Bugs Killed
Problems I have seen killed on Windows and Mac, with the steps that killed them.
Each page says where it comes from: a repair I made, a repair by someone from XL.net, or published sources you can open. The steps are one quick check away.
Windows
My games crash with EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION since the August Windows update
After the Windows update released August 11, 2026, some PCs cannot run certain games. The game freezes or closes, an EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error appears, or the PC restarts on its own. Microsoft traced it to old kernel drivers named like inpoutx64 that ship with RGB lighting software, and shipped a block that disables the driver.
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
Researched from 4 sources you can open.
Windows
Windows Update fails at 35 percent with error 0x800f0922 and undoes the changes
A Windows 11 update gets most of the way through, then rolls back at about 35 percent with 'Something didn't go as planned. Undoing changes' and error 0x800f0922. Microsoft traced one widespread case to a nearly full EFI System Partition, and published both an automatic mitigation and a registry command that lets the update through.
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
Researched from 4 sources you can open.
Windows
Teams and the new Outlook will not open on my Surface after the August update
On Arm based Windows PCs such as Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7, Microsoft Teams and the new Outlook for Windows fail to launch or close on their own after the Windows security update released August 11, 2026. Classic Outlook, Word, and Excel keep working. Microsoft resolved the issue in the September 8, 2026 updates and published a workaround for PCs that are not there yet.
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
- Windows 11, version 26H1
Researched from 5 sources you can open.
Windows
My USB speakers and headset went silent after the September Windows update
After the September 8, 2026 Windows security update, some USB audio devices stop working. Device Manager reports 'This device cannot start (Code 10)', there is no sound at any volume, and the Sound settings page can stop responding. Microsoft has confirmed the problem and says a fix is still being worked on.
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
- Windows 11, version 26H1
Researched from 5 sources you can open.
Mac
macOS 27 Golden Gate never appears in Software Update on my Mac
Software Update says your Mac is up to date even though macOS 27 Golden Gate has reached the September 14, 2026 launch date Apple announced. On most Macs that means the model is not on Apple's compatibility list. macOS 27 runs only on Macs with Apple silicon, so every Intel Mac stops at macOS Tahoe 26, which still gets security updates.
- macOS Tahoe 26
- macOS Sequoia 15
- macOS 27 Golden Gate
Researched from 7 sources you can open.
Windows
My desktop wallpaper turned black after the August Windows update
After the optional preview update KB5120998, released August 27, 2026, some Windows 11 PCs show a solid black desktop background. Slideshow settings and contrast themes can be lost too, and setting the wallpaper again by hand does not stick. Microsoft confirmed the issue and fixed it in the September 8, 2026 updates.
- Windows 11, version 24H2
- Windows 11, version 25H2
Researched from 6 sources you can open.
Mac
My Mac says an error occurred while installing the macOS update
A macOS update or upgrade stops part way and shows an error while downloading, preparing, or installing, or says the software is damaged, could not be verified, or failed to personalize. Apple lists the checks that clear most of these, starting with free space and a stable connection.
- macOS Tahoe 26
- macOS Sequoia 15
Researched from 5 sources you can open.
Mac
An app I downloaded will not open because Apple cannot check it for malicious software
You double-click an app you downloaded and macOS refuses, saying it cannot check the app for malicious software, or that the developer cannot be verified. This is Gatekeeper doing its job. Apple documents a supported way to open an app you trust, and a very different answer for an app macOS says will damage your computer.
- macOS Catalina and later
Researched from 2 sources you can open.
Windows
Fake virus pop-ups in Microsoft Edge caused by browser cookies
The computer was showing scam-like virus pop-ups in Microsoft Edge. The technician removed the site cookies in Edge and rebooted the machine to confirm the pop-ups did not return.
- Windows
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-09-11.
Windows
Claude desktop stopped working after security update KB 5124008
Claude's desktop app was reported as unable to function after a known issue update. The security update KB 5124008 was uninstalled to roll the machine back until a fix is available.
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-09-11.