Fix for Windows 11 24H2 BSOD on Western Digital SSDs Released

If you've been pulling your hair out since the Windows 11 24H2 update and are among the affected users experiencing the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with your Western Digital HMB-equipped SSD, breathe a sigh of relief. Western Digital has rolled out a fix, tackling the troublesome BSOD issues stemming from this recent update.

The BSOD Saga: What’s Going On?​

Since the rollout of the Windows 11 24H2 update, numerous users have reported encountering sudden BSOD crashes, specifically those utilizing Western Digital’s lineup of NVMe SSDs. For those who might not be as acquainted with the technical lingo, the BSOD is a notorious Windows error screen that materializes when your system encounters a critical issue it cannot recover from, leaving you with a stark blue screen and an unfortunate sense of dread.

The Culprit: Misconfigured Host Memory Buffer (HMB)​

After meticulously investigating users’ reports, Western Digital identified that the primary cause of these BSOD errors was a misconfigured Host Memory Buffer (HMB) allocation. To clarify, HMB is a technology that allows SSDs to utilize the system's RAM for cache operations, optimizing performance. However, when misconfigured, instead of enhancing speed, it can lead to severe system instability. The remedy for this situation was deceptively simple, requiring just a minor registry tweak to resolve the issue.

Affected Models and Recommended Actions​

Specific models have been pinpointed as being particularly susceptible to this glitch, including:

• WD_BLACK SN770 NVMe SSD (2TB)
• WD_BLACK SN770M NVMe SSD (2TB)
• WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD (2TB)
• WD Blue SN5000 NVMe SSD (2TB)
• SanDisk Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD (2TB)

For affected users, Western Digital issued a strong recommendation to update the SSD firmware. Failure to do so could prevent receiving future Windows 11 updates and, more critically, result in complete data loss. To mitigate risks, users should consider backing up all vital files to an external drive.

How to Update Your Firmware​

Updating might sound daunting, but it’s a straightforward process:

1. Download the Western Digital Dashboard: If you haven’t already, install the Western Digital Dashboard on your device.
2. Launch the Dashboard: Open the software and navigate to the ‘Tools’ section.
3. Update Firmware: Here, you’ll find the option to ‘Update Firmware’. Clicking this will initiate the process.
4. Reboot: After the firmware has been updated, it’s crucial to restart your computer to complete the installation.

Conclusion: A Sigh of Relief for Users​

While the ordeal of encountering BSODs is often a nightmare for Windows users, Western Digital’s timely response and the provision of a fix can get users back to business—with as little fuss as possible. For now, keep those SSDs updated, and don’t forget to back up your data to avoid any unexpected bumps down the road.
Do you have any stories or experiences dealing with BSODs after the Windows 11 24H2 update? Share them in the comments below!
Source: The Tech Outlook Western Digital Brings Out the Windows 11 24H2 Update BSOD Fix for Affected Users