Windows 10 Version 1607 update KB3211320

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 25, 2017
Updated • Jul 5, 2017
Windows, Windows Updates
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36

Microsoft has released KB3211320 for Windows 10 Version 1607 today through Windows Update and the Microsoft Update Catalog service today.

The Knowledgebase page of the update is not live yet, which makes it difficult to find out what it is all about.

The Microsoft Update Catalog site provides information on the update. It is listed as a critical update for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10, and Windows Server 2016.

The size of the update is 11.4 Megabyte for the 64-bit version, and 5.2 Megabyte for the 32-bit version.

The update description on the Microsoft Update Catalog site does not reveal all that much either:

Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

This is probably the most generic of descriptions that I ever read.

German news site Deskmodder has additional information on the update. According to the site, KB3211320 replaces the October 2016 updates KB3199986 and KB3199209.

I confirmed this by opening the package details on the Microsoft Update Catalog sites. It states that the update replaces the following two updates for Windows 10:

  • KB3199986 is a servicing stack update for Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016 released on October 27, 2016
  • KB3199209 is also a servicing stack update for windows 10 Version 1607 released on October 18, 2016.

Some sites reported that this is a security update for Microsoft Edge, but this does not seem to be the case.

We will update this article as soon as Microsoft's official support page goes live. We suggest you don't install the update right now because of this.

Update: As suspected, this is a servicing stack update:

Servicing stack update for Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: January 24, 2017 -- This update makes stability improvements for the Windows 10 Version 1607 servicing stack.

We have criticized Microsoft in the past for publishing support pages after the release of updates. They are usually the only option that users have to find out what an update is all about. If the support page is published after the update becomes available, users who want to know what they install on their system need to wait for it to be published before they install the update.

Now You: What's your take on this new update?

Summary
Windows 10 Version 1607 update KB3211320
Article Name
Windows 10 Version 1607 update KB3211320
Description
Microsoft has released KB3211320 for Windows 10 Version 1607 today through Windows Update and the Microsoft Update Catalog service today.
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Comments

  1. john keel said on March 26, 2017 at 5:19 pm
    Reply

    since KB3211320 loaded, I have not received anymore updates and my laptop does not “see” any SD cards inserted into reader .

  2. FarrokhS said on February 5, 2017 at 11:09 pm
    Reply

    It is a TERRIBLE and an UNACCEPTABLE practice Microsoft to force an update on your users even with all well intended intention, but NOT furnishing any information on the update whatsoever! It is simply UNACCEPTABLE!!! For users with unstable systems a restart caused by a crash forces the install of such updates which in many cases in the past have injected more instability into their system. THIS IS YOUR CUSTOMER’S STRONG OBJECTION TO THAT PRACTICE WHICH NEED TO STOP!!! This is the VOICE of YOUR CUSTOMER AND YOU MUST PAY SERIOUS ATTENTION TO IT!

  3. LouiseW said on February 2, 2017 at 10:18 am
    Reply

    I’ve had a lengthy on-line chat with Microsoft who finally admitted that they are aware of the issues this update has caused and they were trying to fix them….. They said that it would take 2 days – that was 3 days ago.

    they also confirmed that users cannot uninstall the update and basically there is nothing we can do so I still cannot send/receive e-mails and I’m trying to run a business.

    Disgusting behaviour and it seems we’re powerless to do anything about it.

  4. Vince said on February 2, 2017 at 5:57 am
    Reply

    Had two systems one business one personal both with video problems after this update, one I was able to do a system restore and installed the latest nVidia driver before the update reinstalled itself and fixed the problem. The business system on the other hand when I tried to do a system restore had a problem finding something to do with McAfee internet security, another piece of crap program installed by some software vendor that had no business installing anything on the system except their software. Anyway because system restore couldn’t find the McAfee file it failed and is no longer available. I was able to get the system functioning by disabling the on board HDMI video driver and reducing the business to 1 monitor running in basically VGA mode. The business machine is running an intel HD 530 video card on two HDMI ports only. I can’t uninstall or do a system recovery and performing a refresh on the system would cost the business close to a thousand dollars to repair the damage. Not to mention the downtime trying to recover all the programming, passwords, inventory control, email and a host of other issues. Microsoft needs to stop treating small business that can’t afford and don’t need enterprise level support, like they are the ignorant home user that doesn’t know what is best for them. If anyone knows how to remove KB3211320 manually it would be greatly appreciated as everyone wants to give directions on how to remove updates that can be removed manually, but I have yet to find anything on how to remove this one except through system restore, which failed and is no longer available.

    1. Brian said on February 2, 2017 at 4:34 pm
      Reply

      Hi Vince,

      Backup your hard-drive. I tried to remove it and the end result was it wiped my drive which was totally unexpected.
      I’ve been working with Microsoft Products for 30+ years and haven’t seen anything like this update.
      In my case I think I had a Windows 7 installation that had the update to 8, and 10 at a later date promise when I purchased the computer. So the update probably wasn’t tested using a machine that was upgraded to 10. Which most of the computers are upgrades. They system restore point didn’t even know what to do with the update and just hung.

      Again, Backup your hard-drive or mirror it.

  5. LouiseW said on January 30, 2017 at 5:36 pm
    Reply

    OK, does anybody know where we go from here??

    I have spent one and a half hours on a Live Chat to Microsoft today and they said that the issues I’m now having with Outlook and subscribed folders is nothing to do with them or the update and have told to contact Apple because it’s my iCloud email that now doesn’t work properly. I’ve never heard such nonsense but doesn’t alter the fact that I’m no longer receiving e-mails.

  6. Brian said on January 30, 2017 at 4:44 pm
    Reply

    Update from last Reply:

    The update wiped out my C drive, no joke.
    I’ve been working with computers for over 30 years and have never seen anything like this.
    If you received this update backup your C drive ASAP.

    I lost two years of documents and I’m not happy with Microsoft right now.

  7. Brian said on January 29, 2017 at 10:04 pm
    Reply

    The system ‘file explorer’ quit working after this update.
    I can’t really use my computer anymore.
    Microsoft should test these updated prior to distributing, ridiculous.
    My system has been unusable since the 27th Jan.

    1. Brandon said on February 13, 2017 at 6:22 pm
      Reply

      More specifically, if a file is opened in a folder with a file path longer than 255 characters, and then subsequently saved (like a Word Document, text file in Notepad, etc.), Explorer.exe will crash and restart.

      In other words, Microsoft broke Windows 10 Long File Path support with this update.

  8. Alex said on January 29, 2017 at 5:24 am
    Reply

    Since this update installed, my laptop has been randomly freezing. Ctrl+alt+del will sometimes snap it back. Other times I just have to do a hard reboot. Anyone else having this problem?

    1. George LaMontagne said on February 21, 2017 at 3:53 am
      Reply

      Yes. Freezes constantly. Nasty poor system. My opinion is that windows has gotten steadily worse since XP. More difficult to use and troubleshoot and maintain.

    2. Carl said on January 30, 2017 at 8:02 pm
      Reply

      Yes mine has been doing the same. I thought I had a virus. I set my comp. back and everthing was fine. Then it downloaded it again.I’m back with the same prob. It will not uninstall. So i’m going to do the same thing and set my comp. where I don’t get updates until I know what it is. I want install KB32211320 again.

      1. LouiseW said on January 31, 2017 at 10:15 am
        Reply

        I had a six hour on line chat with ‘Microsoft support’ yesterday who finally confirmed that the update has caused users Outlook issues and they’re looking into it. The fix won’t be ready for at least 2 days. We all know that means at least 5. Absolutely disgusting. I’m self employed and missed two important emails that clients sent to me yesterday morning and didn’t get them until today.

        No, you are not able to uninstall it and the next one is automatic too.

    3. LouiseW said on January 30, 2017 at 1:01 pm
      Reply

      I’m having untold issues since this update. My subscribed folders on Outlook are constantly synchronising, then Outlook freezes altogether and I can’t get my e-mail. I’m trying to ascertain if this update can be deleted. My Outlook hasn’t worked properly ever since…. Not happy

  9. Pete said on January 26, 2017 at 11:26 am
    Reply

    ” but this package can be uninstalled ” ( Günter Born ) ……………It CAN NOT be uninstalled !!
    Its in the downloaded list , but clicking on it will not open the uninstall-wizard !

  10. Aaron said on January 25, 2017 at 11:57 pm
    Reply

    This update is also being offered on Server 2016 GUI and Core machines

  11. L.R.Morgan said on January 25, 2017 at 10:22 pm
    Reply

    Will not allow Classic Shell to run.

  12. nospam said on January 25, 2017 at 9:28 pm
    Reply

    game mode

  13. pHROZEN gHOST said on January 25, 2017 at 9:03 pm
    Reply

    Did anyone notice (a while back) that Microsoft cut staff significantly in the area of OS development and testing?

    I am sure most of you have heard the phrase “Information is available on a need to know basis”.

    It would seem logical that MS has decided the general users of Windows don’t need to know anything about updates
    because they are MS’s huge collection of free beta testers. They expose the serious issues with each new launch so the important paying users (enterprise/education) don’t have to worry about these issues.

    1. Dan said on January 26, 2017 at 9:32 pm
      Reply

      Spot on, mate! Cheers!

  14. Günter Born said on January 25, 2017 at 7:39 pm
    Reply

    A few mysterious things from this servicing stack update.

    It was installed on my test machine before KB3213986 (released January 10, 2017)

    Also my understanding was, that servicin stack updates are not uninstallable – but this package can be uninstalled.

    And some users are facing trouble after installing the update.

    http://borncity.com/win/2017/01/25/windows-10-version-1607-update-kb3211320/

  15. Joe said on January 25, 2017 at 7:14 pm
    Reply

    I am soooo upset, I am working from home. And my personal computer just force reboot/update.

    Microsoft, you are SERIOUSLY pissing me off from even using your operating system on my personal host.

    You DON’T see RH doing this to their customers.

  16. chesscanoe said on January 25, 2017 at 6:23 pm
    Reply

    KB3211320 was automatically installed on my Win10 x64 Home laptop on 1-24-2017 per my Windows History. I live in EST (us).

    1. chesscanoe said on January 25, 2017 at 8:11 pm
      Reply

      No reboot or message in the notification area happened unless it was done while the laptop was in shutdown mode. I don’t know if this is possible.

      1. chesscanoe said on January 26, 2017 at 3:33 am
        Reply
  17. EuroScept1C said on January 25, 2017 at 5:40 pm
    Reply

    I don’t find it neither within windows update nor on the update catalog? Is it pulled back?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on January 25, 2017 at 5:53 pm
      Reply

      I see it listed still on the Update Catalog.

      1. EuroScept1C said on January 25, 2017 at 6:19 pm
        Reply

        Yeah, found it but it said it’s already installed on my machine. The last update I did was 2 Tuesdays ago with the normal monthly updates.

  18. Mat said on January 25, 2017 at 5:00 pm
    Reply

    Most likely another servicing stack update, duh!

  19. Pete said on January 25, 2017 at 4:59 pm
    Reply

    Still no info for this update !!
    You just dont know what your installing , very bad mr.MS …………
    People have the right to know WHAT they are installing , anyway it installed , after disabling my anti-virus, the second time and noticed no chances .

  20. Horst Fuch said on January 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm
    Reply

    Let’s see what they manage to break this time around.

  21. Pete said on January 25, 2017 at 4:38 pm
    Reply

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3211320 ( for getting some more info!)………………” This page does not exist ”
    How “clear” MS can be !

  22. samelas said on January 25, 2017 at 11:42 am
    Reply

    Why is it more stinky every day?
    They were upset about Obama and now he is gone they do what they want.
    They will probably force current users to sign in with bank account, telephone number, iris scan, GPS lock-in and everything they need. It’s pretty common in USA but in Europe it’s currently unconstitutional. However some similar laws are written and just ask to be adopted.

    1. Mola Ram, CEO Microsoft said on January 26, 2017 at 2:05 am
      Reply

      I was reading an article last night that the US government decided that if a tech company is American that means the US government has to have guaranteed access to its servers anywhere in the world, bypassing the local laws, not even notifying the local government.

      1. Me said on March 1, 2017 at 10:28 pm
        Reply

        Good! :)

  23. Corky said on January 25, 2017 at 10:12 am
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    It’s one thing to be late in publishing details of an update, it’s a whole new level of bodging when you’re pushing updates on your customers and not publishing details.

    If Microsoft are trying to build trust with their customers forcing undefined updates on their customers isn’t the way to go about it.

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