Latest Microsoft patches cause black screen of death

[kemical]

IDG News Service - Microsoft's latest round of security patches appears to be causing some PCs to seize up and display a black screen, rendering the computer useless.
The problem affects Microsoft products including Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems, said Mel Morris , the CEO and CTO for the U.K. security company Prevx.
Prevx was alerted to the problem by users of its security software last week, Morris said. Microsoft apparently made changes to the Access Control List (ACL), a list of permissions for a logged-on user. The ACL interacts with registry keys, creating visible desktop features such as a sidebar.
However, the latest patches appear to make some changes to those registry keys. The effect is that some installed applications aren't aware of the changes and don't run properly, causing a black screen, Morris said.
Security applications seem to be particularly affected. Morris said users of other security products have also complained about the issue, even going so far as trying to reinstall the operating system to fix it.
"If you've got this problem, it's massively debilitating," Morris said.
Prevx has released software that fixes the registry to match the ACL settings, which should resolve the problem, Morris said. Users could do this on their own by modifying their registry settings, but making alterations to those settings is risky since it can severely affect how the operating system runs.
On Nov. 10, Microsoft released 15 patches for vulnerabilities in Windows, Windows Server, Excel and Word.
Morris said Microsoft was likely just trying to fortify the security of the operating systems when it inadvertently made the error in its patches. "It's one of those things that happens from time to time when you have a dynamic operating system," he said.
Morris said his company hasn't contacted Microsoft yet but will send the company a copy of the software fix.
Prevx has more detail on the issue Link Removed due to 404 Error and posted the Link Removed - Invalid URL, which is free.
Windows has at least 10 different issues that could potentially cause a black screen, wrote Dave Kennerley who works in support for Prevx.
"Our advice is try our tool first," Kennerley said. "If it works, great. If it doesn't, you are no worse off."
Microsoft officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

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[kemical]

Microsoft denies black screen of death Link Removed due to 404 Error Link Removed due to 404 Error Written by Link Removed due to 404 Error Wednesday, 02 December 2009 09:09

It does not exist

Microsoft claims that reports that its recently security updates create a “black screen of death” have been greatly exaggerated.

British software security firm Prevx claimed last week that changes to Microsoft's operating system's registry were the most likely cause of the error. Initially both believed it was a recent patch issued by Microsoft. Now it seems that this was not the cause.

The problem was widely reported after a small number of users were presented with a completely black screen after logging on. A spokesman for Microsoft said that reports claimed that its November security updates made changes to permissions in the registry that are resulting in system issues for some customers.

However the updates did not do that and could not have caused the behaviour described in the reports. So far Microsoft is not seeing this as a big issue and Prevx has apologised to Microsoft for the “inconvenience” caused by its original blog posting.

Apparently the black screen could be caused by malware or other programs and urged Windows 7 users to continue updating the operating system and security software.

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[Super Sarge]

Here is another article on the Black Screen of Death by PC World
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[kemical]

THE BRITISH INSECURITY FIRM that claimed Microsoft's last security patch created a 'black screen of death' has said sorry for stuffing it up.
Prevx charged last week that the security patch made changes to Microsoft operating systems' registry and were the most likely cause of the error that caused a small number of people's machines to crash.
The Vole and Prevx apparently sat down and tried to work out what was happening and came to the conclusion that there was no way that the security patches could have caused the problem.
While it worked that out, Microsoft urged users to install patches carefully, testing them before rolling them out across a company. Not helpful advice for home users, of course.
Prevx has concluded that the problem must have been caused by some malware that stuffed up the configurations before the patches went in.
This tallies with the fact that very few people suffered from the problem, which if it were a result of the security patches would have affected more than just a few dozen users.
The company has apologised to Microsoft for the "inconvenience" caused by its original blog posting and is urging Windows 7 users to continue updating the operating system as normal.
A Microsoft spokesman said that there was nothing to see here move on please. µ

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[kemical]

You mean as in 'blue' screen? Apparently, although I've never seen them, there's also a white screen and a red screen of death...

 

[stueycaster]

Geez, with all these claims and counter claims I don't know what to believe. But I do know this. My wife's laptop went black on her today. If it happens again I guess I'll be required to check into the fix. Her computer has XP Home. It hasn't happened on my W7 RC.

 

[kemical]

Hey Stuey, it wasn't anything to do with what we discussed yesterday was it?

 

[stueycaster]

Hey Stuey, it wasn't anything to do with what we discussed yesterday was it?

No it wasn't that. She was trying to play a Hoyle puzzle Game when it just went black. I won't start on trying to fix Vista in her laptop til this evening after she goes to work. Thanks for your concern.

 

[Mitchell_A]

Microsoft is fairly confident in saying this issue was caused by malware as it's now happening with others.
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[reghakr]

No offense but that;s been posted twice in this thread alone.

 

[Mitchell_A]

Woops. My bad. Didn't see there was 4 pages, only skimmed over the first one.

 

[stueycaster]

I'm sorry Kemical buddy. It's dual boot. She uses XP and I sometimes like to use Vista on it. Vista has the problem. I must have been clear as mud. Sorry about that.

 

[Mike]

Windows Update does not install drivers automatically unless you allow it to by selecting the drivers to update -- this is the same behavior as Windows Vista. The updates Windows Update will install automatically are the "important" or previously termed, critical updates. Black screen of death sounds like a fake story -- I saw some support requests about this a few months ago but very few people have this. It is the result of a bad video card or screwy video card drivers. There can be no other reason. I wonder how legitimate this story is.

 

[reghakr]

Well guys, I;m the one that originally placed it in the security section, but as soon as I found out I posted the retraction by Prefix.

Sorry, this has escalated to this level

 

[kemical]

THE BRITISH INSECURITY FIRM that claimed Microsoft's last security patch created a 'black screen of death' has said sorry for stuffing it up.
Prevx charged last week that the security patch made changes to Microsoft operating systems' registry and were the most likely cause of the error that caused a small number of people's machines to crash.
The Vole and Prevx apparently sat down and tried to work out what was happening and came to the conclusion that there was no way that the security patches could have caused the problem.
While it worked that out, Microsoft urged users to install patches carefully, testing them before rolling them out across a company. Not helpful advice for home users, of course.
Prevx has concluded that the problem must have been caused by some malware that stuffed up the configurations before the patches went in.
This tallies with the fact that very few people suffered from the problem, which if it were a result of the security patches would have affected more than just a few dozen users.
The company has apologised to Microsoft for the "inconvenience" caused by its original blog posting and is urging Windows 7 users to continue updating the operating system as normal.
A Microsoft spokesman said that there was nothing to see here move on please. µ

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This was post number 25 and like Reghakr said above.. We've kind of gone over this already...