If you've been riding the Windows Update wave recently, then December must have felt like an unexpected dip. The KB5048685 cumulative update rolled out for Windows 11 23H2 users on December 10, bringing a slew of over 70 security fixes. Sounds like something worth throwing a parade for, right? Not exactly. As turns out, users jumped onto what they thought was a lifeboat only to find themselves wrestling with two nasty new issues: the Start Menu freezing up like a computer from the 90s and Wi-Fi going MIA. Let’s unpack what exactly is happening here, how it’s affecting users, and what you can do about it.
From an industry perspective, cumulative patches naturally carry complexities, especially on an ecosystem as wide-ranging as Windows. Whether it's outdated DLLs, hardware-specific idiosyncrasies (AMD systems reportedly suffering most from failures, as per Reddit users), or third-party tools like Citrix exposing weak spots—it all snowballs into the unpredictable update hell swarming your PC today.
Until more official fixes are provided, cautious patience seems to be the key here. If your PC isn’t crumbling under the strain of vulnerabilities addressed in KB5048685—or if the Start Menu freezing turns your PC into a brick—it might be wise to delay installing this patch entirely.
What’s your experience been with this update? Let’s debate whether update roulette is really a game you want to play in the comments below!
Source: gHacks Technology News Windows 11 KB5048685 Update causes Wi-Fi and Start Menu to stop working
What’s Happening with KB5048685?
Much like every other cumulative Patch Tuesday update, KB5048685 was supposed to address vulnerabilities we’d rather not have hackers exploiting. Instead, users have reported multiple frustrating issues:- Start Menu Freezes: For many, the Start Menu refuses to open or locks up upon clicking. Some users have also observed an odd "white backdrop" for the Start Menu, even if Dark Mode is enabled. Spooky aesthetic mismatch, anyone?
- Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues: For others, their trusty Internet connection packs its bags and disappears after installing the update. A restart doesn’t seem to help, nor does uninstalling the patch in some cases.
- Installation Failures: A chronic sore spot with Windows updates, some users can’t even install KB5048685. Reports claim that it either loops endlessly, restarts the machine without updating, or spits out a prickly 0x80070002 error code.
Drilling Down: What’s Causing the Chaos?
While Microsoft hasn’t acknowledged these specific issues officially, sleuthing by users and third-party community sources has already surfaced potential culprits:- Registry Changes Messing Up the Start Menu: Citrix’s virtualization software seems to be one aggravator. A fix published by Citrix involved modifying registry values tied to virtualization (path:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\CtxUvi). If “CtxUvi” sounds like a secretive alien code, then double-checking your Citrix VDA configuration might actually be your savior here.- Users can add
StartMenuExperwith a semicolon to the system’s registry value to make the Start Menu more functional. Caveat? Editing registry files without care is like juggling scissors blindfolded—you're liable to cut yourself if you get something wrong.
- Users can add
- Outdated Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libraries: A sharp-eyed user identified that older dynamic link libraries (DLLs) from this library caused crashes. Manually installing the latest Visual C++ runtime package managed to reanimate their lifeless Start Menu.
- Windows Services Not Playing Along: For users experiencing errors during installation, sources suggest ensuring that the Windows Update service is running. Simply hit
Services.mscand make sure critical services like Windows Update or Update Orchestrator Service aren’t disabled or paused.
How to Deal with Wi-Fi Gone Rogue?
The Wi-Fi desolation reported with KB5048685 has no concrete workaround yet, but a few “fix everything” techniques seem to help:- Using Windows Update Recovery Features: Navigate to
Settings > System > Recoveryand pick Fix problems using Windows Update, letting Windows try to repair the service itself. - Old School Network Reset: If connectivity hitches persist, resetting the network stack could do the trick. You can achieve this via
Settings > Network & Internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset. Just keep in mind, this erases stored Wi-Fi credentials. - Manual Uninstallation: As a last resort, uninstall KB5048685. Head to
Settings > Windows Update > Update History, locate the offending patch, and smack “uninstall.”
The Bigger Picture: Are Patch Problems the New Normal?
This isn’t just a one-off for Microsoft; KB5048685 joins a growing list of updates that seem to break as much as they fix. Not long ago, Auto HDR issues in gaming and the broken Support Center in 24H2 raised eyebrows about Microsoft’s software quality pipeline. Users have pointed out that the "release-first, troubleshoot-later" approach leaves power users in debugging mode while casual users are stuck living with bugs.From an industry perspective, cumulative patches naturally carry complexities, especially on an ecosystem as wide-ranging as Windows. Whether it's outdated DLLs, hardware-specific idiosyncrasies (AMD systems reportedly suffering most from failures, as per Reddit users), or third-party tools like Citrix exposing weak spots—it all snowballs into the unpredictable update hell swarming your PC today.
The Silver Lining: Temporary Fixes Exist
For most day-to-day users, KB5048685 might not even cause a hiccup. Many continue to use their machines without issues whatsoever. But if you are among those affected, don’t despair yet. Let’s summarize some takeaway action items:Start Menu Lock-Up Fixes
- Check Citrix registry adjustments if you use virtualization software.
- Update your Visual C++ runtime libraries.
- Try reinstalling the update after cleaning temp files (run Disk Cleanup or
sfc /scannow).
Wi-Fi Issues Workarounds
- Reset your network adapters.
- Roll back the update if all else fails (instructions above).
General Installation Errors
- Ensure Windows Update services are running.
- Restart via Safe Mode and attempt installation under clean boot conditions.
Closing Thoughts: Should You Hit the Skip Button on KB5048685?
When updates become unpredictable, they make an uncomfortable proposition: should users hold off on every update and gamble their PC’s exposure to known vulnerabilities? While Microsoft eventually patches things up, it's fair to wish they’d sort these recurring launch inconveniences out faster.Until more official fixes are provided, cautious patience seems to be the key here. If your PC isn’t crumbling under the strain of vulnerabilities addressed in KB5048685—or if the Start Menu freezing turns your PC into a brick—it might be wise to delay installing this patch entirely.
What’s your experience been with this update? Let’s debate whether update roulette is really a game you want to play in the comments below!
Source: gHacks Technology News Windows 11 KB5048685 Update causes Wi-Fi and Start Menu to stop working
