Microsoft launched a new Windows 10 update on August 30 but users soon spotted a major bug causing Cortana to chew up a huge chunk of their CPU’s power. Microsoft has acknowledge the error and is working to remedy it. Here’s what you need to know.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/09/bug-alert-remove-this-bug-throttling-millions-of-windows-pcs/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2019/07/Windows-10-cracks-410×231.jpg” title=”ALERT: Remove This Windows 10 Bug Throttling Your PC” excerpt=”Another day, another Windows 10 bug stifling your life. Users have spotted a bug causing Cortana to take up a good chunk of your CPU and it’s chewing up battery life and choking performance. Here’s what you can do to fix it.”]
The update, KB4512941 (OS Build 18362.329), was released in order to fix up a few bugs like the known issues with Windows Sandbox. Instead, it ramped up Cortana’s usage of a device’s CPU due to a bug with the SearchUI.exe file in the Windows Registry.
Some Reddit users allegedly reported Cortana was using around 40 per cent of their PC’s CPU, according to screenshots provided of their Windows Task Manager.
Microsoft’s Windows team has since acknowledged the issue in a tweet from its Windows Update Twitter account. In the same tweet, the company said it is working on providing a fix in an upcoming update.
“We are currently investigating an issue where users are reporting high CPU usage linked to SeachUI.EXE after installing the optional update on August 30 (KB4512941),” explains the tweet. “We will provide an update in an upcoming release.” You can see the original below:
We are currently investigating an issue where users are reporting high CPU usage linked to SeachUI.EXE after installing the optional update on August 30 (KB4512941). We will provide an update in an upcoming release.
— Windows Update (@WindowsUpdate) September 3, 2019
Interestingly, the support page for the OS Build 18362.329 has not yet been updated. (“Microsoft is not currently aware of any issues with this update,” the page claims. Mmkay.)
In the meantime, the safest option is to remove the update until the bug is properly fixed by Microsoft.
How to uninstall Windows 10 updates
To remove the troublesome Windows 10 update, open up Settings (WIN + I), select Update & Security, hit View update history, hit Uninstall updates and select KB4512941 to get rid of it.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/08/the-best-ways-to-get-windows-10-for-free/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/efnabhtzdh2emhp25gzz.png” title=”The Best Ways To Get Windows 10 For Free” excerpt=”Even Zune-clutching Windows loyalists have to admit that Mac owners have it pretty great—at least, they do now. Apple hasn’t charged for macOS, nor macOS updates, for years. Of course, you need to buy your computer from Apple to use macOS (pretty much), but at least the operating system is free. Windows … not so much. While your new desktop or laptop computer is almost guaranteed to come with a copy of Windows 10, the price for the OS is probably factored into whatever you paid for your system. Build your own PC, and you’ll have to pay for a copy of Windows 10 yourself.”]
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