Microsoft has taken a decision to withdraw the patch KB2920732, released this month, after the company received complaints from many users that could not open PowerPoint. The patch was created to help the users; しかしながら, it could not live up to its promise of stability.
Windows Central pointed out that once the patch was installed, a big problem arose as PowerPoint 2013 could no longer open on devices that are running on Windows RT, even if Word and Excel are still operating.
Different screenshots of error messages were uploaded that reveal the PowerPoint contains an error or is not designed to run on Windows. When the users are clicking on OK and still make attempts to run PowerPoint, an error message occurs offering the user the run the program in a safe mode. In case the user clicks on Yes, then Windows makes an attempt to reinstall PowerPoint, yet with no success.
Microsoft is aware of the problem and is already working on providing a fix for it. The patch KB2920732 is already removed from the Microsoft Update and Microsoft Download Center. The company is to offer a new update the moment it is available.
While waiting for a new patch, the users of Widows RT can refresh their devices as they follow the instructions on the support site of Microsoft. That refresh will keep the settings and the personal files intact and it will also point out in case the refresh fails. In such cases the users are left with one remaining option being a reset of the device. That however will cause a loss of data, so the users must create a back-up on the important files they have.
Microsoft had experienced several failures in their patching system over the last six months. Last August it pulled the MS14-045, which caused Blue Screen of Death. In October the company pulled an update that was to be added to the SHA-2 hashing algorithm to Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. In December Microsoft withdraw three patches. One of them had prevented Outlook from connecting to Exchange 2019, another one locked out the other updates on machines that were running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1), while the third patch known as MS14-082 caused different issues with ActiveX forms and further broken macros in cases when Office 2013 and Office 2007 run together.
As a rule, Microsoft acts quickly when there are such patches, however the entire situation may leave some of the business and home users wanting to rely on a schedule for manually delayed or critical patch updates. That however is not a desirable and safe position for the Microsoft users to be at.