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Microsoft was clearly caught off guard recently when British security firm Prevx claimed that recent security updates to Windows were causing an epidemic of “black screens of death." Affected users reportedly found themselves stuck with a black, non-functional desktop and only a single Explorer window. Prevx indicated the problem stemmed from registry changes made by the updates. Redmond had a look at those claims, and is now saying the updates are not responsible.
"The company has found those reports to be inaccurate and our comprehensive investigation has shown that none of the recently released updates are related to the behavior described in the reports," Microsoft said in a statement. According to the software giant, Prevx made no effort to contact Microsoft before going public with the erroneous claims.
Prevx, for its part, posted a correction saying that through some re-testing they were able to confirm that the security patches played no part in the errors. Hopefully they do that “re-testing” first next time.
Comments are closed on this article
medavid16
December 16, 2009 at 8:45am
BlackSOD, i always have to re-install Nvidia drivers, 195.62. Everytime. Turn on --> BSOD --> Reset --> Install 195.62 --> Reset --> Desktop
Makes me believe the drivers are the culprit? Any one know a fix?
Caboose
December 16, 2009 at 9:23am
Don't use nVidia?
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Caboose
December 02, 2009 at 1:12pm
How soon before Apple jumps all over this and we find some sort of "black screen of death" commercial.
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
nekollx
December 02, 2009 at 1:15pm
Apple spreading miss information about Windows?
Tomarrow.
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
nekollx
December 02, 2009 at 10:34am
Can we have a moment of since for MS since so many of you demonized them.
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
I Jedi
December 02, 2009 at 8:04am
Very unprofessional of Prevx to do something like this, especiallly as their a security firm, and should know the facts before making a conclusion. Not only did they state something that wasn't true, but they hurt Microsoft's reputation as a good technology vendor in the industry. No, not so much they'll never recover, but people don't like hearing that instead of a Blue Screen of Death, now there's the Black Screen of Death, too.
roleki
December 02, 2009 at 9:42am
I am a Security Firm, honest. I have just discovered that Windows 7 has a bug where if you use the right-mouse button, hoards of armored lizards materialize in your living room and attempt to fornicate with your dog. Feel free to include this information in your I'm A Mac campaign. P.S. thanks for the check!
The Relic
December 01, 2009 at 8:04pm
Whatta surprise. The media jumps on this like flies on a turd, and then finds out it wasn't the patch's fault at all. I already noticed the BBC has (finally) updated their article, but (again, surprise) the Apple-loving boys over at CNN has yet to do so.
And BTW, for most, that illustration is highly inaccurate...
DBsantos77
December 01, 2009 at 7:58pm
Lol nice! So I installed a patch for no apparent reason!
-Santos
