Windows 10 update settings

Microsoft halts security updates AMD PCs and offers workaround

Microsoft halts update rollout to fix Meltdown and Spectre due to problem with AMD systems, and offers workarounds for impacted users.

After a good number of complains from AMD users, Microsoft has now officially acknowledged that there is a problem with the recent emergency updates, and as a result it’s halting the rollout for a select number of PCs using AMD processors.

Recently Microsoft made available an emergency update for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 devices to mitigate the Meltdown and Spectre security vulnerabilities found in many modern processors. However, a significant number of users immediately started experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on devices with specific AMD processors.

According to the company the unexpected problem is due to “some AMD chipsets do not conform to the documentation previously provided” to create the update, and as result it’s pausing the rollout temporarily. Now, Microsoft is working with AMD more closely to repair and resume the update as soon as possible.

In the meantime, the company is adding a note in its support websites to alert users of the problem with the following updates:

Additionally, for users who have already installed the update and are exercising boot problems, Microsoft has also created a series of guides to help impacted devices.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.