Microsoft has paused the distribution of the Windows 10 KB5001649 cumulative update, probably due to reported installation issues and crashes. Microsoft is now offering the previously released emergency update KB5001567.
The March 2021 updates were a complete mess during printing, with update after update causing new problems.
After the release of the March 2021 cumulative updates for Windows 10 KB5000802 and KB5000808, users began to experience “APC_INDEX_MISMATCH for win32kfull.sys” BSOD crashed during printing. Other users had different problems, such as blank pages, black bars in the prints and background graphics that were not printed.
To correct these problems, Microsoft released the KB5001567 out-of-band emergency update on March 15. Although this update fixed the bug that caused Windows 10 to crash during printing, it did not resolve the other issues users faced.
“The updates caused text and graphics to be missing during print jobs on local Zebra industrial label printers (usb) – multiple models. After the KB was uninstalled, all printing was normalized. Watch out for KB5000802, KB5000808, KB5000809 and KB5000822 depending on the version of Windows 10, “a user reported in one of our articles about these printing problems.
To correct the remaining problems, Microsoft released a second emergency OOB update on March 18, known as KB5001649. This update should correct formatting problems, missing graphics, blank pages, or black bars on printed pages.
Microsoft released this update through Windows Update as an optional update and replaced the KB5001567 update previously offered, as shown below.
Microsoft pauses the release of the KB5001649 print fix
As of today, Microsoft appears to have paused the release of KB5001649, as it is no longer available on any of our devices to which the update was previously offered.
Instead, when checking for Windows Update, the same devices now receive the update KB5001567 released earlier this week. Since KB5001649 has replaced KB5001567, the only explanation is that KB5001649 is no longer offered through Windows Update.
Windows Latest and BornCity also confirmed this break from the KB5001649 update.
Microsoft has not provided any official reasons for the pause and support bulletin KB5001649 has not been updated with any information. In addition, the update is still available through the Microsoft Update Catalog, but no longer through Windows Update.
The launch was probably paused due to too many reports [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] of users receiving a “This update could not be installed, but you can try again (0x80070541)” error when trying to install the update.
Another possible reason is that people are still crashing when printing with this update installed.
“This did not work for the instance I had today. I ran KB5001649, but when I tried to print (Kyocera TaskAlfa), the system crashed. I’m going back to disabling updates for now by manually removing it,” reported a reader in one of our articles.
Unless you are experiencing printing problems, it may be wiser to postpone these optional non-security updates until Microsoft can provide more information.
BleepingComputer has contacted Microsoft to find out why distribution of the update has been paused, but has not yet received a response.