A Windows update is Destroying SSDs!
If your laptop or computer has suddenly started misbehaving after recent Windows updates, you’re not alone. A batch of August/September Windows updates has sparked issues ranging from failed “Reset this PC” recoveries to storage/SSD weirdness on some machines. Microsoft has acknowledged problems with recovery tools on certain Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions, and there are widespread reports of storage glitches under heavy load. Here's what to do!
What’s happening (in plain English
Users are reporting crashing computers and drives falling over. When inspected, techs are seeing huge "writes" to the drive - much more than expected. This is due to a previous update that did something wrong with the drives.
Should Canterbury users worry?
Don’t panic—most laptops and desktops are fine—but if you were about to factory reset, reimage, or copy huge amounts of data, press pause and read the steps below first. (We’re seeing a bump in local support calls in Christchurch tied to these symptoms.)
What to do (before you fix)
- Back up now — Use File History, OneDrive, or a USB drive. Prioritise your Desktop, Documents, Photos, and business folders.
- Avoid “Reset this PC” for the moment — Use standard troubleshooting instead (DISM/SFC, system restore, driver rollbacks). If you must reset, talk to a tech first.
- Hold off on giant file moves (50 GB+) until you’re patched—this is when some users report storage trouble.
- Install the emergency fix (if offered) — Windows Update may show a patch; apply it, then reboot.
- Update storage drivers/firmware — Especially NVMe/SSD firmware and chipset/storage controller drivers from your laptop/PC maker.
Quick triage you can try if it's already toast – if you are technically minded!
- Check your updates – do them all!
- BSODs or missing drive letters? Power down fully, reseat external drives, then check Device Manager → Disk drives for warnings.
- Windows acting sluggish after the update? Check Task Manager → Startup, disable non-essentials, then run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.
- Recovery needed but reset is failing? Create a Windows installation USB and perform a repair install (keeps files/apps) or a clean install after verified backups—this sidesteps the broken in-place reset.
When to call us
If you’re mid-project and can’t risk downtime—or the machine is your business lifeline—bring it in. We’ll diagnose, repair, and fix safely, with verified backups and the right patches. We handle laptops and computers across Christchurch and Canterbury, and can clone drives, recover data, or rebuild Windows without nasty surprises.
Bottom line: a recent Windows update cycle has created a perfect storm where the usual “quick reset” isn’t so quick—and heavy file transfers can be risky for a subset of systems. Back up, apply the patch when it appears, and if in doubt, tap a pro. We’re here to repair and fix—fast—so you can get back to work.
Friendly Advice in Plain English.
0800 FIX NOW
Links