Microsoft stops serving Windows patch blamed for blue screens

Microsoft late Thursday said it had halted distribution of a security update linked to crippled Windows XP PCs that display the notorious Blue Screen of Death.

According to users who posted complaints to Microsoft's support forum, after installing the update, one of 13 released Tuesday, their machines refuse to start up. Instead, their systems shudder to a stop at the blue screen which in Windows indicates a serious software error and crash.

"We stopped offering this update through Windows Update as soon as we discovered the restart issues," said Jerry Bryant, a senior manager with the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC).

Bryant also said that Microsoft was digging into the problem. "Our initial analysis suggests that the issue occurs after installing MS10-015 (KB977165)," he said. "However, we have not confirmed that the issue is specific to MS10-015 or if it is an interoperability problem with another component or third-party software."

:story: Full story: Computerworld