Microsoft releases out-of-band update for Windows connectivity issues
Microsoft has published out-of-band updates for the Windows connectivity issue that it acknowledged last week-The updates are not available via Windows Update, WSUS or other update management systems at the time of writing but only on the Microsoft Update Catalog website as direct downloads.
Last week, Microsoft confirmed a new issue affecting the company's Windows operating system for all supported versions of Windows 10 (client and server) that affected connectivity. On some systems, the issue was experienced as a lighter one as it would change the Internet connectivity icon on the system to indicate limited or no connectivity even though that was not the case. The more severe form caused connectivity issues so that some applications could not connect to the Internet anymore; both issues happened when proxy or VPN connections were established on the device.
The issue could not come at a worse moment at time as worldwide remote working exploded because of the Corona pandemic.
A recent announcement on the Windows 10 Release Information page on the Microsoft Docs website indicates that Microsoft has released a patch for the issue.
Out-of-band optional update is available for internet connectivity issues on devices with manual or auto-configured proxies including VPNs.
An out-of-band optional update is now available on the Microsoft Update Catalog to address a known issue whereby devices using a proxy, especially those using a virtual private network (VPN), might show limited or no internet connection status.
Microsoft recommends that the out-of-band update is only installed on systems affected by the issue and not by systems not affected. Administrators may activate the following link to download the updates. The updates are provided for all supported versions of the Windows 10 operating system. All it is required is to install the downloaded update package on the system to resolve the issue.
Windows administrators should install the out-of-band updates on affected systems. We recommend that you create backups of affected systems before the update is installed.
Microsoft has not revealed plans to provide the update via Windows Update and other updating systems at the point in time. It is possible that the update will be included in the April 2020 Patch Tuesday which happens on April 14, 2020.
Now You: Were you affected by the issue? (via Ask Woody)
oops MS did it again!
the KB4554364 vpn bugfix update for v1903/v1909 seems to break WiFi connections as noted in this recent MSPoweruser article:
https://mspoweruser.com/windows-10-kb4554364-update-has-a-nasty-wi-fi-bug/
Hosed my 5GHz wi fi, kept disconnecting, was perfectly reliable before MS’s wonderful update. Happened with and without VPN’s active. The fix did fix the problem, though. Not before reloading drivers, router firmware, swapping wi fi adapter, network reset, etc, none of which were the problem.
MS continues to be its’ own worst enemy, round and round, SOS self-induced problems, subscriptions for junk no one wants that way, dead links to millions of deleted support threads, fools!
Been playing with Linux on an older laptop for the last few weeks, tried maybe 10 distros, from Debian to Mint and Elementary on that side; Manjaro and Arch on the other side. With the exception of Debian, which is truly roll your own and dirt simple to destroy, the one thing with NO issues whatsoever was network connectivity, wi fi is recognized and starts almost instantly. BTW, all were easy to install.
Currently I’m using Manjaro, mostly because it’s the only distro that plays well with my touchpad, otherwise, for a “normal” user, there’s not much difference among them. Just my preference but I like the Arch side better; Pine is apparently using Manjaro. I hope Pine takes off.
Although Linux’s screwball terminology reminds me of Fortran or something else from my distant past, it hints at the good OS MS has hobbled in the layers of glop called Windows. Too bad.
@ULBoom – it has worked for me, but two things. Firstly, it was well over 300megs. This is stunning, (the size) given that it is supposed to address one single problem, dropped wifi. Only Microsoft can have an update that is that big for something presumably so small.
Secondly, once installed, my Macrium Reflect stored image size has gone up by 1GB!! Incredible.
And lastly, its still not perfect. I still have dropouts when all is indicated as being fine (and have to reset the PC), and I still have the icon changing from the wifi icon at times, to the Ethernet plugged in icon.
Staggering, the incompetance.
These morons have *never* gotten Windows networking to work properly. Never.
On a slightly separate note, (having just updated to this out of band patch) does anyone know if its common that Windows 10 Pro let’s you postpone updating almost indefinitely?
For example, I’ve been surprised that I can press “pause” again and again and again, such that at the moment, it has allowed a pause to the 31st August 2020. It would let me keep going like that, cumulatively, I have no doubt.
Yet I thought that pause was strictly limited to 30 days or so?
I was surprised it let me do that, to say the least.
I remember I could disable the updates on a test 1709 Pro VM a while ago. I don’t remember how exactly, but a combination of policies and the update service set to manually I think did it.
I think this has worked for me. A very frustrating problem that has blighted a new 1909 Thinkpad, rendering it almost useless. I find it amazing that Microsoft cannot even get something as basic as wifi connectivity right. I had all manner of effects from this, and even now, some strange reports in other places telling me that there is no internet connection, though so far, things do remain solid and ok, but time will tell.
I do use a VPN, but who tests this stuff?
Updated, but unfortunately problem is still exist.
As soon as i start a game (Apex, CsGo) wifi adapter disappear from device manager. I restart the laptop and the adapter comes back.
If i use the laptop just for browsing the web, i dont have any problem. :/
+1 MadDog
very frustrating when child is trying to study and this keeps giving convenient break times…
I can only test this in CS:GO running on LTSC 1809. I don’t have this problem, just checked.
Latest SSU and latest cumulative update for 1809:
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB4539571
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB4554354
This will bring any 1809 install from release up-to-date.
Same for 1909 (I assume normal people use this):
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB4541338
http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB4554364
I never had any issues on LTSC 1809, Server 2019 and 2016. I don’t use any VPN service though.