• MS pulls buggy KB 3161608 Windows Update speed-up patch

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    #38971

    Replaces it with KB 3172605, KB 3172614… and sticks it to Intel. If you’re struggling with slow Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Update speeds, take a look
    [See the full post at: MS pulls buggy KB 3161608 Windows Update speed-up patch]

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    • #38972

      I was experiencing slow update checks and high cpu usage during the update checks on my old desktop pc running Windows 8.1 (with ancient Intel Core Duo E8500 processor and just 2GB of RAM). I’ve installed KB3161606 (June 2016 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2) and now update checks take just few minutes. KB3161606 contains improvements to Windows Update Client as described in following article

      https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3163023

    • #38973

      I installed this rollup KB on a W7 desktop due to the intolerable windows update ‘service’ rendering our system so slow it was close to unusable. It broke both the KB and mouse. Now I can not communicate with the system at all. How does one uninstall a KB if neither the KB or mouse works?

      I have backups and a bootup disc so hopefully I can recover this system and avoid the KB.

      This certainly makes me question ‘windows as a service’ when they can not even manage the windows update service with any degree of credibility.

    • #38974

      It’s simply “included” in new rollup
      most 3161608 contents are still included in 3172605
      and i mean same components, same version
      including the WU Client fix

    • #38975

      So, if we have KB3161608 on a Win 7 (SP1) machine, what should we do? Remove, replace it, sit tight, or start researching Linux Mint?

      My laptop was automatically updating MSE when it went on line before ‘1608, and isn’t now. Not running into any other problems, so far on the laptop or the desktop.

    • #38976

      so having installed KB3161608 ages ago and been having no issues and very fast windows update speeds ever since, is it worth bothering with this new rollup?

      or was KB3161608 just another temporary fix

    • #38977

      I installed KB3161608 on two Win7 32bit netbooks and one 64bit Home Premium around two weeks before the July patches were scheduled to come through, and for the first time in several months they didn’t stop WU from working and pushing the CPU up to 50%. I’ve just installed the July patches (including KB3168965) which took around 12 mins to download and 10 mins to install. So as far as I can tell, it has fixed something, although I still don’t get (haven’t for a year) an ‘updates are available’ notification in the System Tray. Bluetooth is OK but then it isn’t Intel, and I had previously hidden KB3133977 anyway.

      The optional KB3172605 July rollup has just come through, so now I’m just pondering on what to do with it – since it’s optional, I presume the usual advice would be to hide it, but as it’s supposed to replace 3161608 – to install or not to install that is the question!

    • #38978

      Woody, a little copy editing on my part regarding this infoworld article.

      “After you install KB 3133977…”

      That might not be the one you meant to use as a KB reference?

      Just making sure. By all means remove this comment & adjust accordingly. If the KB reference changes or if this comment disappears, I’ll notice.

      Additionally, if this comment disappears & the article doesn’t change, that too would be an indication, thanks & good luck.

    • #38979

      In the Windows Secrets Lounge, a contributor has posted link to a CSV table showing the files contained in KB3172605: http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/7/5/775C786B-D9C1-41DF-AAFD-155FF28EA0A1/3172605.csv .

      Another post offers this assessment of KB3172605:

      “This new Roll-up screwed up my Bluetooth same as KB 3161608. After installing this update, my event viewer was inundated with errors all related to Bluetooth Device Monitor, Bluetooth Media Service and Bluetooth OBEX Service. I uninstalled the update and now Bluetooth is working fine again. I was able to uninstall and then hide this “optional” update. “

    • #38980

      Woody;

      Re: MS pulls buggy KB 3161608 Windows Update speed-up patch.

      “…I end up recommending that you ditch Microsoft’s “solution” entirely and use the approach listed on wu.krelay.de to fix the slowdowns.

      “I have no idea how to fix the problem in Win 8.1 — or if Win 8.1 people are experiencing significant slowdowns.”

      Win 8.1home; ASUS 554L,Corei3,4gb.

      KB3138615 (per wu.krelay.de/en) was installed March 2016, WU is”Never Check”. Important unchecked.

      Win-Defender manual update checks take 30sec-2 minutes for search, download, and install.

      Alway run it alone before any WU checks.

      Manual WU usually take 5-15min for search right after each patch Tuesday.

      Just now WU took 1 minute to check (no new updates) but I already had 16 optional/italicized on queue (not hidden, not checked).

      With lots of things running my CPU stayed under 46% and ram stayed under 50%.

      Will check again after 8 Aug.

      JF

    • #38981

      Should have be KB 3138615. JF

    • #38982

      Dear Woody,
      In the mentioned InfoWorld/ Woody on Windows article, you write, “Now it appears KB 3161608 was a one-time-only fix. If you try to scan for July patches with Windows 7 or 8.1, expect to spend many hours waiting for your system to return from la-la-land.”
      On what is that assertion based?
      As I replied at AskWoody.com, July 12:
      https://www.askwoody.com/2016/patch-tuesday-updates-are-out-are-your-scans-any-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-91959
      “With June 14 Patch Tuesday, Windows Update check for updates took one and a half, and two hours on my two Windows 7 systems.
      June 24, I installed KB3161608.
      July 12, Windows Update check for updates took only one or two minutes to find six Patch Tuesday updates. (Downloading and installing took 20 minutes.)”
      That seems quite contrary to what you say in the InfoWorld article.
      With KB3161608 installed, scanning for July patches with Windows 7 took minutes, not hours.
      So, I don’t understand on what the assertion in the InfoWorld article was based.

    • #38983

      Regarding KB 3172605, this is from the MS website: “Known issues in this update

      •Issue 1
      Symptom
      After you install KB3133977, the software for Intel Bluetooth devices may not be fully functional because of existing software issues in the Intel Bluetooth driver software. These issues may affect Bluetooth keyboards, mice, audio streaming devices, and voice headsets. You may also not be able to pair new Bluetooth devices. Intel is currently working on an update to address their software incompatibilities.

      Workaround
      If you require Intel Bluetooth support on Windows 7 before the revised software is available, the only known workaround at this time is to uninstall this update temporarily and then reinstall it after Intel has updated their software.” End quote from the MS website.

      So basically they pulled KB3161608 (a rollup) that killed Intel Bluetooth, after identifying a known update by number (KB3133977 – a BitLocker can’t encrypt drives because of service crashes in svchost.exe process in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2), and replaced it with a new rollup, also including the Bluetooth killer, but now they flagged it as an issue. Unlike other parts of the rollups, KB 3133977 is downloadable as an individual MUI.

      My question now is: Is KB 3133977 the update part of KB3161608 that actually kills Intel Bluetooth? Or is it another part of the rollup? Everything from MS is ambiguous or clouded.

      IF MS had ANY smarts (hard not to use an obscenity here), and actually cared about patching Win 7 beyond their GWX malware, or about their users, they would have released the rollup sans KB3133977 (or whichever was the actual Intel Bluetooth killer) since they appear to KNOW the issue at hand, but instead punted to Intel (shades of the old dueling drivers of the Windows 3.1 era).

      Intel did just release a new set of drivers (Lenovo just released a patch via their system updater), but I have not tried to reinstall either the old or this new MS rollup KB to see if the Lenovo patch helped.

      As before, Win10 has some interest to me, but MS is driving me to resist it (even if the stopped snooping and gave me Win7 level update control), no matter what since they are clearly NOT even remotely ethical or customer-centric.

    • #38984

      Same problem as KB3161608 : it breaks the Intel Bluetooth Driver !!! PLEASE DO SOMETHING FOR US !!! It becomes unbearable !!

    • #38985

      No real slow WU scan problems seen on my dad’s Toshiba based Win8.1 laptop, woody.

      Saw this quote from MS support KB article 3172605:

      “Known issues in this update

      Issue 1

      Symptom
      After you install KB 3133977, the software for Intel Bluetooth devices may not be fully functional because of existing software issues in the Intel Bluetooth driver software. These issues may affect Bluetooth keyboards, mice, audio streaming devices, and voice headsets. You may also not be able to pair new Bluetooth devices. Intel is currently working on an update to address their software incompatibilities.”

      Installing “KB3133977” breaks Intel bluetooth devices?

    • #38986

      Yep, that’s what Microsoft says in its notes for 3172605 – and it blames Intel.

    • #38987

      I stand corrected. Those who had the foresight to install 3161608 last month, and didn’t rip it out because of incompatibilities, are still seeing reasonable Windows Update times.

      This month.

    • #38988

      Sorry, I lost the thread. What should’ve been 3138615?

    • #38989

      Just double-checked, and that’s what MS says in the KB article. Did they get the wrong one?

    • #38990

      I don’t know – good question!

    • #38991

      Microsoft’s mum, but I would say sit tight.

    • #38992

      That was my first take on the matter. Seems to me that 3133977 has little to do with anything other than what it was originally released for. I could be wrong.

      If they are including it in a roll-up, then I might’ve missed that too.

      I will not install this on an Asus laptop until assured that it won’t effect our Win 7 x64 rig. Despite the ASUS dubious claims about it being a desktop only issue.

    • #38993

      Woody;

      re: “Lost the thread”. My post prior to that had a typo. It should have been KB3138615 NOT KB313865.

      “…..KB313865 (per wu.krelay.de/en) was installed March 2016”,

      Sorry, JF

    • #38994

      I am a bit confused. How do you know if you have KB3133977 installed via KB3161608? I have checked the ‘installed updates’ and ‘view update history’ but KB3133977 does not appear in either list. I checked ‘restore hidden updates’ and found a copy that was hidden some time ago.

      I installed KB3161608 right before it was pulled and replaced with KB3172605. I needed to install KB3168965 from wu.krelay.de/en site first in order to get WU to function somewhat normal. Everything seems to be working OK now. The ‘check for updates’ takes less than a minute. Prior to installing these updates, WU never completed and trying to install an updates was a nightmare.

    • #38995

      KB3172605 is the new WU speed-up patch
      simple as that

    • #38996

      @Woody-

      Installed 3161608 6/22/16. No problems on my Win7/64/HP laptop afterward to date.

      Received 3172605 7/22/16. It was hidden on my PC as I do all non-security updates. I had no clue at that time what its purpose was and did not really care.

      So my update scans take less than or just slightly more than 1 minute (how could you beat that). I have been installing all of the KB’s that show up at AskWoody recommended for speeding up the update process.

      So now 3172605 on my pc remains hidden since 3161608 is working good for me.

    • #38997

      Yep. I have a friend who insists he’s having no problems with the “Convenience Roll-up” and that

      The “Windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe” that I downloaded in June from the “32-bit Win7 SP1” link is 550,718 KB. The file that now comes down is an ISO, 1.9 GB: “7601.17514.101119-1850_Update_Sp_Wave1-GRMSP1.1_DVD.iso”.

      Did Microsoft fix the Convenience Roll-up, taking into account the problems you reported?

    • #38998

      Just letting you know that KB3172614 for Windows 8.1 also breaks Intel Bluetooth. My Bluetooth low energy mouse stopped working. Uninstalling KB3172614 solves the issue. I hope Intel prepared updated drivers.

    • #38999

      As to the “updates are available” icon not appearing: I recall it was either KB3065987 (WUC July ’15) or KB3075851 (WUC Aug ’15) were found to be the notification killer.

    • #39000

      Hello Everybody,
      Does anybody have any idea what the actual differences between KB3161608 and
      KB3172605 are? Both clobber Bluetooth anyway, so why did Microsoft bother?
      (Even the “Microsoft Update Catalog” details for KB3172605 reveal nothing.)
      Regards, Bob.

    • #39001

      Excellent question – I have no idea, and Microsoft offers no clue.

    • #39002

      Are you sure? My Windows 8.1 laptop has Intel Wireless-N 7260 adapter and now I’m undecided whether to install KB3172614 or not.

    • #39003

      Thanks, yes you are right, that seems to have worked for some. There was also another one – KB3083324. Unfortunately I uninstalled them all several months ago, but it didn’t work for me. I’ve always had the Win updates icon on my Desktop anyway, so it isn’t a problem to check – more of an irritation that it’s stopped working! I’m just waiting now until 30th July when I fully expect MS to issue a patch that removes all the GWX junk… not holding my breath though!

    • #39004

      The more I read & contemplate this the more I’m wondering about why M$ has associated 3133977 with 3161608 known issues. Especially when 3133977 is for ASUS ONLY mobo’s secure boot & not bluetooth, which is what 3161608 reportedly breaks. Nor is 3133977 part of the roll-up group. Any clarification would be most appreciated.

    • #39005

      Woody: Is the last advice about KB3172605 remaining the same. DO NOT INSTALL?

      I missed this thread, so am just now trying to get caught up on the issue. I have no Blue Tooth.

      Thank you once again.

    • #39006

      I think it’s better to follow the advice at wu.krelay.de – but there’s no need to install it, unless you’re curious to see which patches are waiting.

    • #39007

      So those of us who have KB3161608 installed, and not having any ill effects and fast update searches should not bother with KB3172605 for now?

    • #39008

      Correct. Ain’t broke, don’t fix.

    • #39009

      Woody:

      I think I’ve asked about KB3168965 previously. It is the ONLY update referenced by: http://wu.krelay.de/en/
      that I do not have installed. This is on the first list, and the other updates were already installed before I ever saw this list.

      Is it safe to just install it (or try to) from the list I have now showing on my computer “updates list”. My “list” is NOT the “fast one”, and I am still in the “never-ending search for updates” nightmare.

      I ran the computer long enough to get some of the updates a while back, however I’ve not had anything else show up since these. It’s set at “check for updates but let me choose whether to DL and install them”. I did not try again to “check for updates”, and have just been “on hold”, waiting, per your advice.

      This update, KB3168965, has had no revisions and is a “security” update for Kernal Mode Drivers. It is 2.5 MB.

      This has been such a nightmare I’m just thinking that this “should” complete the “list” wu.krelay.de/en/ references.

      All of the others on that list were already installed before I ever saw it. I’m referring to the “first list” on wu.krelay.de/en/ .

      I apologize if I’ve asked this question previously, however I thought that it could be a “try” since it was the only one that had not already been installed.

      If you advise to “WAIT”, I will do so, as I have with the other one I asked about (KB3172605) on the above post.

      Thank you for your advice on this one, Woody.
      I sincerely appreciate all of your help. 🙂

    • #39010

      I’m running late for dinner! Can somebody else lend a hand?

    • #39011

      There are no problems as such with the Convenience Rollup, only that it changes the baseline code for Windows which can create problems with services like Windows Update which uses a different baseline.
      The supersedence is implemented in the Convenience Rollup as it can be seen in the Catalog, however it tends to be inconsistent in my experience, probably due to the complexity involved and the fact that it is not “mainstream” (not published on Windows Update to be in use by a large base of users).

    • #39012

      Woody: In re: Question posted yesterday.

      There was no way to “reply”, and I see that you were overwhelmed, so I am “re-posting” the question, and your reply.

      If you are too busy with the Win 10 issues, I understand. If you are able to post a reply to my question I appreciate it of course.

      I am more than a little anxious that I may not have the “waiting time” to get the “never-ending updates” problem ironed out. I’m sure that the MS servers are working “over-time”.

      If you do not have time to reply to this question, I will try to wait as long as possible before giving one more try to the “never-ending updates problem”. I see that August 9th is the next “Black Tuesday”.

      Thank you for all of us whom you have helped.

      Here is the message I posted yesterday, and your reply:

      *******Walker says:
      July 29, 2016 at 5:51 pm

      Woody:

      I think I’ve asked about KB3168965 previously. It is the ONLY update referenced by: http://wu.krelay.de/en/
      that I do not have installed. This is on the first list, and the other updates were already installed before I ever saw this list.

      Is it safe to just install it (or try to) from the list I have now showing on my computer “updates list”. My “list” is NOT the “fast one”, and I am still in the “never-ending search for updates” nightmare.

      I ran the computer long enough to get some of the updates a while back, however I’ve not had anything else show up since these. It’s set at “check for updates but let me choose whether to DL and install them”. I did not try again to “check for updates”, and have just been “on hold”, waiting, per your advice.

      This update, KB3168965, has had no revisions and is a “security” update for Kernal Mode Drivers. It is 2.5 MB.

      This has been such a nightmare I’m just thinking that this “should” complete the “list” wu.krelay.de/en/ references.

      All of the others on that list were already installed before I ever saw it. I’m referring to the “first list” on wu.krelay.de/en/ .

      I apologize if I’ve asked this question previously, however I thought that it could be a “try” since it was the only one that had not already been installed.

      If you advise to “WAIT”, I will do so, as I have with the other one I asked about (KB3172605) on the above post.

      Thank you for your advice on this one, Woody.
      I sincerely appreciate all of your help. ?

      *****woody says:
      July 29, 2016 at 8:13 pm

      I’m running late for dinner! Can somebody else lend a hand?

      **********************

    • #39013

      Hi Woody:
      Windows 7 SP1 64 bit. My windows update has been taking about one minute or less to search for updates for the last four weeks now. My updates are working like they did prior to start of 2015 when Microsoft started all their GWX agenda.EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL. Hope this lasts. I have only 10 updates in my hide list.They are:
      KB2952664
      KB3021917
      KB3068708
      KB3080149
      KB3102429
      KB3133977
      KB3137061
      KB3147071
      KB3172605
      KB2882822
      If anyone has any feedback,(should I restore any of them ?), please post a reply.
      Herb K

    • #39014

      @Walker
      Just install EVERYTHING that comes on Windows Update for Windows 7, Recommended, Optional, Important and leave not installed only KB2952664. Even KB2952664 is not so harmful by itself, but let’s keep it away for now until there is more information about it.
      After being fully updated, you will find scans running forever at normal speed, anything above 10 minutes is too much.
      If you don’t get this behaviour, then you have a different issue not related to Windows Update.
      The speedup patches should be useful only for those new installations where the initial scans are an issue which has a technical reason.
      You will then have time for everything else including using your computer.

    • #39015

      See reply above, for simplicity, leave not installed only KB2952664.
      Those overly concerned with privacy issues should talk with a good security consultant to understand better how much they get profiled on the internet in general, regardless of installing or not installing certain Windows patches. And then make a decision to stop connecting to the internet and as Woody says elsewhere, stop using the TV, fridge and so on. Although being on the internet previously, it may be too late anyway.
      A special mention for KB2882822, this is one of the pre-requisites listed for IE11 https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/kb/2847882 and while I know IE it is not a favourite browser among the readers here, it is still part of the OS and should function correctly to avoid unexpected side-effects.

    • #39016

      🙂

    • #39017

      @ch100:

      Yesterday, I was successful in getting the “zoom” speed back once again. Using the regular update process, I installed KB3168965, the update speed was back to “normal”. I was able to get everything taken care of, other than one which was optional, and I earlier posted a question about that on a different thread. I understand about the KB2952664 which has been around “forever”.

      Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this detailed information. Your perspective/advice is appreciated. 🙂

    • #39018

      It seems like Microsoft is deliberately sabotaging Windows 7 to force us to update to Windows 10. I never had an issue with Windows Update until they started pushing 10. Never had a problem with incompatible drivers (audio not working, wifi not working, etc) until then as well. I never had to research updates to make sure they were not slipping something unwanted or broken in. The only other reasons I can think of is that Microsofts programmers are either extremely incompetent or they are so overloaded they are just tossing gravel into a pothole on a paved road. Windows 7 is my last Microsoft os. This is getting exhausting. Sure when I first install the various builds of Linux on any of my systems there are bugs and compatibility issues but after a few (sometimes 20+) hours of troubleshooting and research I have the issues resolved and do not have to worry about updates breaking it because it is tailored to my system. The only reason I still have Windows on any machine in my house is because my wife is not very computer literate.

    • #39019

      Intel has posted new Bluetooth drivers & software that are compatible with the KB3161608 and KB3172605 update rollups for Windows 7 SP1 during Microsoft’s patch Tuesday of August.

      https://communities.intel.com/thread/104851

      “The new Windows 7 Intel Bluetooth driver that fixes the compatibility issue with the Microsoft KB 3161608/3172605 can be downloaded from here

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