Microsoft admits that latest Windows 10 update has a peculiar error - and it’s working to fix it ASAP

Windows 10 update stress
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Kaspars Grinvalds)

A small security update for Windows 10 that tagged along with January’s main system update has been causing trouble for some users, prompting ‘installation failure’ errors on some PCs. Fortunately for those affected, Microsoft has now officially acknowledged the problem, and is working to fix it. 

Last week we reported on Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 security patch, which caused more than a few headaches for IT admins, but was aimed at Windows 10 PC’s to fix a flaw that could potentially allow attackers to bypass encryption.

According to TweakTown, the error caused by that patch (labeled KB5034441) is due to unhelpful stop code present in the update, apparently caused by the recovery partition (WinRE) in Windows 10 not being sufficiently big enough. TweakTown quotes Microsoft admitting to the error and confirming that "It might be necessary to increase the size of the WinRE partition in order to avoid this issue and complete the installation. Note that 250 megabytes of free space is required in the recovery partition." 

We're going to have to be patient

As we noted in our original article covering the KB5034441 update, if you’re really certain you want to get the patch installed, it can be done with a few changes to the system configuration. 

This process requires quite a bit of time and care, however, and while we go through how you could possibly try and rectify it, we don’t really suggest that casual Windows users do so - at least, not until more information is available. Given how important the security patch is, we’re almost certainly going to see a new patch release very soon.

If you are yet to download the latest security update to your Windows 10 device, we would recommend holding off for a little while longer if you wish to avoid this kind of inconvenience. You’re better off waiting for Microsoft to rectify the problem itself, which will hopefully be a quick-fix solution. 

You might also like

Muskaan Saxena
Computing Staff Writer

Muskaan is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing writer. She has always been a passionate writer and has had her creative work published in several literary journals and magazines. Her debut into the writing world was a poem published in The Times of Zambia, on the subject of sunflowers and the insignificance of human existence in comparison. Growing up in Zambia, Muskaan was fascinated with technology, especially computers, and she's joined TechRadar to write about the latest GPUs, laptops and recently anything AI related. If you've got questions, moral concerns or just an interest in anything ChatGPT or general AI, you're in the right place. Muskaan also somehow managed to install a game on her work MacBook's Touch Bar, without the IT department finding out (yet).

Read more
A man getting angry with his laptop.
Windows 10 update installation failures aren’t rare – but an update that won’t stop installing itself is a new one on me
A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk
Are you unable to get security updates for Windows 11 24H2? Here’s the likely reason why, and the fix to get your PC safe and secure again
A man getting angry with his laptop.
Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy to encounter?
Angry businessman destroying his desk and laptop with a baseball bat
New patch for Windows 11 24H2 reportedly plays havoc with File Explorer, and some folks are claiming it's broken their PC
A Windows 11 laptop sitting on a desk in front of a window
Microsoft warns its January Windows updates may fail if this Citrix software is installed
Woman gaming on a computer at home
Microsoft finally fixes some of Windows 11’s most annoying problems with new patch
Latest in Computing
A PC gamer celebrating, sat in a gaming chair in front of a monitor
Windows 11’s Game Bar gets a fresh coat of paint, plus a tweak to work better on handhelds – and I like the direction Microsoft’s heading in here
Image of SanDisk Extreme Pro
Amazon's Spring Sale rides on with discounts on SanDisk SSDs - and these deals are ones you don't want to miss
Google Gemini 2.5 and ChatGPT o3-mini
I pitted Gemini 2.5 Pro against ChatGPT o3-mini to find out which AI reasoning model is best
Opera AI Tabs
Feel like your browser tabs are out of control? Opera's new AI tab-management tool will bring order to the chaos
Microsoft Copilot combines the Microsoft 365 apps, Microsoft Graph and Artificial Intelligence. Isolated 3D logo on a surface
Microsoft adds Copilot AI features to Windows 11's Photos app - and I actually don't hate them
Microsoft Surface laptop 7 on the left side versus Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch on the right side, TechRadar vs background
Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 vs. Apple MacBook Pro M4 14-inch: Mac and Windows go head to head once again
Latest in News
Waze voice control
Waze is ditching Google Assistant for Gemini on iOS, and for good reasons
Focal Bathys MG
Focal just upgraded its audiophile noise-cancelling wireless headphones with even better sound, better noise cancelling, and a way higher price
A PC gamer celebrating, sat in a gaming chair in front of a monitor
Windows 11’s Game Bar gets a fresh coat of paint, plus a tweak to work better on handhelds – and I like the direction Microsoft’s heading in here
NHS
NHS IT supplier hit with major fine following ransomware attack
A business woman looking at AI on a transparent screen
Most businesses are now fully embracing AI - but aren't always protected against the risks
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge on display the January 22, 2025 Galaxy Unpacked event.
All three rumored Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors shown off in ‘official’ images