Windows 10 fixes for Meltdown and Spectre are breaking some AMD computers

Fixes for Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities don't do much good if they render the "fixed" computer unusable in the process.

That's the problem facing an unknown number of PC owners using AMD processors. It's been almost a week since Microsoft rolled out the KB4056892 security update for Windows 10, and some AMD users are reporting system freezes after installing it.

This is most apparent in a lengthy forum thread on Microsoft's website which, as of this writing, spans 17 pages. Computers equipped with AMD processors — apparently, it's older ones like Athlon and Semperon — are no longer able to boot after installing the update. Rolling the system back using a restore point fixes the issue, some say, but only temporarily, as Windows 10 immediately attempts to reinstall the update. Read more...