Microsoft has urgently released an update for Windows 10 to fix a serious issue causing BitLocker encryption to malfunction. The problem occurs after installing the KB5034441 security update, which was supposed to patch vulnerabilities in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
What Went Wrong?
The update was intended to close a security hole (CVE-2024-20666) that could allow attackers to bypass BitLocker encryption. However, instead of fixing the issue, the update caused WinRE to fail to install properly, leading to BitLocker errors. Users saw messages like:
“0x80070643 – ERROR_INSTALL_FAILURE”
This meant the system couldn’t update the recovery partition, leaving devices potentially vulnerable.
Microsoft’s Fix
The company has now released KB5034957, an emergency update that resolves the installation error. However, users may still need to manually resize their WinRE partition if it’s too small (Microsoft recommends at least 250 MB of free space).
What Should Users Do?
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Install KB5034957 from Windows Update.
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If the update fails, check the WinRE partition size using Disk Management or the reagentc /info command.
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If necessary, expand the partition using diskpart or third-party tools.
Why Is This Important?
BitLocker is a critical security feature that encrypts data on Windows devices. If it fails, sensitive information could be exposed. Microsoft advises all users to apply the update as soon as possible.
For more details, visit Microsoft’s official support page.
Key Points:
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Issue: KB5034441 broke BitLocker by failing to update WinRE.
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Fix: Emergency update KB5034957 released.
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Workaround: Users may need to manually adjust partition sizes.
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Risk: Unpatched systems could face encryption bypass attacks.
Let me know if you’d like any refinements!
Alex Xela