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Breaking, literally: Microsoft's fix for CPU-hogging Windows bug wrecks desktop search
The Register ^ | Sep 11, 2019 | Thomas Claburn

Posted on 09/11/2019 7:39:56 PM PDT by dayglored

One step forward, er, one step back. Nobody gets too far like that

Microsoft's build 18362.356 (KB4515384​​​​​) for its Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) rolled out on Tuesday with security improvements for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, networking tech and input devices – and a CPU usage fix that, for some, has broken desktop search.

The security tweaks address a variety of speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities known as microarchitecture data sampling (MDS) for 32-bit x86 versions of Windows. Intel dealt with the CVEs at issue – CVE-2019-11091, CVE-2018-12126, CVE-2018-12127, CVE-2018-12130 – in May.

The update, released concurrently with Build 17763.737 for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (v1809), also includes security enhancements for assorted Windows components.

Microsoft says its update fixes a high CPU usage problem associated with SearchUI.exe reported by a small number of users who disabled searching the web via Windows Desktop Search.

But its fix has nixed SearchUI.exe for some. Those griping claim SearchUI.exe, a part of Cortana, won't launch after installing KB4515384.

"What a mess – I had the original issue with SearchUI.exe and it sending my CPU to unparalleled heights and showing a big black pane of nothing," wrote Reddit user cyrenaic101 in a complaint thread. "So I uninstalled that turd. And then here comes the 'fix' KB4515384. Search completely broken…"

Similar complaints surfaced in another Reddit discussion of the updates.

Among those who claim to have undone the snafu, solutions involve either reverting to an older build and blocking updates, enabling Bing search via the Windows Registry or replacing the Cortana Cache folder with a version from a previous working build.

In November last year, Microsoft published a blog post from Michael Fortin, corporate vice president of Windows, addressing concerns about the quality of Windows updates after a series of problems that culminated in the re-release of its Windows 10 October 2018 update.

Despite the problematic release, Fortin maintained that the quality of Windows releases has been improving. "Over the last three years one of our key indicators of product quality – customer service call and chat volumes – has steadily dropped even as the number of machines running Windows 10 increased," he said.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ®


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: cortana; microsoft; windows; windows10; windowspinglist; windowsupdate
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To: Bob434; Windflier
>> Getting Linux to run on a modern HP laptop that was designed for Win10 required using the latest and greatest Ubuntu Linux 18.04.3

> Did you format the drive first? or dual install it alongside windows?

Neither. The laptop came with a M.2 physical format SSD card with Windows 10 installed. I removed that and saved it, should I ever have to have factory service done on the hardware. Then I installed a fresh M.2 SSD card, and installed Ubuntu 18.04 on it.

Since I only run Windows as a VM these days, after getting Ubuntu stabilized on the hardware, I installed VMware Workstation Pro 15, and created a new VM of Windows 10 release 1903.

The combination works well.

141 posted on 09/14/2019 1:14:31 PM PDT by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

I’
m wondering why only a recent version of ubuntu woudl run on it? Seems like all version should run on it- but then again i don’t know about these things- maybe the older versions have trouble with hte newer M2 SSD’s I’m guessing? My SSd is a regular one, not an M2 type- so maybe it was more recognized by older versions of linux-


142 posted on 09/14/2019 8:24:05 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: Openurmind

What about all the drivers this evil Alienware needs?

It’s the Alienware 17 consolation prize for when they “couldn’t fix” my Alienware 18.

Locked into Win10 by the stupid drivers since there are no Win7 drivers available for the hardware.

I hate 10 with a passion, even after installing Classic Shell.

Sucks.


143 posted on 09/14/2019 11:52:50 PM PDT by Salamander (I May Be Lonely But I'm Never Alone...And The Nights May Pass Me By...But I Never Cry...)
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To: Salamander

You would not the first to run linux mint on the alienware dell. I think you might be pleasantly surprised with the drivers already packaged with the mint, they have included just about everything for everything. Mint also has it’s own BIOS firmware available to make it a linux BIOS, and BIOS/driver packages for Dell ready for download from their repository.


144 posted on 09/15/2019 3:19:11 AM PDT by Openurmind
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To: Salamander

Exactly what model Dell is that? Some of those actually came from the factory with linux as an optional OS. Meaning it might already be Linux friendly and Dell would also have all the linux drivers available if the Mint has any issues with hardware. :)


145 posted on 09/15/2019 4:04:34 AM PDT by Openurmind
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To: Openurmind

This demonic POS they’re applauding.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/alienware-17-r5,5645.html

They sent me this thing because they couldn’t “fix” my beloved 18.

It’s all I have to use now so I’m stuck with it.

Stupid thing doesn’t even have a built in DVD OR media card slot.

A whole two USB ports.

Horrible.

I have to use an external DVD write to create the ISO with so I will try it.


146 posted on 09/15/2019 9:14:06 PM PDT by Salamander (I May Be Lonely But I'm Never Alone...And The Nights May Pass Me By...But I Never Cry...)
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To: Salamander

Yep, I went and did some homework on that, And I think you are good to go. Or... You can also make a bootable linux USB stick. I am going to PM you if you don’t mind. :)


147 posted on 09/16/2019 3:25:16 AM PDT by Openurmind
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