Arg! KB4043961 Has Trashed my Sim.. Help!

[odourboy 1,286]

Two evenings ago I received the Windows 10 64 Home edition update KC4043961, pretty massive I guess as it took a long time to install, including several restarts.

When it was done, my high-end PC, which was running Prepar3d V4.1 beautifully, became a stuttering mess. I noticed this update modified several 'configuration' settings, which I tried to put back to the way I had them:

• My Lock Screen was changed from Picture to Windows Spotlight, which I set back to Picture.
• I got a Microsoft OneCloud sign-in start menu (which I opted out of from the get go, so I disabled it)
• Customer telemetry data collection which I had disabled, was turned back on, so i turned it off again. (MS Compatibility Appraiser and Consolidator exes)
• I got a new 'People Button' showing up in the task bar, which I hid.
• Added AS_P3D.exe (Active Sky) to the Avast exclusions list because suddenly, it was apparently a virus.
• A new NVidia driver MS decided to update (388.94?) - so I rolled back to the one I've been using successfully for a couple of months (384.94)
• I also tried setting P3D compatibility disable screen optimizations as recommended in another thread, but that didn't help here.

Anyway, apparently I've missed something, because my high-end overclocked 7700K/1080ti system that was a pleasure to use is now stuttering and hesitating. It's a shame because in this state, I'm really not enjoying flying in P3D at all. I'd hate to believe I've flushed 3 grand down the toilet but I've been beavering away at this and running out of ideas. (I've done a few flights in X-Plane 1 and it seems to have come through the upgrade okay, but that's preliminary)

Anyway, I'm looking for that magic bullet to undo the damage done by this update, Ideas? Thanks!!

[Bob Scott 7,704]

Unfortunately, this is too late to help you, but for others reading this, it should be understood that it's absolutely critical to make a full backup of your system just prior to running this (or really any other) Win10 update, in case you need to revert back.  The only bulletproof way to roll back that i know of is to do a complete restore from a pre-update backup.

 

[Jude Bradley 659]

Can you uninstall that through the usual methods?

 

[odourboy 1,286]

5 hours ago, w6kd said:

Unfortunately, this is too late to help you, but for others reading this, it should be understood that it's absolutely critical to make a full backup of your system just prior to running this (or really any other) Win10 update, in case you need to revert back.  The only bulletproof way to roll back that i know of is to do a complete restore from a pre-update backup.

 

I have a full backup from a few weeks ago. The changes applied since then are fairly contained, so if push comes to shove, I could roll back to this image. However,  I would prefer to keep my machine current so I'm hoping to identify the culprit(s).

I suspect it's a couple of processes getting scheduled because it's not continuous and I think I see at least two 'patterns and the whole thing is exacerbated by my TIR.

I've been monitoring with Process Explorer, but no obvious suspects have emerged, though there are a couple of suspicious tasks popping up, one Actonis and one A vast, though these were both in place prior to the update so I don't think they're the cause. 

[vortex681 806]

There have been a few reports of problems with AV programs (Avast being one of them) after updating to the Fall Creators Update. Might be worth a try temporarily disabling Avast and see if that solves the problem.

[odourboy 1,286]

18 minutes ago, vortex681 said:

There have been a few reports of problems with AV programs (Avast being one of them) after updating to the Fall Creators Update. Might be worth a try temporarily disabling Avast and see if that solves the problem.

Yep, I was thinking of completely uninstalling both Avast and Acronis to see if that had any effect. I also saw something called IntelSoftwareAssetManagerService.exe pop fairly high up in the task list. I tried to kill all the offending processes with Process Explorer but in appears Windows is now blocking this sort of behavior (probably a security enhancement) so I may have to uninstall them.

[vortex681 806]

37 minutes ago, odourboy said:

Yep, I was thinking of completely uninstalling both Avast and Acronis to see if that had any effect. I also saw something called IntelSoftwareAssetManagerService.exe pop fairly high up in the task list.

Intel Software Asset Manager seems to be a corporate feature - see: https://vimeo.com/116556055. I can't find the service anywhere on my system. If you decide to get rid of Acronis, I can highly recommend Macrium Reflect. I found it to be faster and more dependable than Acronis.

 

[odourboy 1,286]

I just watched the video. That is very weird. This is a home PC that I recently purchased and kept pretty lean and mean for simming. I have no idea what, how or why this Intel Software Asset Manager  stuff is running on it. Ironic because it supposed to help prevent untracked software from being installed on a system. LOL!

As for Acronis, I am very happy with it. It's save my word not allowed several times. I would uninstall it only in the interest of getting to the bottom of my P3D issues, hopefully only temporarily.

[Twenty6 692]

This same update created a number of "new" directories on my C: drive. A search on their names told me they're there in case you want to revert back. BUT ... you only have 10 days to decide before these directories are deleted. I have no idea how to do this; I'm sure Microsoft makes the process painful.

FWIW, I'm not having any problems post-update and P3Dv4. I know that doesn't help you but I was greeted with the same changes, additions, people icons, etc and I still haven't figured out what else.

[Guest]

I disabled my Windows 10 updates a few weeks ago until Nov 14th, as it's my understanding from LM as to when Microsoft will release a fix (Patch Tuesday) for Win10 1709 build (which is what you are describing).

There were several threads about Win10 1709 update and other KB's:

I don't know if you saw those threads, sound like you missed them ... so my advice:

1.  Wait until Nov 14th to see if Microsoft actually does release a patch that fixes the problem

2.  Load your backup from a few weeks ago and disable Win10 updates until Nov 14th

3.  Wait until Nov 14th, download the full 1709 install, wipe, install 1709 from scratch, install 1709 updates, then re-install all your sim stuff

Microsoft screwed up a few things in their Win10 updates, not just one problem, but multiple problems including a .NET/DX change that messed up the shader compiler along with other issues and security context problems that may or may not surface.  It didn't affect everyone, but I keep seeing more and more threads from people having problems with Win10 updates (so maybe just a delay in the realization).

Bob's advice is highly recommended, backup and create restore points prior to ANY Win10 updates.  Also suggest you disable Win10 updates from automatically installing, you can still get notification of updates pending, just don't allow them to install without you manually hitting the install updates button.

I do understand your frustration, Microsoft's recent set of updates have impacted my real world work environment that I had to recover from ... ironically I was able to save my flight simulator PC from the same fate.

Cheers, Rob.

 

[Peter Webber 339]

22 minutes ago, Rob Ainscough said:

Also suggest you disable Win10 updates from automatically installing

Hi Rob. I think this option is only available in the "Professional" version of Windows 10.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[odourboy 1,286]

When things are going well, I tend to skip past 'problem' threads so I was admittedly unprepared and thus ambushed by this particular update. My bad! (Well maybe Microsoft's bad, but that's another discussion).

The 14th isn't far away, and as Peter says, I don't believe I have the option to turn off updates (so I'd have to go out my way to get a 3rd party application to block updates on the Home edition), so I think I'll just sit tight and see if it next Tuesday brings any relief. I will continue to have the option to go back to my system image from Sept 27.

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Peter Webber said:

I think this option is only available in the "Professional" version of Windows 10.

Yes, but I think there is also a work around for Win10 Home.

2 minutes ago, odourboy said:

I tend to skip past 'problem' threads so I was admittedly unprepared and thus ambushed

You mean you don't read every thread from every day and every page in those threads?  Geez, next you'll be telling me you have a life outside of flight simulation ... baaa humbug!  :)

Cheers, Rob.

[redhead66 8]

Had the same problem a week ago with the update and FSX and rolled back using the Windows10 roll back feature and all went OK again.  You can use Microsoft "wushowhide" to stop the updates you dont want.

 

Bob Palmer

[Bob Scott 7,704]

44 minutes ago, Peter Webber said:

I think this option is only available in the "Professional" version of Windows 10.

Yes, but there are some software options outside Windows to do the same thing.  I use this free utility for Win10 Home: OO Shutup10

Regards