Summary: Microsoft's latest Windows 11 2024 Update, 24H2, has been causing issues with certain SSDs. Users have reported encountering a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) after the update, leaving their PCs unusable. While Microsoft hasn't officially addressed the issue, you can try some workarounds like checking firmware compatibility, rolling back the update, and more shared in this blog.
The latest Windows 11 24H2 update from Microsoft was meant to bring advanced features, enhanced security, and functionality to the current OS. However, the update itself has been causing various issues since its release. Some SSD users are complaining about facing frequent crashes & BSoDs after installing the update.
In this blog, we will discuss the details of this BSoD error, explore its causes, and provide temporary solutions to resolve the issue.
More About the Windows 11 24H2 Error Causing BSoDs
Since the Windows 11 24H2 update rollout, many problems have arisen. Errors include disappearing mouse pointer, internet connectivity issues, and worse, a hard drive filled with 8.63 GB of undeletable cache files. Additionally, the update takes a long time to install and is apparently removing a bunch of features & apps from the system.
As reported on the Microsoft Community forum, following the 24H2 update, some users using specific SSDs are experiencing a Windows crash, leading to the infamous Blue Screen of Death.
Windows 11 24H2 Update Causing Blue Screen of Death Error
Although Microsoft has not issued an official statement about the affected devices, this BSoD error seems related to specific SSD models, primarily Western Digital SSDs.
The error affects certain Western Digital SSDs, such as the WD SN770 and WD SN580 that request a 200 MB Host Memory Buffer (HMB). HMB allocation lets SSDs utilize some of the system’s RAM to store data and improve performance. In the previous Windows 11 23H2 update, the system allocated up to 64 MB HMB, which caused no issue. However, in the latest 11 24H2 update, Windows allocates the whole 200 MB, the same as the HMB required by the SSD, leading to crashes or a Blue Screen of Death.
If your system crashes frequently with BSoDs or you receive error codes like “INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE” or “CRITICAL PROCESS DIED” during the crash, it may be due to an incompatibility between your SSD and the Windows 11 24H2 update.
Temporary Workarounds
Until Microsoft provides an official fix, users facing BSoD problems after installing the 24H2 updates are advised to take the following remedial actions:
1. Check for Firmware Updates
Some users have reported that updating the SSD firmware from its official manufacturer’s website can resolve compatibility issues between SSD and 24H2 update. SSD manufacturers often release updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
2. Rollback the Update
If your system crashes frequently with BSoD errors, then one of the immediate fixes is to roll back to the previous version of Windows 11. To do this,
- Go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery.
- Select the Go Back option under the Previous version of Windows 10/11 and click Get Started.
This will restore your Windows system to its pre-update state.
3. Use an Alternative SSD
Try temporarily using a different SSD or hard drive. This solution is not feasible for every user, but it could provide a temporary solution until the BSoD issue is officially resolved.
4. Backup Your Data
It’s always recommended that you back up your Windows system data regularly. Doing so helps protect your data in the event of abrupt loss, such as frequent BSoD crashes, software corruption, human error, etc.
Having a backup will prevent the loss of important files in case your system becomes unbootable due to repeated BSODs.
Note—If you forgot to take a backup and lose your Windows system data, use professional data recovery software to retrieve it.
The Bottom Line
The Windows 11 24H2 update, though expected to improve user experience and enhance performance, has been plagued with several problems since its launch.
As Microsoft is working on fixing the issue, users affected by the frequent BSoDs crashes should explore workarounds, such as rolling back the update or updating their SSD firmware. In the meantime, maintain regular backups of your important data to avoid any potential loss during system crashes.
