MS14-045 Windows Update advised to uninstall by MS (August 2014)

[Kick]

Apparently the August 2014 Windows update for Windows 7 and 8.1 MS14-045 is faulty and Microsoft recommend uninstalling it. I found out about this from an article in a computer magazine I read. The article pointed me to the appropriate Microsoft web page to find out more (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2982791). If I had not read the magazine I would not have known as the problems that some have experienced seem not to have manifested themselves on my Windows 7 desktop.

 

The procedure that Microsoft recommend to remove the update is somewhat complicated and, as it involves registry editing, not without risk for the average computer user. As my system so far seems not affected, I am inclined to leave things as they are in the hope that Microsoft will soon release a fix. Microsoft themselves do not seem unduly concerned as they have have made little effort to make the general public aware of the problem - it is only by chance that I came across the report and I guess most computer users will be completely unaware.

 

I would be interested in any comments and advice from the experts on this forum. Thank you.

[AWS]

This is the second time in a year I can remember Microsoft putting out a bad update. Last time they pushed an update to fix the update.

[allheart55 Cindy E]

I think, don't fix it if it's not broken, Kick. :D

[Kick]

Cheers, I'll leave well alone - I don't get this sort of problem with my XP system nowadays ;).

[Rich-M]

Well this is true there are no more updates anyway for that.

[Kick]

That's what I meant Rich - I really needed a 'tongue in cheek' smiley but the winking one was nearest.

 

I see that Microsoft have released another update to fix the problem but that too is causing problems for some although, lucky for me, my system seems OK .... here we go again.

[starbuck]

I see that Microsoft have released another update to fix the problem but that too is causing problems for some

That's right.

The problem seems to be, finding out why it affects some systems and not others.

At this point, it’s not yet clear how many users are actually affected by the problem, but it’s very likely just an issue that’s hitting only a small number of computers.

 

In case someone is getting the errors, it’s better to uninstall the recently released updates, including the KB2982791 and KB2993651, to make sure that no BSODs are caused to your computer.

 

Additionally, you can hide both of them in Windows Update to prevent them from being offered in the future, but keep an eye on new Microsoft patches to make sure that your computer is fully updated and secure.

 

I have 2 Win7 systems and one Win8.1 system..... none of these have been affected.

as you can see, both updates were installed in Aug:

 

Edited September 4, 2014 by starbuck

[Kick]

I eventually got in touch with Microsoft support and asked, as my system was running with no problems, could I ignore the Microsoft advice to uninstall the original update and edit the registry. My contact appeared not to know but just read out the advice published on Microsoft's website. He implied Microsoft would be working on a fix and suggested I should be OK to leave things if I was experiencing no problems but he did not give the impression he had been briefed on the issue.

 

Since then, as Microsoft had already withdrawn the original update (KB2982791), I thought I might as well uninstall it but I have not carried out any registry edits. For the time being I have left KB2993651 installed - my system is still behaving normally. I shall look closely at tomorrow's set of updates (Tuesday 07 September 2014) to see if any fix is included but guess it might take a little longer.