Microsoft Ad Causes Entire Windows 11 Desktop To Malfunction

September 8, 2021

An ad for one of the apps built into Windows 11 went awry, causing the entire operating system of the new version of Windows 11 to fail, according to experts.

Microsoft released a new version of Windows 11 to Windows Insiders late last week as it prepares to launch the new operating system on October 5.

However, the first testers to install the new build quickly ran into problems. The taskbar, desktop, settings app, and other core components of the operating system were not loading. Microsoft quickly made a registry edit that solved the problem.

This problem combines two of latter-day Windows’ most problematic tendencies. First, the operating system relentlessly prioritizes Microsoft’s first-party apps and services.

Second, the operating system communicates with Microsoft’s servers in the background to report diagnostic data, get advertising, and download Windows Store apps without asking.

The problem should not affect people who are installing the latest Insider build now. But, if a computer is affected, users should use Microsoft’s recommended registry edit to fix the problem.

For more information, read the original story in Ars Technica.

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Jim Love

Jim is an author and podcast host with over 40 years in technology.

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