[Skip to comment(s)]
from the business-as-usual dept.
Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:
Microsoft's build 18362.356 (KB4515384) for its Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) rolled out on Tuesday with security improvements for Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, networking tech and input devices – and a CPU usage fix that, for some, has broken desktop search.
The security tweaks address a variety of speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities known as microarchitecture data sampling (MDS) for 32-bit x86 versions of Windows. Intel dealt with the CVEs at issue – CVE-2019-11091, CVE-2018-12126, CVE-2018-12127, CVE-2018-12130 – in May.
The update, released concurrently with Build 17763.737 for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update (v1809), also includes security enhancements for assorted Windows components.
Microsoft says its update fixes a high CPU usage problem associated with SearchUI.exe reported by a small number of users who disabled searching the web via Windows Desktop Search.
But its fix has nixed SearchUI.exe for some. Those griping claim SearchUI.exe, a part of Cortana, won't launch after installing KB4515384.
"What a mess – I had the original issue with SearchUI.exe and it sending my CPU to unparalleled heights and showing a big black pane of nothing," wrote Reddit user cyrenaic101 in a complaint thread. "So I uninstalled that turd. And then here comes the 'fix' KB4515384. Search completely broken..."
-- submitted from IRC
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:20PM (5 children)
Can't they get ANYTHING right????
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:26PM (2 children)
Sure... They're sending more people to use Linux, that's a step in the right direction.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:58PM
You should say correctly Microsoft Linux/GNU, and never forget to mention its kernel development repository is hosted on Microsoft GitHub.
(Score: 2) by DeVilla on Thursday September 19 2019, @10:10PM
Fortunately for Microsoft, the first things those users will probably see is Gnome3 which will have them them crawling back to Windows in despair.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:30PM
Why change now? Didn't stop them getting hella rich.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:02PM
If you've been watching the Windows train wrecks over the last several years, you're fully aware that the answer is a resounding "no".
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:25PM (4 children)
FWIW, I turned off the KDE active search engine because it took too much CPU time. So MS isn't the only one to have this problem. (But does MS allow the users to turn it off?)
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:21PM (1 child)
I have never found pre-indexed desktop search worth the effort... anything I need to find, I can wait for a real-time search to look for. Maybe because I only resort to broadscale search once or twice a year - most of the time the search can be focused in one or two folders.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Saturday September 14 2019, @10:21PM
Yes, same here. When I still used Windows, I used Black Viper's guides to get the most out of Windows and limited resources. http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-10-service-configurations/ [blackviper.com] Over time, indexing was a greater or a lesser resource hog, but it never seemed worthwhile to me. In conjunction with an antivirus, indexing could bring a system to it's knees.
There is a supply side shortage of pronouns. You will take whatever you are offered.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Gaaark on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:23PM (1 child)
I haven't used KDE in YEARS, but didn't the search usually create a database during off-times (like the middle of the night)? Or during slower times? I thought you had 'preferences' you could set for that.....
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:55PM
That's what the docs said, but that wasn't my experience. Perhaps if I'd been patient enough to allow it to finish building it's first version...
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 1) by yuhong on Saturday September 14 2019, @08:37PM
In the meantime, MS still has not responded to my Upgrade Readiness story even though it was posted right here.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Thexalon on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:08PM (9 children)
If you're forced to use Windows for some reason, don't leave Cortana on, unless you like everything you're doing sent to Microsoft for tracking and advertising purposes.
Alcohol makes the world go round ... and round and round.
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:23PM (2 children)
Cortana, one of the many things I reflexively disable on every Windows 10 install I ever do.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії.
(Score: 2) by Chocolate on Sunday September 15 2019, @11:10PM (1 child)
Have you considered not installing Windows?
Perhaps a 10 step program.could help.
Bit-choco-coin anyone?
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday September 16 2019, @12:55AM
Considered, advocated, ranted, but... there are (limited) instances where it is basically unavoidable.
All in all, I find it easier to have at least one of each major OS running somewhere handy.
Україна досі не є частиною Росії.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Gaaark on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:27PM (4 children)
Siri and Alexa roll off the tongue...why did they come up with something like Cortana?
Even Mycroft (or my wake word for it, Kaylee (from Firefly)) is better.
MS seems to purposefully screw up everything.....
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by julian on Sunday September 15 2019, @01:26AM (3 children)
It's from the Halo [wikipedia.org] video game franchise. Cortana was the AI construct and sidekick to the main character.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday September 15 2019, @01:32AM (2 children)
Ah! Thanks. Never played it.
Still a dumb name. Halo would have been better!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Sunday September 15 2019, @02:18AM (1 child)
I'm not so sure about that. Halo was the name of the ancient weapon that could, and once did, wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy.. Then again given that this is Microsoft we are talking about you might be right.
Obviously the main gist of the game is your trying to stop the bad guys from setting it off again, with Cortana providing timely information (and occasional snarky comment) about how to save everyone :)
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Monday September 16 2019, @12:15AM
"Halo was the name of the ancient weapon that could, and once did, wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy.."
And here I thought that was Microsoft itself!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 15 2019, @12:15AM
It's windows dude. It doesn't matter what you turn off, they turn it back on during the next auto update.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snotnose on Saturday September 14 2019, @09:42PM (4 children)
Seriously. You fix a low level CPU issue in the guts of your OS that I assume is assembly code, and break what is presumed to be a bunch of C++ code. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
I fondly remember the day I made sandcastles with my grandmother. Just wish I hadn't done it in the crematorium.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 14 2019, @10:07PM (2 children)
Simple explanation: their telemetry code entangles everything. Spooky action at a distance.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday September 14 2019, @10:26PM
That is scary as fuck to even contemplate. Let alone realizing you're probably correct.
I fondly remember the day I made sandcastles with my grandmother. Just wish I hadn't done it in the crematorium.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Sunday September 15 2019, @12:24AM
and it's full of Dark Matter...or what i call 'shit'.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by NateMich on Saturday September 14 2019, @11:19PM
Why would the search function be kernel code? It's probably all C++.
In this case, a high CPU usage fix for SearchUI.exe seems to have broken SearchUI.exe.
That's seems pretty reasonable for a bug, honestly.
(Score: 2) by Coward, Anonymous on Sunday September 15 2019, @03:37AM (1 child)
Whenever I type something into the Windows 10 File Explorer search box, it takes forever. Probably, a network drive is disconnected, and the dumb thing keeps spinning its wheels.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 15 2019, @11:13PM
Sending it to one of the unblockable addresses Microsoft uses for tracking^Wanalyticsi
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 15 2019, @04:29PM
methinks NSA will not let go of hording zero-days.
however, they need the economy to work "somewhat" so they can get tax monies to pay their "work".
so combining the two requirements, it seems windblows is "most stable" if you lag the updates about 6 months.
the m$ can say they're "fixing" windows; the NSA gets borked but up-to-date windblows system that are zer0day for six months and the economy is in a critical state, like a nuclear reactor.
so, the least trouble is to store your latest windblows update in the cellar for a ripe old age of six months and then apply it. this way you won't show up on the NSA radar for complaining about the latest (today) updated backdoor.
applying updates as soon as available "might" make you more secure but it will harass you in other ways, it seems.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 15 2019, @11:17PM (1 child)
Confirmed: dir *manager*report*.pptx /s working as expected #thumbsup #cmdisthenewcmd
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @05:11AM
Is that a program? Can't find it with apt search
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @05:13AM
Looks like a fix to me.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 16 2019, @06:49PM
Is this bug called windows 10? I bought a low end laptop with windows 10 preinstalled. Cortana and windows update took turns tag teaming it and it was completely unusable. I spent some time turning things off and I don't remember the details. I recognized the search was the problem and switched it off various places but things were turning themselves back on and all kinds of crap. All I remember was that the laptop was only usable for a few hours after reinstalling windows before you were fucked.
I tried reinstalling linux and it was zippy as fuck until I tried to boot it off the hard drive and then it was a brick thanks to secure boot.