Latest news with #BitLocker
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Forbes
Microsoft's Emergency Windows Update—Stop Blue Screen Of Death
How to stop the dreaded BSOD Microsoft has issued an emergency update after users were hit by May's mandatory security update breaking Windows. 'Windows 10 might repeatedly display the BitLocker recovery screen at startup,' Microsoft confirmed, pointing any affected users the newly issued out of bounds update via its Update Catalog. Windows Latest was first to note the escalating issue, noting that 'the KB5058379 install starts, but ends up at 'Enter the recovery key to get going again (Keyboard layout: US)' screen, and there's a text field to add the recovery key.' There were some reports of the dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) as well, albeit this was primarily a Bitlocker issue and only for Windows 10 users yet to upgrade. But those BSOD reports were timely, given Microsoft's update just a week earlier. Neowin was first to note that 'Microsoft has shared steps on how users will be able to troubleshoot and hopefully fix' BSODs when they hit. The company updated a support document, which before has simply advised users turn to 'Safe Mode troubleshooting and the Get Help app,' but which now offered much more of a guide. 'Blue Screen errors,' the company explains, '(also called bug checks, STOP code errors, kernel errors, or BSOD errors) can occur if a serious problem causes Windows to shut down or restart unexpectedly to protect itself from data loss.' What you'll see is a message warning '"Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.' It's the dreaded moment, Neowin says, 'most Windows users must have experienced once in their lives.' Microsoft breaks its guidance into two parts. First is 'basic troubleshooting' that should work for everyone, and comprises six fairly easy to follow steps: For more expert users, Microsoft also lists three 'advanced troubleshooting' tips: Meanwhile, if you've been hit with the latest issues, Windows Latest says 'once you've installed the update, you'll no longer run into BitLocker or Blue Screen of Death errors.' But for those 'stuck on the blue screen with automatic recovery failing,' the website has provided its own guidance to 'manually turn off Intel TXT from BIOS,' after which you can install Microsoft's emergency out-of-band update. 'To turn off Intel TXT and the BitLocker recovery screen loop, follow these steps:
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
EaseUS Released 2025 Q1 Windows System Drive Usage Report: Key Insights and Future Trends
NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EaseUS, a leading provider of data recovery, file backup, and disk management solutions, has unveiled its Windows System Drive Usage Report 2025 Q1, offering critical insights into global system disk usage trends, drive preferences, and future storage demands. This report is based on data collected by EaseUS software in March 2025, covering an initial sample of 884,305 Windows system disks, with 117,198 disks retained after filtering. The dataset represents global Windows users, with the largest user bases located in Europe, the Americas (North and South), and Asia. 1. Key Insights System Disk Type: SSDs are dominant, with 84.41% of users using them as system drives, while only 15.59% of users use HDDs. Partition Format: GPT is the preferred format, enabling better performance and capacity management. System Disk Partition Count: Most systems have 3 - 4 partitions on the primary disk, including the C: drive, recovery partitions, and EFI system partitions. C Drive File System: NTFS remains the standard file system for C: drives, offering better security, permissions, and compatibility. C Drive Capacity: The majority of SSD users allocate between 128GB and 256GB for the C drive (37.23%), while HDD users typically assign larger capacities, with 32.28% allocating 256GB - 512GB and 27.01% opting for 512GB - 1 TB. BitLocker Status: Only a minority of users enable BitLocker, suggesting a gap in data security awareness or compatibility issues. Drive Manufacturer: The SSD market is fragmented with leaders like Samsung, Crucial, and Kingston. HDDs are dominated by Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba, holding nearly 80% market share. 2. Future Trend Standardize on GPT and SSD: Continued transition from MBR to GPT and HDD to SSD is expected, driven by performance and capacity needs. Encourage Larger C: Drives: With growing OS and software demands, allocating more space to C: drives is increasingly critical. Promote BitLocker Adoption: Enhancing awareness of BitLocker could improve overall data security across user bases. Optimize Partitioning Practices: Users should be guided to manage recovery, EFI, and system partitions more effectively to avoid wasted space. As SSDs continue to gain popularity due to their superior speed, reliability, and performance, users are increasingly turning to them for system drives. To learn more about upgrading, replacing, or managing SSDs and HDDs, please visit the official EaseUS website: CONTACT: Rebecca Wuadas@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE EaseUS Software Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
EaseUS Released 2025 Q1 Windows System Drive Usage Report: Key Insights and Future Trends
NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EaseUS, a leading provider of data recovery, file backup, and disk management solutions, has unveiled its Windows System Drive Usage Report 2025 Q1, offering critical insights into global system disk usage trends, drive preferences, and future storage demands. This report is based on data collected by EaseUS software in March 2025, covering an initial sample of 884,305 Windows system disks, with 117,198 disks retained after filtering. The dataset represents global Windows users, with the largest user bases located in Europe, the Americas (North and South), and Asia. 1. Key Insights System Disk Type: SSDs are dominant, with 84.41% of users using them as system drives, while only 15.59% of users use HDDs. Partition Format: GPT is the preferred format, enabling better performance and capacity management. System Disk Partition Count: Most systems have 3 - 4 partitions on the primary disk, including the C: drive, recovery partitions, and EFI system partitions. C Drive File System: NTFS remains the standard file system for C: drives, offering better security, permissions, and compatibility. C Drive Capacity: The majority of SSD users allocate between 128GB and 256GB for the C drive (37.23%), while HDD users typically assign larger capacities, with 32.28% allocating 256GB - 512GB and 27.01% opting for 512GB - 1 TB. BitLocker Status: Only a minority of users enable BitLocker, suggesting a gap in data security awareness or compatibility issues. Drive Manufacturer: The SSD market is fragmented with leaders like Samsung, Crucial, and Kingston. HDDs are dominated by Seagate, Western Digital, and Toshiba, holding nearly 80% market share. 2. Future Trend Standardize on GPT and SSD: Continued transition from MBR to GPT and HDD to SSD is expected, driven by performance and capacity needs. Encourage Larger C: Drives: With growing OS and software demands, allocating more space to C: drives is increasingly critical. Promote BitLocker Adoption: Enhancing awareness of BitLocker could improve overall data security across user bases. Optimize Partitioning Practices: Users should be guided to manage recovery, EFI, and system partitions more effectively to avoid wasted space. As SSDs continue to gain popularity due to their superior speed, reliability, and performance, users are increasingly turning to them for system drives. To learn more about upgrading, replacing, or managing SSDs and HDDs, please visit the official EaseUS website: CONTACT: Rebecca Wuadas@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE EaseUS Software Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Forbes
Microsoft Confirms Windows Update Locking PCs Or Blue Screen Of Death — How To Fix
Updated May 20 with details of how Microsoft has now fixed the bug and what you should do. Windows 10 users have recently come across a problem caused by the latest Windows 10 KB5058379 update. The problem is, it's a mandatory update. Now, Microsoft has issued a critical update to put things right. Full details of what you should do at the end of this post. Windows 10 NurPhoto via Getty Images First, some history. The issue was reported on May 15 by Windows Latest. 'Windows 10 KB5058379 is causing PCs to boot into Windows Recovery and require BitLocker key. Windows Latest received reports that KB5058379 install starts, but ends up at 'Enter the recovery key to get going again (Keyboard layout: US)' screen, and there's a text field to add the recovery key. In some cases, there's a BSOD as well," Windows Latest said. It's unusual for BitLocker recovery to trigger automatically unless we make a change to the hardware or BIOS settings. Several users told Windows Latest that a BitLocker Recovery (Windows Boot Recovery) is prompted automatically after installing KB5058379, which is rolling out via Windows Update. In some cases, there's a BSOD as well… Windows 10 KB5058379 is a mandatory security update rolling out for everyone, including businesses or enterprises, and you don't have a choice but to install the update,' it went on. If you aren't familiar with BitLocker, then, as you'll see below, there's a chance that the problem won't apply to you. Anyway, here's how Bleeping Computer described the issue and how it manfests. 'The BitLocker Windows security feature encrypts storage drives to prevent data theft, and Windows computers typically enter BitLocker recovery mode after events like TPM (Trusted Platform Module) updates or hardware changes to regain access to protected drives. Today, Microsoft confirmed the issue and said it's investigating reports that 'a small number' of Windows 10 PCs display BitLocker recovery screens after installing the KB5058379 update,' it said. On Saturday, May 17, Microsoft updated a support document to acknowledge the issue. 'We are aware of a known issue on devices with Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) enabled on 10th generation or later Intel vPro processors,' it said. It also shared some good news. 'Consumer devices typically do not use Intel vPro processors and are less likely to be impacted by this issue. This issue ONLY applies to the affected platforms listed below. Windows 10, versions 22H2; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021, Server: None,' Microsoft said in its support document. Again, this is why you'll probably know about BitLocker if there's a chance you could be affected. So, if you have a PC with Intel vPro chip, you could be tempted not to install it yet, though since it's mandatory, it's not advisable to skip it. Take heart, though: Microsoft is working on it. 'We are urgently working on a resolution for this issue, with plans to release an Out-of-band update to the Microsoft Update Catalog in the coming days,' it says, and the fact that the latest support document was filed on a Saturday indicates the urgency. The first stage, obviously, is to find your 48-digit Bitlocker recovery key. Here are Windows Latest's helpful instructions for what you need to do. You need to reboot into BIOS/UEFI, which can be done by pressing a key after power-on, but the keys are different across all OEMs. On most Dell/HP/Lenovo: press F2, F10/F12, or Esc immediately after power-on to enter BIOS/UEFI. Next, in BIOS, look for Security, open Virtualization or Advanced CPU Settings and turn off Intel TXT. This could also be referred to as Trusted Execution, or OS Kernel DMA Support. Note that you can leave VT for Direct I/O (or VT-d) enabled. Finally, save changes and exit BIOS. 'The idea is to disable Intel TXT / Trusted Execution and allow KB5058379 to finish installation. If you followed the steps correctly, you won't run into BitLocker Recovery or BSOD. Remember that the BSOD or BitLocker is triggered when installing KB5058379, but you won't have the issue after the update is installed successfully. The catch is that it's a challenge to install the security patch without turning off Intel TXT / Trusted Execution in BIOS,' Windows Latest explains. Windows 11 is not affected by this issue, it seems. So, how about that update to fix things? Microsoft said it was working urgently and would release an update in days. It did, just 48 hours after it acknowledged the flaw. On Monday, May 19, Microsoft said it had resolved the problem. 'We are aware of a known issue on devices with Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) enabled on 10th generation or later Intel vPro processors. On these systems, installing the May 13, 2025, Windows security update (KB5058379) might cause to terminate unexpectedly, triggering an Automatic Repair. On devices with BitLocker enabled, BitLocker requires the input of your BitLocker recovery key to initiate the Automatic Repair,' it said. Then it described the resolution, with an update that is only available to download through the Microsoft Update Catalog, so that's the place you need to visit to sort this. 'This issue was resolved in the out-of-band (OOB) update KB5061768, which is only available via the Microsoft Update Catalog. If your organization uses the affected platforms and hasn't yet deployed the May 13, 2025, Windows security update, or if KB5058379 failed to install, we recommend you apply this OOB update instead,' it said. If you have already installed the updated and are unable to start your PC, you need to disable Intel VT for Direct I/O (also known as VTD or VTX) and Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) in your BIOS / UEFI settings. This disabling should only be temporary. You'll need to enter your BitLocker recovery key. If you don't have that, see the instructions to retrieve the key. Once you've done that, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog and install the new update, KB5061768. Then restart Windows and return to your BIOS / UEFI settings. This is when you re-enable Intel VT for Direct I/O (also known as VTD or VTX) and TXT. (Note that you'll again need your BitLocker recovery key for this step.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Forbes
Microsoft Confirms Emergency Update For Windows Users
Emergency update confirmed for Windows users. Getty Images Microsoft has just confirmed an emergency update for Windows 10, after an increasing number of users reported May's mandatory security update breaking Windows. Affected users have been hit with BitLocker Recovery screens and even dreaded Blue Screens of Death after downloading and trying to install the latest critical update. 'Windows 10 might repeatedly display the BitLocker recovery screen at startup,' the company warned, confirming an out of bounds update via Microsoft's Update Catalog. The issue affects users 'on devices with Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) enabled on 10th generation or later Intel vPro processors.' Those who have not yet deployed May's update should install the out of bounds update instead. For those who have tried to install the update and are now stuck, Microsoft says: Windows Latest was first to flag the issue, reporting that 'the KB5058379 install starts, but ends up at 'Enter the recovery key to get going again (Keyboard layout: US)' screen, and there's a text field to add the recovery key. In some cases, there's a BSOD as well.' Microsoft has again warned Windows users that its support team 'doesn't have the ability to retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost BitLocker recovery key,' but can use this link to find your BitLocker recovery key.' This issue and fix primarily applies to enterprise users, as 'consumer devices typically do not use Intel vPro processors and are less likely to be impacted by this issue.' May is proving an interesting month for the Windows-maker, with the wider release of its controversial Recall photographic memory for Copilot+ owners and the continuing drive to push 700 million Windows 10 users to upgrade ahead of October's deadline.
