MS August 2014 Patches you should NOT install

Couperin47

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BTW, for those who now have a copy of the Hiren Boot in their possession, booting into that is the equivalent of running in safe mode, you won't have to remember your password for an admin account, it includes regedit and several enhanced registry tools and all the cleanup MS describes above can be done from inside that environment.  Other ways to easily boot into Safe Mode: In Win 7 or 8 run: msconfig. This brings up the System Configuration window, under the boot tab you select Safe Mode and apply. You will now always boot into Safe Mode until you go back here and unselect that and, probably, select normal startup from the first General tab.
 

InsideTheParker

persists in error
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Jul 15, 2005
40,371
Pioneer Valley
75cent bleacher seat said:
Is it safe to assume I can re-install update KB2976897?   I removed all 3 patches mentioned and turned off auto updates.  Presently 6897 is back to be reinstalled.
 
C47....many thanks for your contributions to this site!
According to the following entry in the Windows forum, the answer is yes. I have downloaded it and it will install when I next reboot. I still feel a bit queasy about it, though!
 
Please stop spreading bad information!
 
There are two updates to uninstall, not three!
 
For Windows 7x64, the two updates are 
KB2982791 and KB2970228.
 
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_update/blue-screen-stop-0x50-after-applying-update/6da4d264-02d8-458e-89e2-a78fe68766fd?page=34
 

Couperin47

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InsideTheParker said:
I can't find any new news on this. You guys continuing to hold off on installing?
 
This is the part that makes MS so infuriating: Being Windows means never having to say you're sorry.
 
At this point I believe any patch in the group that is still available for downloading has been quietly fixed. That's SOP for Microsoft.
 

mabrowndog

Ask me about total zone...or paint
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Dec 23, 2003
39,676
Falmouth, MA
I've been holding off on this update as well. Still haven't seen anything from unbiased sources out giving an all-clear on KB2993651.
 
Here's a summary of some of the problems from a UK site:
 
 
My gut feeling and advice is to hold off on this update, for now,  which also has potential unwanted features, until we see some feedback from other users in the field as to how it actually affects users in the real world. I would be extremely  concerned if windows and programs running suddenly become invisible or hide behind other windows and you can’t effective work.
 
Edit: we are already seeing some reports on forums of blue screens, Kernel crashes and failure to install this patch on both Windows 7 and 8 computers, with windows automatically reverting to the previous configuration state on a forced reboot

Known issue 2
After you install this update, the z-order of the windows is changed. (The z-order calls the SetWindowPos function together with the HWND_TOP parameter.) Therefore, the windows of certain applications may become invisible or may be incorrectly displayed behind other windows.
 
Status
We are currently working on a resolution for this issue.
 
Notes
This issue also occurs after you install the following updates:
  • 2965768 Stop error 0x3B when an application changes the z-order of a window in Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
  • 2970228 Update to support the new currency symbol for the Russian ruble in Windows
  • 2973201 MS14-039: Description of the security update for Windows on-screen keyboard: July 8, 2014
  • 2975719 August 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2
 
From the user comments:
 
 
KB2993651 caused a screw-up on my Win7 laptop. Did not investigate fully, but (amongst other things) it appeared to screw-up my user profile. Did a recover to restore point which solved the immediate problem. Have advised all my users NOT to install this Microsoft update.
 

KB2993651 cause multiple problems, but not a BSOD, at least not yet. Most of the short cuts from the screen ond from the start menu have vanished including ALL referring to Microsoft. It unregistered Microsoft Office 2010 and I cannot use it at all. I have to re-enter the serial number. That is probably is saved in my Outlook files which are unavailable. I uninstalled KB2993651 to no apparent change. I deselected the install of B2993651 upon shutdown. It resets as soon as I can exit Windows update. So, if I shutdown Windows 7, I will automatically re-install this buggy fix. To replace a buggy fix with another buggy fix is reprehensible.
 
As an aside, Microsoft makes it real hard to find out anything about what they are downloading or about any of the problems with their updates. Even when you can find information about the updates, usually after they have been installed and screwed up your computer, the information has no meaning except potentially to the systems programmer who wrote it.
 
A response from the blog admin:
 
 

To stop this update being re-installed, all you need to do is go to windows update, select check for updates, in the list of available updates, right click the KB2993651 entry and select hide update. Press OK and you won’t be offered this update again
 
Keep checking here though, because as soon as Microsoft do realise that there is still a problem, with this one as well, they will likely pull it and eventually release a proper working fix
 

santadevil

wears depends
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Aug 1, 2006
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I'm fairly certain my home computer got hit by this update last night.
And because I'm a dumbass and didn't take preventitive measures beforehand, I now get to follow through on the first post.
 
Thanks for all the information.
 
 
/edit....Can't type "thanks" properly.
 

santadevil

wears depends
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Aug 1, 2006
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Gah, I'm still having issues.
 
Typing from the computer with the issues, but I can boot into Safe Mode with Networking.
 
I setup the Hiren's Boot disk the first time I was in here, but I can't get it to boot.
I also deleted the file, as suggested and tried to boot normally. I get to the Windows loading screen and then my computer screen goes black, saying there is no signal.
 
I also tried restoring to an earlier restore point (1 week ago) and nothing there either. Same issues.
 
I'm stumped for now, but will keep at it.
 
Again, thanks for all the information.
 

santadevil

wears depends
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Aug 1, 2006
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So....problem solved.
 
DisplayPort on the videocard is not working.
I thought it was a cable issue at first, so I tried a DVI-D connection instead and it works.
 
Verified that the DisplayPort cable works fine on another computer.
 
So using a DVD-D connection instead.
 
That was a fun 3.5 hours.
 

vadertime

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Jul 31, 2006
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Rhode Island
Over 15 new updates Microsoft wants me to install.  After the recent ones being trouble, I'm hesitant.  Have these been determined to be safe yet?
 

Couperin47

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vadertime said:
Over 15 new updates Microsoft wants me to install.  After the recent ones being trouble, I'm hesitant.  Have these been determined to be safe yet?
 
As mentioned way way up above, best practice is to wait at least 24, preferably 48 hrs after they appear, by then enough will have installed so that if they have really screwed up something again, the howls will have begun echoing across the Internet. In this case I waited 24 hours and have now installed them all here on multiple machines with no problems.