August 2024 Update Causes Server Glitches – Learn How to Fix Windows Server 2019 Now

Microsoft has acknowledged and addressed a significant issue affecting Windows Server 2019 systems following the installation of the August 2024 security updates. Users reported performance degradation, boot problems, and system freezes after applying the KB5041578 cumulative update, which was released on August 13, 2024.

Issues Identified

The problems primarily stem from high CPU usage related to Cryptographic Services, which resulted in:

• Increased CPU utilization
• Elevated disk latency and utilization
• Degraded performance of the operating system and applications
• Failure of the Cryptographic Services (CryptSVC) to start
• Booting issues, including black screens and slow boot times
• The system freezes or hangs

These issues were particularly prevalent in enterprise environments, with a limited number of organizations linking the problems to antivirus software scanning the %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 folder during Windows updates.

Solutions

To resolve these issues, Microsoft has implemented a Known Issue Rollback (KIR), which is designed to reverse problematic non-security updates. Here’s how to address the issue on affected Windows enterprise-managed devices:

Install the KIR Group Policy:

Admins should install the Windows 10 1809 and Windows Server 2019 KB5041578 240816_21501 Known Issue Rollback Group Policy. This can be found under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates.

Deploy the Group Policy:

• Use the Group Policy Editor to target the specific Windows version.
• Navigate to either the Local Computer Policy or the Domain policy on the domain controller.
• After selecting the appropriate version, restart the affected devices to apply the new group policy settings.

Future Updates:

Microsoft is working on including a permanent fix in an upcoming Windows update, which will eliminate the need for manual configuration of the Group Policy once released.

Additional Considerations:

In addition to the issues with Windows Server 2019, Microsoft also confirmed that the August 2024 updates are causing boot failures for Linux systems on dual-boot configurations with Secure Boot enabled. Users experiencing these issues should stay informed about further updates from Microsoft. By following these steps, organizations can mitigate the impact of the recent updates and restore normal functionality to their Windows Server environments.

By following these steps and keeping systems updated, organizations can mitigate the impact of these recent updates and ensure smoother operation of their Windows Server environments.

Source:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-august-updates-cause-windows-server-boot-issues-freezes/