- Windows 11 Patch creates problems with File Explorer for some
- This means that some – or most – folders on the desk do not open
- There are also reports of installation errors and PCs not starting
Microsoft’s latest update to Windows 11 has thrown some more wrenches into the works for those who have upgraded to the latest 24h2 spin at Desktop OS.
The cumulative update in February to 24H2 users (known as Patch KB5051987) did some admirable work on the faulty front, but unfortunately it seems to have introduced some fresh problems to this incarnation of Windows 11.
And two of these questions are very worrying, the first of which is a mistake that apparently plays chaos with File Explorer, as reported by Windows latest and other Windows 11 users across different online forums.
File Explorer is the app where your desktop folders appear so you can see and interact with the files inside. However, due to this error, you do not actually see files as some folders refuse to open.
Windows latest notes that the commonly used documents and images folders are non-functional after installing the February update to Windows 11 24h2. File Explorer is also not working when you can access via Windows 11’s search function, or a desktop shortcut.
Other users report various problems opening certain folders or actually most folders – although some of them still seem to work.
It is a strange sounding bug, in short, it has unpredictable effects. But if you have installed KB5051987 and encounter wonders with regard to folders that just don’t work or appear at all – even if File Explorer is running fine, as usually within Windows 11 – yes, that’s why.
On top of Flakiness with File Explorer, the update of February is also not to install for some Windows 11 users (although nothing new -this is a common problem with a lot of Windows updates these days). For some, the download and installation process is stuck in a certain percentage, and for others it can eventually finish, but it takes hours.
Worries report some people that KB5051987 causes crashes (blue screens) after it is installed or that it has even torpedoed their Windows 11 installation completely – yikes.
Windows latest also points to potential problems with web cameras that are not working, and the mouse cursor moving sluggish and stambling (as well as performance errors in general).
Analysis: File This Under ‘Worrying’
Just when I expressed hope that Microsoft may finally come on top of all problems with Windows 11 – which has been many ever since the upgrade went live last year – we have apparently got a creep File Explorer in some way.
File Explorer is a critical part of Windows interface – as mentioned, these are the folders that you are navigating to access all files on your PC – so to see it partially (or almost completely in some cases) Hamstrung is very disappointing.
This is a fairly broadly reported problem and as Windows latest notes it has over 30 reports sent in by readers (possibly more now). There is also plenty of grimling (understandably) about this on Reddit and other forums.
One of your first thoughts was definitely one of my-was that a third-party adaptation tool might be blamed, but Windows recent tried a whole vanilla installation of Windows 11, and this was also affected. There does not seem to be any common between those suffering in the hands of this strange bug, not yet anyway – and there are no proposed solutions for now. (Save to the obvious course of action – uninstall the February update).
That said, in one of the Reddit complaints I reviewed, I noticed that someone offered the idea of disabling Windows Sandbox, and this was reportedly working for two people. So it may be worth shooting, but remember that Sandbox is not available on Windows 11 at home. So only those with the pro edition can consider this possible solution, and most of course most people run home flavor on us.
On top of the File Explorer problem, the installation errors reports are very much about, especially those who seem to be completely broke Windows 11. These reports seem much rarer, fortunately, but still – caution may be the better part of Valor here and you may want to postpone the installation of the February update as long as you can. (Which, I need to notice, for Windows 11 Home Users are not that long). In this case, of course, you will run without the security fixes provided by the patch, which is also not ideal.
With good luck, Microsoft examines these problems and hopefully intervenes before rather than later.
