Microsoft Windows Glitch Causes Widespread DisruptionsMicrosoft Windows Glitch Causes Widespread Disruptions A technical issue with CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software has triggered a “blue screen of death” for users of Microsoft Windows. The glitch has affected hospitals, airlines, emergency services, and individuals. Nature of the Issue The bug prevents computers from booting up normally, displaying a message that the device needs to be restarted. However, simply rebooting may not resolve the problem. Impact IT workers on Reddit have reported an unprecedented scale of the outage, with one user commenting that it “wished it was Y2K.” The glitch has disrupted critical systems and caused significant inconvenience. Cause and Resolution Microsoft and CrowdStrike have attributed the outage to a CrowdStrike software update released on Friday. Affected users are advised to restore their systems to a point before the update was installed. Manual restore instructions are available online. Understanding a “BSOD” “Blue screen of death” is a colloquial term for a Windows error message that forces users to restart their computers. The message typically states that a problem has occurred and the device is gathering error information. Solutions For IT Professionals: * Restore systems to a previous version of Windows. For Home Users: * Restart the computer repeatedly (up to 15 times). * Roll back the computer to a version before the update: * Turn on the PC and repeatedly press the power button to turn it off. * After the third attempt, access advanced settings. * Choose “Advanced options” -> “System recovery”. * Select a restore point before the blue screen appeared. * Boot the computer into Safe Mode: * Follow the steps above to access Advanced Options. * Choose “Troubleshoot” -> “Advanced Options” -> “Startup Settings” -> “Restart”. * Select “Safe Mode”. * Delete the file “C-00000291*.sys” from the folder C:WindowsSystem32driversCrowdStrike. * Restart the computer. Emergency Services If you are unable to reach 911 or other emergency services, consult the websites and social media accounts of local law enforcement and fire departments. They may provide alternative emergency numbers.
A Microsoft Windows glitch has caused widespread disruptions to hospitals, airlines, emergency services and people’s homes. The bug, caused by a technical issue with CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software, is sending users to a “blue screen of death” message that their device needs to be restarted.
But simply rebooting may not fix the problem, users report. On Reddit, IT workers discussed the staggering scale of the outage.
“This is what Y2K wished it was,” one user commented. Others said the outage was the worst they’ve ever seen and noted that they’re taking multiple steps to get their employers back online.
Microsoft and CrowdStrike blamed the outage on a CrowdStrike software update released on Friday. In a post on X, Microsoft suggested that affected users fix their computers by restoring their systems to a point before the buggy CrowdStrike update was released. It pointed to online instructions for a manual restore.
What is a BSOD?
“Blue screen of death” is a cheeky nickname for a Windows error message that can force users to restart their computers. The message reads, “Your device has encountered a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error information and then restarting your device for you.”
How to Recover an Affected Computer
Most of the work to get systems up and running will fall to IT professionals working for organizations. But people at home can also try to bypass the blue screen of death.
“The worst that can happen if you try to fix it is that it doesn’t work and you’re back to square one,” said Gregory Falco, a professor of systems engineering at Cornell University.
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The simplest solution is to restart your computer repeatedly, said iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens. Try restarting it up to 15 times to see if anything changes, he suggested.
If that doesn’t work, you can roll back your computer to a version before the update. To do this, turn on your PC, but before it can boot, hold the power button to turn it back off. Do this three times in a row and after the third time you should see advanced settings appear. Go to “advanced options” and then “system recovery”.
You will see options for different restart points. Choose a point before the blue screen appeared — maybe yesterday. Then click through to the end by choosing “next” or “finish.”
You can also try booting your computer into Safe Mode. To do this, follow the steps above to turn your computer on and off until your screen shows Advanced Options. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. Once your device has restarted, select Safe Mode. Use the Computer menu to find the folder C:WindowsSystem32driversCrowdStrike. Then find the file named “C-00000291*.sys” and delete it. Finally, restart your computer.
What if I can’t reach the emergency services?
If you can’t reach 911 or other emergency services, check the websites and X accounts of your local police, fire, and state police. Many of them should have alternate emergency numbers you can try.
