Subj : Microsoft can be slow to cure bugs at times but you wont believe To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Apr 15 2024 14:30:05 Microsoft can be slow to cure bugs at times but you wont believe how long it took to fix a CPU-related glitch preventing Windows 11 upgrades Date: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:15:54 +0000 Description: This is an odd one, for sure, and a real pain in the neck for those who own a PC with an Intel Rocket Lake processor. FULL STORY ====================================================================== After over two years of waiting, Microsoft has finally lifted a block on some Windows 10 PCs with Intel Rocket Lake CPUs that prevented users from upgrading to Windows 11 so those folks should now be free to migrate (should they wish). Were all by now familiar with Windows 11s more onerous system requirements which includes a stipulation for having TPM, and rules out older CPUs to boot, but Rocket Lake is contemporary silicon and officially supported by Microsofts newest OS. Rocket Lake is, in fact, Intels 11th generation, so its only three generations back from current 14th-gen chips (Raptor Lake Refresh). However, as mentioned, some of those PC owners who have a Rocket Lake processor were prevented from upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and this was due to a compatibility issue with 11th-gen CPUs and some driver versions for Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST). The problem is that older SST drivers could cause the PC to crash with a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) when using Rocket Lake. Whats really odd here is that the bug was discovered a long, long time ago in November 2021 and as Toms Hardware , which spotted this, points out, for those who had upgraded to Windows 11 and were hit by these BSoD crashes, a fix was offered up within weeks. However, as is the case when a software or hardware compatibility issue is discovered, PCs that might run into the pinpointed gremlin are blocked from upgrading to prevent that from happening. The trouble is Microsoft has only just lifted that block now, and finally marked the bug as resolved , almost two and a half years after this glitch was first discovered. Analysis: Definitely not as fast as a speeding rocket Thats not exactly moving fast, is it? And yes, the cure in this case did depend on an external source an Intel driver update but that was delivered in a relatively timely manner by Team Blue. As mentioned, the fix for those whod already upgraded to Windows 11 on a Rocket Lake PC, and had run into the BSoD error, was provided not long after the issue was discovered. So, why did it take Microsoft so long to actually get this fix delivered to Rocket Lake PCs via Windows Update, so the Windows 11 upgrade block could be removed? Well, we dont know the answer, and the whole episode is very odd indeed. Until now, Microsoft just left the solution to this bug as pointing users to the Intel website to obtain the correct and updated drivers (rather than actually delivering them as part of Windows 10s updates). In case you wondering about the specifics here, the affected Intel SST driver versions are 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152. If youre running a PC with Rocket Lake on either of those versions, you need to upgrade to version 10.29.00.5714 or later, or 10.30.00.5714 or better, respectively. You can now grab those versions via Windows Update simply head there in Windows 10 and check for updates. Once installed, you should be free to upgrade to Windows 11, though not in every case and not immediately. Microsoft clarifies : If your device still encounters this safeguard hold [block on upgrading to Windows 11] 48 hours after updating your drivers, its possible drivers for this Audio Controller [Intel SST] havent been developed for your specific device hardware configuration. So, bear in mind that even after installing the drivers, it could take up to 48 hours before you get offered the Windows 11 upgrade. However, if you arent offered it once youve waited out those two days, then you need to contact the manufacturer of your device and get them to help you on how best to proceed. This is rather an anomaly, it has to be said Microsoft taking such a ridiculously long time to get its house in order with a fix and hopefully, we wont be treated to any hold-ups quite this bad going forward. You might also like Watch out: soon some older PCs will lose Windows 11 support Windows 11 is getting a voice-powered ability many users have been longing for Dont make these 5 big mistakes when using Windows 11 ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-can-be-slow-to-cure-bugs -at-times-but-you-wont-believe-how-long-it-took-to-fix-a-cpu-related-glitch-pr eventing-windows-11-upgrades --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .