Windows 11 KB5041585 Update: User Reports of Severe Performance Issues

On August 23, 2024, Microsoft released its KB5041585 cumulative update for Windows 11, which promised a flurry of improvements, bug fixes, and critical security patches. However, users quickly reported a disturbing trend following this update: it has rendered many systems slow to the point of being nearly unusable. This article explores what this update entails, the reported issues, and potential solutions for affected users.

What's Included in the Update?​

The KB5041585 update was aimed at addressing several issues, notably resolving problems with BitLocker that led to blue screen errors (BSOD). Unfortunately, the update appears to have introduced new problems instead of solving existing ones. Reports indicate that PCs can experience a drastic slowdown due to high CPU usage after applying this update. Various sources have noted that the severity of problems following this update is alarming. Users have taken to social media platforms and forums to voice their frustrations. Many have reported that upon installation of the KB5041585 update, their computers began to slow significantly, reaching a point where heavy applications like Adobe Photoshop or games such as Diablo or World of Warcraft would crash unexpectedly.

User Experiences​

One dissonant user experience noted on Reddit encapsulates the situation well:

“This problem started as soon as the updates installed this morning. Any slightly heavy applications, such as Adobe Photoshop or Audition, or games like Diablo and World of Warcraft keep crashing. The dialog box says, ‘XXX program is using too much memory and must shut down,’ even though Task Manager says I am only using 18%, and there’s over 900GB free space on the drive.”
Many users have reported their CPUs hitting 100% usage consistently, which not only slows down all processes but also leads to timeouts and unresponsive systems.

Mitigating the Impact​

For users seeking immediate relief from the performance issues caused by this update, there are a couple of pathways to consider:

• Uninstall the Update:
• Navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Update history.
• Scroll to the bottom and select Uninstall updates.
• Click Uninstall next to the KB5041585 update. Caution: Uninstalling the update is not recommended as it addresses several security vulnerabilities.
• Disabling Control Flow Guard (CFG):
• Launch Windows Security.
• Select App & browser control.
• Scroll to Exploit protection.
• Choose Exploit protection settings and toggle Control Flow Guard to Off. Warning: Control Flow Guard is a critical security feature designed to protect against memory corruption exploits. If you disable it, ensure that it is re-enabled once a permanent solution is available.

Current Status and Microsoft’s Response​

As of the latest reports, Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the issues stemming from KB5041585. Their support page for this patch states, "Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update." Nonetheless, rumors suggest that the software giant is working on a solution to address the performance problems that swiftly followed this update. Meanwhile, users facing issues have found implicit community support by sharing their experiences and troubleshooting tips across platforms, including Reddit and other social media.

Broader Implications for Windows Users​

This incident marks another chapter in what has become a recurring theme with Windows updates: while fixes and enhancements are promised and essential, the introduction of new bugs can render systems unstable. The community is left grappling with the delicate balance between maintaining secure, updated systems and ensuring performance reliability.

Conclusion​

For many Windows 11 users, the recent KB5041585 update has been anything but beneficial. With reports of crippling slowdowns and crash-prone heavy applications, it is essential to be informed and proactive. While there are temporary workarounds available, the best course of action would be to stay tuned for an official fix from Microsoft. Always ensure to keep backups of critical data and maintain a keen eye on updates from both Microsoft and the Windows community for the latest developments and potential fixes. As always, should any of these issues affect you, documenting your experiences can contribute to the shared knowledge of our tech community. For more detailed insights and continuing updates, refer to the original source article on PCWorld . Latest Windows 11 update cripples PCs. What to do if you're affected