The year got off to a rough start last week when security researchers disclosed two major exploits, Meltdown and Spectre, that, between them, affect most modern processors. Microsoft was quick to issue an emergency fix for Windows PCs, but it now appears that the patch is causing grief for some AMD-based PCs.
As first spotted by The Register, a lengthy thread on Microsoft's Answers forum is filled with users reporting that their older AMD Athlon-powered PCs are now refusing to boot past the Windows startup logo. This appears to be an issue following the application of Security Update KB4056892, Microsoft's Patch for Meltdown and Spectre. Further exacerbating the issue, as The Register notes, is that the update doesn't create a restore point, leaving some users without a way to roll back to a pre-patched state.
For right now, it appears the only workaround is to reinstall Windows and immediately delay updates – something that certainly isn't the most convenient solution. Microsoft has yet to provide an official fix, but, in a statement to Neowin, it did note that it is aware of the issue and is investigating. We'll update this post with more information if and when it's available.
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