Methods for Shielding Your Computer from Unreliable Windows 11 Updates: Restore Points, Quick System Recovery, and Comprehensive Backups
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, keeping your Windows 11 system up-to-date is crucial. Here's a guide to help you manage updates effectively, ensuring your computer remains secure and stable.
Microsoft releases monthly System updates for Windows 11 to patch security vulnerabilities, improve system performance, and deliver new features. One such update, KB5063878, was released in August 2025. However, it caused storage issues on Windows 11 version 24H2, with users reporting that writing a large amount of data would cause Solid State Drives (SSD) or Hard Disk Drives (HDD) to disappear. If you encounter any problems, it's advisable to postpone the update for at least two weeks or until you can verify that the release is safe for your computer.
To temporarily disable automatic updates on Windows 11, you can use the "Pause for 1 week" option within the "Windows Update" settings. For a more permanent solution, navigate to "Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update > Manage end user experience" and check the "Disabled" option.
Before installing any cumulative update, it's recommended to create a full backup. You can create a full backup using the legacy System Image backup tool available on Windows 11 to an external storage. Additionally, creating a restore point manually before installing a cumulative update can provide a way to undo changes if anything happens.
The "Backup and Restore" feature on Windows 11 allows setting up daily automatic backups of the operating system and your files. This feature can be invaluable if you need to recover from a previous backup. If you're unsure how to do this, refer to the guide on backing up and restoring Windows 11.
Quick Machine Recovery (QMR) is a feature that restores your computer from a critical boot failure quickly. It has been available since the August 2025 Security Update on version 24H2 and higher releases, and while it comes enabled by default on Windows 11 Home, you have to enable it manually in the "Pro" edition.
System Restore is another useful tool. It creates snapshots of your computer's working state and saves them as "restore points." This feature can be used to undo system changes, including removing a recent update, without affecting your files.
In some cases, you might need to uninstall an update. This can be done from the Windows Recovery Environment by following specific steps. However, it's important to note that Phison, a storage controller manufacturer, was unable to reproduce the SSD failure issue reported in the August 2025 update for version 24H2 after more than 4,500 cumulative hours of testing.
Lastly, it's essential to stay informed about known issues and update blocks. Checking the "Windows release health dashboard" can help you identify these issues. Microsoft is currently collecting customer feedback to determine if there's a real fault in the operating system.
In conclusion, managing Windows 11 updates requires a proactive approach. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your system remains secure, stable, and functional. Always remember, it's better to be safe than sorry.
