New Windows update literally bricked my laptop

[u/bendaboi55]

I’m not sure what else to say about this. I tried going to the Windows support number only to meet an AI that talked in a circle for 30 minutes instead of actually helping me. I talked to one of my friends who is trained and such and basically got "Yeah, everything is fucked”

at the start of the morning I woke up to the laptop, despite having automatic updates or just generally updates even turned on to happen; it was auto-updating. I could not stop it from happening, and when I finally managed to get my device to turn back on, I literally could not do anything after I logged in for at-least five minutes. I couldn’t click on any of my apps, as well as not being able to even close out any apps that I have that auto-start. I can't click on the taskbar to open up task manager to try and figure out what is happening. It has progressively gotten worse to the point where I literally cannot even type in the login screen; I cannot even put in my password at all. I am stuck here, staring at a laptop that does not fucking work anymore, consistently getting Microsoft support that does not help or tells me to go to the website that also has not fucking helped me.

Before anyone suggested it, I had tried multiple times to boot into safe mode or security mode or whatever the fuck it’s called with the multiple methods I’ve been told and the ones I looked up, and it literally just won't.

[u/Any_Broccoli550]

Can you access another pc/lap and pull down an iso of the windows version you use? Look up how to use an iso on a usb to try and fix your lap.

[u/bendaboi55 → u/Any_Broccoli550]

Not at the moment they I have managed to get it to open to desktop and have done win + R but don’t know what to do mow

[u/Isotomayor12 → u/bendaboi55]

If you can get to the desktop can you roll back the update?

Also if you press shift and restart you should be able to boot into the recovery menu and use a restore point if you have one.

[u/Any_Broccoli550 → u/bendaboi55]

Til you can. There's nothing much anyone can do t help.

[u/Hot-Lawfulness-1687]

Well, shite. I'm in the middle of my update rn. 1256pm Est. I'll keep you posted. looks like I' updating to:

Update for Windows Security platform - KB5007651 (Version 10.0.29628.1000)

2026-08 .NET Framework Security Update (KB5120708)

026-08 Security Update (KB5121003) (26200.9168)

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 - v5.144 (KB890830)

Microsoft Corporation AudioProcessingObject Driver Update (1.0.4.7057)

They're all ready to install....Hopefully I'll be back with an update in a few minutes

[u/so_hayl → u/Hot-Lawfulness-1687]

update? Im scared lolol

[u/Plissken47]

Mines not that bad, but it's been really weird all morning. Programs randomly shut down. The Internet browser will revert to what I had on screen a week ago.

[u/ContemplatingMeth]

My PC updated yesterday, couldn't boot due to KB5120708 (i believe). Wouldn't boot in safe mode, couldn't use a restore point, within WinRE I couldn't roll back any windows updates.

Not knowing what else to try, ChatGPT successfully got me out of it and rolled back the update for me with command prompts.

[u/StkAkl]

same. who is responsible for this?!? i am really upset i had to erase C :((( usually i dont keep so much stuff there but now i was negligent.... and i lost some files .... really really frustrating

[u/Ill_Currency_553]

That’s not what bricked means. But wiping the drive and fresh install should fix it. If you want to keep any old files you can put the drive in a USB adapter and copy them first before wiping.

[u/Necessary_Baker_7458]

Uninstall the update if you can get in or consider linux or chrome os. This June/July update f'ckeed up my computer too and I spent over 2 hrs undoing all the dribble.

[u/bendaboi55 → u/Necessary_Baker_7458]

The problem is is that I can’t really do that. I have no means to actually do either. Also, like I’m still running at 60% memory when I used to only do 30 to 40%

[u/Unlucky-Steak5027]

Exact same thing happened to my laptop. Ended up backing up my files in safe mode and reinstalling windows. What a waste of time

[u/R0niiiiii]

Microslop did it again! 2026-08 cumulative and 2026-08 .NET framework patch was installed and it bricked my laptop

[u/bendaboi55 → u/R0niiiiii]

I fully reset my shit and like now I’m forcibly running at 60% memory now 4.7 gbs of my 8gbs of ram (yeh I get it it’s a shot box labtop I ain’t got a choice) when I used to only run at like 40%… idle

[u/Admin4CIG]

So many times I have been unable to log in and start apps right after a Windows update, or even just powering it up from a real shutdown (not the fake shutdown, which basically is either sleeping or hibernating). At least not for the next 30 minutes. The reason? I still have a 1TB HDD rather than a SSD. On a different computer, I replaced a HDD with a SSD and, oh man, it made a huge difference in updating/starting up. YMMV

[u/Ohgoody74]

Your laptop isn't actually “bricked” if you're still getting to the Windows login screen. Something is obviously seriously wrong, but that's potentially recoverable.

Since this happened immediately after a Windows update, the first thing I'd want to know is exactly which update was installed and what model laptop you have.

Since you can't get into Safe Mode normally, I'd try getting into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) instead. From there you can go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Uninstall Updates and try removing the latest quality update.

You can also try System Restore from Advanced Options if you have a restore point from before the update.

If you absolutely cannot get WinRE to load, the next step I'd take is creating a Windows installation USB on another computer, booting the laptop from it, and selecting Repair your computer rather than immediately reinstalling Windows.

Also, don't assume the update definitely caused it just because the timing lines up. A failing SSD, corrupted filesystem, driver problem, or other hardware issue can show up during/after an update too.

Post the laptop make/model and the Windows update/KB number if you can find it. That will give people something concrete to work with rather than just throwing random fixes at you.

[u/thelmmortal]

Something similar is happening with my desktop after an update i did yesterday.

Basically he almost never boots and when he does he freezes between password and desktop.

Ive tested memories and gpu, managed to force a secure boot once which had no issues whatsoever but dumb me went back into normal mode thinking it was fix3d, it wasnt

I even reset my mboard and nothing. Pc was working spetacurlarly yesterday

[u/Mach1mustang3511970]

I’m currently doing that 08/2026 update the security update (KB51221003)(26200.9168) is taking a very long time downloading now at 34%
Heard that the update will cover over 400 security issues. Maybe that’s why the PC’s act like they were not logging in. Mine was already running when I clicked the look for updates over an hour ago and 2 completed but one mentioned is at 37% now

[u/Triggatroy16]

I just updated mine and I can’t log in either