July 2025 Windows Update Problems: IME, Firewall, VM & Security Alerts

In early July 2025, several significant issues have emerged across Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server platforms, affecting a broad spectrum of users and administrators. These problems range from input method editor (IME) malfunctions to firewall anomalies and antivirus alerts. This article provides a comprehensive overview of these issues, their implications, and potential workarounds.

Changjie Input Method Editor Malfunctions​

Following the installation of the July 2025 security updates, users employing the Microsoft Changjie Input Method Editor (IME) for Traditional Chinese have reported several issues:

• Inability to Form or Select Words: After typing a full composition, the associate phrase window fails to function correctly.
• Unresponsive Spacebar or Blank Key: Key inputs do not register as expected.
• Incorrect or Distorted Word Outputs: The IME produces unintended characters or words.
• Conversion Candidate Window Display Issues: The window fails to display properly, hindering the selection of correct characters.

This problem affects all client versions from Windows 10 onwards and all server versions from Windows Server 2016 onwards. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and suggests reverting to the previous version of the Microsoft Changjie IME as a temporary workaround. Users can enable this setting under the Compatibility options in the IME settings. (learn.microsoft.com)

Windows Recovery Environment Update Error 0x80070643​

Users have encountered the error code 0x80070643—ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE—after installing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) update KB5057588 from April 2025. This issue primarily affects certain Windows 10 versions and Windows Server 2022. The error message appears when the device installs the WinRE update while another update is pending a reboot. Despite the error indication, the WinRE update is typically applied successfully after the device restarts. Microsoft has marked this issue as resolved as of July 8, 2025, stating that the error message is incorrect and does not impact the update or device functionality. (learn.microsoft.com)

Windows 10 Emoji Panel Search Dysfunction​

The security update KB5062554, released on July 14, 2025, has disrupted the search functionality within the Emoji Panel of Windows 10 version 22H2. Users report that the search feature fails to return any results, rendering it ineffective. Microsoft is currently investigating this issue and has yet to provide a definitive solution. (borncity.com)

Persistent Firewall Warning Events​

Administrators have observed that, following the installation of the June 2025 Preview Update KB5060829, Windows Firewall for Advanced Security generates warning events in the Windows Event Viewer. Initially, Microsoft advised that these warnings could be ignored, attributing them to an incomplete implementation of a built-in function. However, despite the release of the July 2025 update KB5062553, which was expected to resolve this issue, the problem persists. On July 15, 2025, Microsoft confirmed that the solution to the firewall log problem was incorrectly announced and that the issue remains under investigation. (borncity.com)

Microsoft Defender Alerts for VulnerableDriver:WinNT/Winring0​

Microsoft Defender has begun triggering alerts for VulnerableDriver:WinNT/Winring0 detections. This detection is valid, as the WinRing0 driver has been classified under CVE-2020-14979 as a known vulnerability. Applications utilizing this driver, such as CapFrameX, EVGA Precision X1 (older versions), FanCtrl, HWiNFO, Libre Hardware Monitor, MSI Afterburner, Open Hardware Monitor, OpenRGB, OmenMon, Panorama9, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries Engine, and ZenTimings, may be affected. Users encountering this alert can add an exclusion for the driver file in Microsoft Defender Antivirus as a temporary measure. (borncity.com)

Azure Virtual Machines Failing to Start​

A subset of Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) running Windows Server 2025 or Windows 11 version 24H2, with Trusted Launch disabled and Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) enforced via registry key, may fail to boot after installing the July Windows security update KB5062553. To determine if a VM is impacted:

• Check VM Creation Type: Ensure the VM is created as "Standard."
• Verify VBS Status: Open System Information (msinfo32.exe) and confirm that Virtualization-based security is running and that the Hyper-V role is not installed in the VM.

Microsoft has resolved this issue in the out-of-band update KB5064489, available via the Microsoft Update Catalog. Administrators are advised to install this update to address the boot failure problem. (learn.microsoft.com)

Conclusion​

The early July 2025 period has presented multiple challenges for Windows users and administrators, spanning input method editors, update errors, firewall warnings, antivirus alerts, and virtual machine boot failures. While Microsoft has acknowledged these issues and provided interim solutions or workarounds for some, others remain under investigation. Users are encouraged to stay informed through official Microsoft channels and apply recommended updates and configurations to mitigate these problems.

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Source: BornCity Windows 10/11 and Server: Known issues (early July 2025) | Born's Tech and Windows World