV workflows that use NDI (NewTek’s Network Device Interface protocol) experienced severe stuttering, lag, and choppy audio/video after users installed certain August updates. Microsoft’s release‑health update acknowledges the problem and notes it specifically impacts NDI traffic when using the RUDP transport mode; UDP or Single‑TCP modes are not affected. NDI and streaming app workflows (OBS, NDI Tools) are called out in vendor communications. (bleepingcomputer.com)Technical details and workaround
- The bug appears when NDI uses RUDP, a reliable‑UDP-like transport. Traffic using UDP or Single‑TCP bypasses the error conditions.
- NDI’s temporary workaround: change Receive Mode in NDI Access Manager (Advanced tab) to Single TCP or UDP instead of RUDP. This mitigates the stutter for many users pending a Microsoft fix. Steps:
- Download and install NDI Tools (if not already installed).
- Open NDI Access Manager on the source and destination PCs.
- Go to Advanced → Receive Mode → select Single TCP or UDP → OK.
- Repeat on each affected PC. (bleepingcomputer.com)
- Many live productions rely on low‑latency, high‑quality NDI streams across local networks. Severe stuttering or dropped frames can ruin live broadcasts, remote interviews, and multi‑camera productions.
- The workaround reduces performance headroom and may increase CPU use or latency in some configurations, so testing is essential before live events.
Cross‑checking the claims and the evidence
This is not a single‑source panicked rumor cycle. Multiple independent outlets and Microsoft’s own support pages corroborate the major reported problems:- Microsoft’s Windows release‑health page and specific OOB KB article detail the reset/recovery break and the targeted fix. Those are primary sources for the reset issue. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
- SSD disappearance and large‑file write failures were reproduced in vendor tests and reported by Windows‑centric outlets; coverage appears across Windows Central, Tom’s Hardware, and IT Pro, indicating broad exposure and independent validation. However, definitive root‑cause confirmation remains pending — Microsoft and SSD vendors are still investigating. (windowscentral.com, tomshardware.com, itpro.com)
- The NDI streaming problem is corroborated by Microsoft’s release‑health message and by NDI/OBS community reports; the protocol specifics (RUDP vs UDP/TCP) are confirmed in the advisory and by the NDI Tools workaround documentation. (bleepingcomputer.com)
- The precise hardware/firmware interaction causing SSD disappearance has not been publicly and fully validated by Microsoft; vendor firmware interactions are suspected but not universally proven.
- Some KB identifiers vary across sources (the August patch family contains different KB numbers for different OS builds). Always match the KB to your exact OS build before taking action. (bleepingcomputer.com, tomshardware.com)
Practical guidance — a decision checklist
If you manage or use Windows devices today, here is a practical, prioritized checklist to reduce risk:- Backup first
- Create a full disk image (or at minimum a verified file backup) before applying August updates. Use the 3‑2‑1 backup rule for critical data.
- Pause heavy IO
- Avoid large file writes (>10–50 GB) on machines that have the August patches until vendors confirm a fix.
- Delay resets/recovery
- Do not run Reset this PC or automated recovery unless you have to; test on a non‑critical machine first.
- Apply OOB fixes selectively
- If you already encountered the reset/recovery problem, install the Microsoft out‑of‑band update targeted for your SKU; otherwise, monitor Microsoft’s release health and apply OOB patches only when necessary. (support.microsoft.com, bleepingcomputer.com)
- For NDI streaming workflows
- Implement the NDI Receive Mode workaround (switch from RUDP to UDP or Single TCP) on affected machines, and test latency/quality prior to live events. (bleepingcomputer.com)
- Enterprise update strategy
- Delay broad WSUS/Windows Update for Business deployments until the issues are resolved.
- Test updates in a representative staging environment.
- Use compatibility holds and Safeguard options if Microsoft provides them for your hardware. (learn.microsoft.com)
- Monitor vendor advisories
- Track SSD vendor firmware advisories and Microsoft’s release‑health page. If a firmware update is provided, follow vendor instructions for safe application.
For IT teams: operational playbook
- Triage: Identify machines that perform large file writes (video editing workstations, repository servers, backup nodes) and delay updating those machines until SSD behavior is clear.
- Incident readiness: Ensure that recovery media and full system images are available for quick reimaging if Reset fails or storage disappears.
- Communication: Notify broadcast teams and content creators of the NDI workaround and schedule test sessions before live production.
- Telemetry and reporting: If you encounter these issues, capture logs, include device model/SSD model/firmware, and report to Microsoft via the Feedback Hub and to the SSD vendor. Thorough telemetry accelerates root‑cause analysis.
- Patch window management: For enterprises using Windows Update for Business or WSUS, place affected device groups on a temporary compatibility hold and roll updates progressively after validation. Microsoft often publishes Safeguard IDs and KIR guidance; apply these when available. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
Why this happened: plausible causes (with caution)
A few technical hypotheses explain how a cumulative update could produce these effects, but none are fully confirmed publicly yet:- Update regression in storage stack or driver interface: a security patch may touch core IO or controller APIs, triggering edge‑case failures with particular SSD firmware/driver combinations.
- Timing and caching interplay: large file transfers and near‑full NAND can stress controller metadata routines and ECC handling; a subtle change in how Windows interacts with the controller could trigger disconnects.
- Networking telemetry or transport changes: protocol handling tweaks that affect RUDP reliability could interact badly with specific NDI implementations or NIC drivers, exposing a fault only when RUDP’s reliability features are used.
The human and business impact
- Content creators and broadcasters: NDI streaming is mission‑critical for many live productions. A single unmitigated stutter episode can cost revenue and reputation.
- SMB and prosumers: A disappearing SSD during a backup or video export can mean irrecoverable client deliverables.
- Enterprises and IT: Broken recovery flows complicate incident response and can lengthen time to remediation, increasing operational risk and potentially driving emergency helpdesk loads.
How Microsoft has responded — what to watch next
Microsoft acknowledged the issues on its Windows release‑health page and pushed targeted OOB updates and guidance where available. For other problems — notably the SSD behavior — Microsoft and SSD vendors are investigating collaboratively. Monitoring Microsoft’s release‑health page and vendor advisories is the most reliable source of progress updates. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)Expect the following as the situation evolves:
- Additional OOB fixes or cumulative updates that resolve the reported failures.
- SSD vendor firmware or compatibility advisories.
- Updated guidance for enterprise deployment channels (WSUS/KIR/Safeguard IDs).
- Formal root‑cause writeups from Microsoft and vendor partners when investigations conclude.
Final analysis — balancing security and reliability
The August incident cluster is a textbook example of the update paradox: delaying security patches increases exposure, but pushing them immediately risks operational stability when edge cases exist at the hardware/firmware layer. The responsible path forward is a staged, evidence‑driven approach:- Individuals and small businesses should prioritize backups first, then apply updates after verifying that their workloads aren’t exposed to the edge‑case behaviors described above.
- Production studios and broadcasters should apply the NDI workaround and perform rehearsal runs before scheduled streams.
- Enterprises must treat these updates as a deployment‑and‑test exercise — validate in a ringed rollout, use compatibility holds, and only move to full deployment after confirming no adverse interactions.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s August security updates fixed important vulnerabilities — but they also introduced high‑impact side effects for recovery tools, certain SSDs under heavy write, and NDI streaming workflows. The official posture from Microsoft is corrective and iterative: apply targeted out‑of‑band fixes where they exist, adopt conservative mitigations (pause large writes, change NDI modes, avoid resets), and follow Microsoft’s release‑health and vendor advisories closely as investigations continue. For now, the safe approach is clear: back up, test, and delay anything that risks data or live production quality until definitive fixes arrive. (support.microsoft.com, windowscentral.com, bleepingcomputer.com)Source: Forbes Microsoft Warning—Do Not Update Windows Until You Read This