Windows Update problem with KB5101650 and KB5120249

Steve E 5

Both these recent Windows Updates are not working properly for me. They install without problem, but after approx 6 minutes, the whole system freezes, inc mouse, keyboard etc. Only option is to shut down at the power. On restart it does the same thing again - freezes after 6 minutes.

Only option is to Pause updates, uninstall the relevant update, reboot and then everything's ok again.

I am running Windows 10 Home. KB5101650 was installed on 18 July 2026 and today I tried to run windows update again and it pulled down KB5120249 instead - both causing the same problem above.

No recent hardware changes in the last 12 months, so any help would be appreciated. Guessing others have encountered similar problems?

Thanks.

Patrick Magnan 0 Reputation points

2026-08-17T23:50:30.1666667+00:00

sameting for me exact same !! after install this update restart and the pc freeze after 4-6 minutes all time
Lucas Hainzenreder Longhi 0 Reputation points

2026-08-27T20:13:40.3433333+00:00

I can confirm a very similar issue with KB5120249.

My PC is a Dell Inspiron 3647 with an Intel Core i5-4460S and Intel HD Graphics 4600.

The system was freezing completely: the screen remained frozen, mouse and keyboard stopped responding (including Caps Lock), and remote access was also lost. The only way to recover was a forced shutdown.

I performed a clean installation of Windows 10 and did not install any updates. The computer then remained stable for over 24 hours.

After installing the Windows updates, the freezing returned. I checked the update installation history and identified KB5120249 as the main suspect.

After uninstalling KB5120249, the computer has remained stable again so far.

This strongly suggests that KB5120249 may be causing compatibility or stability issues on some older hardware.
Gerald Kr 0 Reputation points

2026-09-05T20:13:15.1666667+00:00

Same to me!!!
I learned that the KB5120249 was from 11th of August 2026. And till today, the 5th of September 2026 there is still no correction available from Microsoft? Since when is it well known that this update makes problems? Why was the update not removed from rollout from then on?
I tried to uninstall the update, but ran during this action again into the 5 minutes freeze problem. So I don't know the status of my PC. Is the update still installed, is it uninstalled, is it partly in- or uninstalled?
Together with the AI it lasted some hours (!!!!!) and it is still not solved. Thank you Microsoft!

11 answers

Steve E 5 Reputation points

2026-09-30T19:09:04.25+00:00

Hello again,

As previously mentioned I took the plunge and turned on Windows Update again yesterday and it installed KB5126256 and once again PC froze after exactly 5 mins. I managed to uninstall and all was fine again.

I did read elsewhere about a task called Secure Boot Update causing this problem. It's in Task Scheduler here: Microsoft\Windows\PI\Secure-Boot-Update. I disabled this, re-installed the update and everything went smoothly - no freezes/crashes. Rebooted PC just to be sure and all is still good as I type this.

So, it looks like this is the culprit and suspect my BIOS is too old to update, which has been suggested the ultimate problem. PC is over 10 years old, so will have to live with this for now.

Just to add though, I force installed Windows 11 on the same PC as a dual boot and that also crashed after 5 mins with the latest update - again disabling Secure Boot it was fine. So this is not just a Win 10 thing. That does point to my PC and the very old BIOS which I'm pretty sure I can't update.

Anyway, that's the latest, so at least there is a temp workaround and good to know what is actually causing it.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
Lester Bernard Reyes 85,915 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-31T05:03:24.0166667+00:00

You are always welcome, and I hope it will be all good.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
Lester Bernard Reyes 85,915 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-30T05:10:05.5233333+00:00

Hi, thank you for that information. What I can highly suggest is to post the issue on the Feedback Hub so that developers will also be aware of this problem, and hopefully the fix will be applied as soon as possible.

To send Feedback: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/send-feedback-to-microsoft-with-the-feedback-hub-app-f59187f8-8739-22d6-ba93-f66612949332
Was this answer helpful?
Steve E 5 Reputation points

2026-08-30T10:59:33.5933333+00:00

Thanks Bernard, I'll do that now.
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
Lester Bernard Reyes 85,915 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-24T16:29:48.85+00:00

Hi, thank you for replying. Since the issue persists, I suggest contacting a local technician to physically check the device for any hardware-related issues.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.
Lester Bernard Reyes 85,915 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-18T01:11:55.0433333+00:00

Sure, thanks, and I hope it will be all good.
Was this answer helpful?
Steve E 5 Reputation points

2026-08-23T17:07:36.33+00:00

Hi again. Tried this today but it didn't resolve the problem. The in-place upgrade worked, but it pulled down the offending update - KB5120249 as the final update download. PC then froze after approx 5 mins. Something must happen 5 mins after the Windows Desktop appears. I don't have a TPM installed, as PC is too old for that, although Win 10 shouldn't need that anyway. BIOS is set to secure boot and I can't think of any other reason why it crashes.

There's only just enough time to uninstall the update before it crashes too.

Is there a way to download updates manually, so this one can be ignored?
Sign in to comment

Use comments to ask for clarification, additional information, or improvements to the question.

Windows Update problem with KB5101650 and KB5120249

11 answers

Your answer