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How to Fix System Acting Weird After Major Windows Update
Windows ProblemsIntermediate20-60 minutes

How to Fix System Acting Weird After Major Windows Update

Difficulty
Intermediate
Time
20-60 minutes
Category
Windows Problems

Computer behaving strangely after a major Windows update like 22H2 or 23H2? Here's how to troubleshoot and fix post-update problems.

💡What's Happening

You recently installed a major Windows update (like version 22H2, 23H2, or a feature update), and now your computer is acting strange. Maybe apps are crashing, settings have changed, performance is slower, things look different, or features aren't working correctly. Major Windows updates can sometimes introduce bugs or incompatibilities that weren't present in your previous version.

These issues are frustrating but usually fixable. Let's walk through the most effective solutions.

✓Quick Checks

Before diving into fixes, try these quick things:

  • Restart your computer - Many post-update glitches resolve after a simple reboot
  • Check for additional updates - Microsoft often releases quick patches to fix issues introduced by major updates
  • Note specific symptoms - Write down exactly what's wrong (crashes, error messages, specific features not working). This helps diagnose the issue.
  • Test in a new user account - Create a new Windows user account and see if the problem persists. If it doesn't, the issue is with your user profile, not Windows itself.

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Install Latest Cumulative Updates

Major updates often have bugs that Microsoft fixes within days or weeks with smaller cumulative updates.

  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I
  2. Go to Windows Update
  3. Click Check for updates
  4. Install any available updates, especially ones marked as "Cumulative" or "Quality"
  5. Restart your computer
  6. Check if the weird behavior is resolved

Fix 2: Update Drivers (Especially Graphics)

Major Windows updates sometimes install generic drivers that don't work well with your hardware, or old drivers become incompatible.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager
  2. Look for any devices with yellow warning icons
  3. Right-click each flagged device and select Update driver
  4. For graphics cards specifically:
    • Visit NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel directly
    • Download the latest driver for your exact GPU model
    • Install it and restart

Fix 3: Reset Specific Apps or Features

If certain apps are misbehaving, reset them without affecting the entire system.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps
  2. Find the problematic app
  3. Click the three dots (...) next to it
  4. Select Advanced options
  5. Scroll down and click Repair first (this fixes the app without losing data)
  6. If that doesn't work, click Reset (this will clear app data)

For built-in Windows features like File Explorer or Start Menu acting weird, use PowerShell:

  1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin)
  2. For File Explorer issues, type: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
  3. Press Enter and wait for it to complete

Fix 4: Roll Back to the Previous Windows Version

If the problems are severe and nothing else works, you can uninstall the major update and return to your previous Windows version—but only within 10 days of installing the update.

  1. Open Settings > System > Recovery
  2. Under "Recovery options," find Go back (you'll only see this option if the update was recent)
  3. Click Go back
  4. Select a reason when prompted
  5. Follow the wizard to complete the rollback
  6. This process takes 30-60 minutes and preserves your files

Important: After 10 days, Windows deletes the old version files and you can't roll back anymore.

⚠️If Nothing Worked

If issues persist after trying the above fixes:

  • Check known issues - Search "Windows [version number] known issues" to see if your problem is widespread and if Microsoft has acknowledged it. Sometimes you need to wait for an official fix.
  • Disable problematic features - Some new features in major updates cause issues. Try disabling things like Widgets, Copilot, or new taskbar features in Settings.
  • Perform a repair install - Download Windows installation media and run setup while already in Windows. Choose "Keep personal files and apps" to repair Windows without losing data.
  • Check Event Viewer - Open Event Viewer (search for it in Start), go to Windows Logs > Application or System, and look for red error entries that might explain the weird behavior.

📞When to Call a Pro

Seek professional assistance if:

  • You're experiencing data loss or file corruption after the update
  • The computer is significantly slower and basic troubleshooting hasn't helped
  • You're getting frequent Blue Screen errors
  • Critical business software stopped working and you can't roll back
  • You need to preserve a specific system configuration for work

A technician can perform advanced diagnostics, test hardware compatibility, safely roll back or repair Windows, and ensure your important data and applications are protected.

Need Professional Help?

If you're in the Tampa Bay area and need hands-on assistance, Geeks in Sneaks provides friendly, on-site tech support in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, and Dunedin.

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Related Topics

updatesbugsrollbacktroubleshooting

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