In a recent development that has rattled many Windows 11 users, Microsoft has confirmed that the new build (27723) in the Windows 11 Insider Canary channel is causing significant issues for users with older Nvidia graphics cards. If you happen to be sporting a vintage GPU—think GTX 970 or Quadro K620—this news might have you frowning in despair.
In their release notes for build 27723, Microsoft noted, “[ADDED 10/10] Some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs... are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager.” For the affected users, this isn’t an innocuous glitch; it’s a full-on disruption that could derail productivity or gaming sessions at the worst possible time .
While it’s comforting to hear that Microsoft is on the case and plans to roll out a fix in future updates, the company has not provided an estimated timeline for resolution. Users are left grasping at the hope of a swift recovery amid mounting frustrations .
It also serves as a gentle nudge for users to assess their equipment. If your GPU is frequently causing issues, and especially if you need stability for productivity or gaming, it may be time to explore newer options that align more comfortably with current software demands.
So, if you find yourself standing at that crossroads of upgrading your GPU—or if you're desperate to prevent another encounter with the dreaded black screen—now might just be the opportune moment to make a change .
Source: Neowin Microsoft confirms black screens and hangs on Windows 11 preview PCs with older Nvidia GPUs
What’s the Trouble?
Users who have installed the latest Canary build are reporting frustrating issues such as black screens, unresponsive displays, and unexpected hangs while operating their systems. These problems have arisen after Microsoft made modifications and introduced fresh features, which, predictably, came with their share of bugs .In their release notes for build 27723, Microsoft noted, “[ADDED 10/10] Some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs... are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager.” For the affected users, this isn’t an innocuous glitch; it’s a full-on disruption that could derail productivity or gaming sessions at the worst possible time .
The Recommended Fix
Unfortunately, there are no immediate workarounds for this situation. Microsoft’s advice for those ensnared by this dilemma is to roll back to a previous, stable version of Windows 11. The procedure isn’t overly complex: you'll need to boot into Windows Recovery (WinRE) and uninstall the troublesome build, which requires navigating through some troubleshooting tools. Once you’ve returned to your comfort zone with the earlier release, it’s wise to pause updates in Settings > Windows Update to prevent Windows from downloading the problematic build again .While it’s comforting to hear that Microsoft is on the case and plans to roll out a fix in future updates, the company has not provided an estimated timeline for resolution. Users are left grasping at the hope of a swift recovery amid mounting frustrations .
Other Known Issues
In addition to the black screen fiasco, the 27723 build has encountered several other troublesome bugs. These include:- Update Error 0xc190010: A checkpoint error that prevents installation or update of the operating system.
- Game Crashes: Some users are experiencing regular crashes upon launching games.
- Biometric Issues: Users with Copilot+ PCs are reporting latent functionality when employing biometric authentication .
Why This Matters
For gamers and professionals using older Nvidia graphics cards, this news is a stark reminder of the rapid pace of software and hardware evolution. Most software development houses, including Microsoft, push boundaries with new features, but these often come at the cost of compatibility with earlier hardware.It also serves as a gentle nudge for users to assess their equipment. If your GPU is frequently causing issues, and especially if you need stability for productivity or gaming, it may be time to explore newer options that align more comfortably with current software demands.
Conclusion
In summary, the latest Windows 11 Insider Canary build has proven to be a double-edged sword: it offers new features, but it also brings along annoying bugs that affect older Nvidia GPU users seriously. The recommended course of action is just that—rollback to a previous version. And as we always advocate, being proactive about system updates while mindful of your hardware will ensure you’re not left in the dark when important updates come down the pipeline.So, if you find yourself standing at that crossroads of upgrading your GPU—or if you're desperate to prevent another encounter with the dreaded black screen—now might just be the opportune moment to make a change .
Source: Neowin Microsoft confirms black screens and hangs on Windows 11 preview PCs with older Nvidia GPUs
