Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update is reportedly a borkfest that breaks mouse, keyboard, WSL 2 and Wi-Fi functionality

Modern blue screen of death (BSOD) error.

(Image credit: Theerakit via Getty Images)

Be afraid of the Windows 11 KB5043145 optional update. Very afraid. For reports are in, claiming that it unleashes a borknado of problems if installed.

According to various sources, including HKEPC and Windows Latest, update KB5043145 for Windows 11 versions 23H2, and 22H2 is causing problems including outright bluescreen crashes, loss of keyboard and mouse functionality, USB ports on the blink, plus WSL 2 and Wi-Fi issues.

For others, getting into Recovery Mode has proved trickier with the loss of keyboard functionality. "Luckily, I discovered that disconnecting the power supply and then entering and exiting the BIOS first gave me the opportunity to press F8 and then I was able to access the recovery screen,” one user told Windows Latest.

Anyway, the reports certainly touch on a pretty varied array of hardware, so this doesn't seem like a glitch caused by an issue with a very specific component. Oddly, it seems the problems extend to visual weirdnesses including right-click context menus reverting to a Windows 10 style. “My context menu reverted to Windows 10 style, and I hate it," one user said.

All of which does rather suggest that update KB5043145 is a bit of a mess and very much best avoided, for now. If you're already installed the update, it seems like rolling back would be the prudent move until it becomes clear that the update has been refined. Windows Latest has a step-by-step guide for that, incidentally, at the bottom of their news post.

Jeremy has been writing about technology and PCs since the 90nm Netburst era (Google it!) and enjoys nothing more than a serious dissertation on the finer points of monitor input lag and overshoot followed by a forensic examination of advanced lithography. Or maybe he just likes machines that go “ping!” He also has a thing for tennis and cars.