In recent weeks, the rollout of Microsoft’s highly anticipated Windows 11 24H2 update has hit quite a snag for some users, particularly those equipped with specific models of Western Digital SSDs. Reports have been pouring in about an uptick in Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) incidents, leaving those affected frustrated and scratching their heads. But fear not, tech-savvy friends! Let’s dive deep into this quagmire, examining both what’s causing these crashes and what you can do about it.
The error many users are seeing — “critical process has died” — suggests that the issue primarily lies in the NVMe SSD storage drivers. Further analysis has shown two types of errors logged in the Event Viewer post-crash:
Stay tuned for further updates as this story evolves, and happy computing to all! If you've had your fill of BSODs, or just want to share your thoughts on Windows 11 24H2, jump into the comments below or join the discussion on the forum.
Source: Digital Trends Windows 11 24H2 may crash your PC if you have a certain SSD
What’s Going Wrong?
The Windows 11 24H2 update, which aimed to enhance user experience and incorporate new features, seems to come with an unexpected hitch: crashing. Users, especially those sporting certain Western Digital SSD models, have voiced their woes across various platforms. Although Microsoft has yet to officially confirm these issues, the evidence is mounting.The error many users are seeing — “critical process has died” — suggests that the issue primarily lies in the NVMe SSD storage drivers. Further analysis has shown two types of errors logged in the Event Viewer post-crash:
stornvme and “The driver detected a controller error on \Device\RaidPort 1”. This latter error points to potential RAID configuration troubles, implicating the system’s ability to manage multiple drives effectively.Which SSDs Are Affected?
The troubling culprits appear to be specific models from Western Digital, notably the WD SN770 and WD SN580, both of which are DRAM-less SSDs designed to utilize a feature called Host Memory Buffer (HMB). This feature allows SSDs to tap into a portion of the system RAM to boost performance, but it’s this dependency that seems to contribute to the crash issues when the 24H2 update grants the full 200MB of memory.The HMB Connection
To understand why these crashes are happening, it’s crucial to explore the Host Memory Buffer (HMB) concept. In essence, HMB allows SSDs without their own DRAM cache to temporarily "borrow" a fraction of system memory. This improves the speed of data access and can enhance overall performance — but only if implemented correctly. It appears that granting SSDs a larger memory allocation than they can handle leads to critical failures.Possible Solutions for Affected Users
If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, there are a couple of paths you can take:- Rollback the Update: The most straightforward (albeit least desirable) solution is to revert your system to the previous version of Windows (23H2) until Microsoft rolls out a fix.
- Survey the Registry: Users on Western Digital forums have unearthed a workaround, albeit one that requires some risky registry tweaking. This fix involves disabling HMB altogether, and while it may stave off BSOD occurrences, it will likely result in reduced SSD performance. Proceed with caution if you choose this route!
- Wait for Microsoft to Act: There’s a strong possibility that Microsoft may proactively halt updates for PCs with these specific SSDs until a resolution is found, so keeping an eye on official communications from Microsoft or the latest Windows updates would be prudent.
A Broader Context
This incident shines a light on the broader issues surrounding new software updates. The tension between introducing cutting-edge features and ensuring stability often leads to such complications. While the ramp-up in AI capabilities within Windows 11 is exciting, it’s crucial that these upgrades do not come at the cost of the user experience — especially when users rely on their machines daily.Final Thoughts
As Microsoft continues to juggle all of these issues, it’s a vivid reminder of the unpredictable world of technology — where one patch can save the day or turn it upside down. If you’re one of the unfortunate users experiencing these crashes, don’t despair. Keep your software updated, monitor community forums for fixes, and remember that you’re not alone in this technological rollercoaster.Stay tuned for further updates as this story evolves, and happy computing to all! If you've had your fill of BSODs, or just want to share your thoughts on Windows 11 24H2, jump into the comments below or join the discussion on the forum.
Source: Digital Trends Windows 11 24H2 may crash your PC if you have a certain SSD
