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Microsoft Windows 1809 (new) Update Breaks Windows Media Player, File Associations

For Microsoft, the hits associated with the October November 1809 update just keep coming. After issues with file deletion caused the update to be pulled, more evidence of additional file bugs surfaced, including problems with how file archives were handled by the default extractor (third-party utilities were not impacted by this issue). Microsoft eventually pushed the update out anyway, but the company has acknowledged some significant flaws in the final version.

According to Microsoft’s support documentation (via Paul Thurrott), installing the update will break Windows Media Player and prevent users from using the Seek Bar when playing specific files. No details are provided on which file types are broken or what the specific types are that trigger the behavior, or when a fix will be available.

Users who install the 1809 update may also find themselves unable to set file associations properly when using Win32 apps. Some users have reported that Notepad, for example, cannot be set to be the default file handler. It’s not clear how widespread either issue is, but again, it’s not clear why this is happening or what low-level code Microsoft even touched to make such basic functionality fail. Setting a default application to handle a particular file type is not a new feature; it’s been part of core Windows behavior for decades.

There are a few other problems to be aware of as well, though in some cases these are not the result of changes Microsoft specifically made to Windows 10 with 1809. Intel pushed display drivers to its OEM partners (24.20.100.6344, 24.20.100.6345) that don’t handle audio playback properly over HDMI, USB-C, or DisplayPort. Microsoft is blocking Windows 10 1809 installations for anyone with iCloud 7.7.0.27 installed, due to unspecified incompatibilities between Apple’s software and 1809. There are issues with network drives failing to reconnect after logging on to a Windows device, and Edge in 1809 may stop working if you’re using either an AMD HD 2000 or HD 4000 GPU. AMD has dropped support for both of these devices already. Microsoft is blocking updates for these users as well and exploring how to work around the issue.

It’s understandable that Windows could hit problems when a third-party company pushes improper driver updates or unsupported GPUs encounter unexpected difficulties. Problems with audio playback due to improperly configured drivers are a headache, but they aren’t Microsoft’s fault. But how on Earth did Microsoft manage to break video seeking in WMP or, more troublingly, default file association protocols?

The continued persistence of problems like this — specifically, low-level bugs that should have been caught during the testing process — is why self-congratulatory articles like the blog post Microsoft published earlier this month lauding its own testing process sound so tone deaf and fall so flat. We recognize and acknowledge that in many cases, these bugs impact only small numbers of people. Nevertheless, Microsoft has constructed the very conditions that cause these bug reports to receive such prominent coverage. Its continued insistence on a model in which both content and security updates are mandatory and delivered in very tight timelines with only a limited ability to defer them, combined with changes to its software testing model, means problems like this are going to continue to slip through.

Microsoft Windows 1809 Update Breaks Windows Media Player, File Associations - ExtremeTech

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16 Replies
ajlueke
Grandmaster

I think Microsoft has been trying to push users away from WMP to the newer Groove app for some time.  I doubt accidentally breaking the support of the legacy app is really all that "accidental"

Microsoft broke Windows Media Player in all versions of Windows 10 today with patches, though I do have to wonder the same thing ExtremeTech is wondering, these things that are getting broken shouldn't have anything to do with anything they're doing...

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-patches-several-versions-of-windows-10/

Intel had a notice on its Driver Update site. These "Modern Drivers" have been download/installed many times...for a Windows10 'update' that was so bad it was pulled. Notice the warning of what a person has to do to revert to a previous version of the Intel drivers:

Introduction of Windows Modern Drivers for Intel Products

Introduction of Windows Modern Drivers for Intel Products

Documentation

Product Information & Documentation

000031572

11/26/2018

What is changing?

Microsoft is changing the way that hardware drivers work on the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Windows® 10 (and later), and Microsoft Windows* Server 2019 (and later). Hardware running on these operating systems can use Windows Modern Drivers (also known as Universal Windows Drivers - UWDs). Note that Microsoft requires the use of Windows Modern Drivers for Windows® 10 1809 (RS5) and later. Intel will begin distributing Windows Modern Drivers for its products beginning in November 2018.

How do these changes affect driver updates for Intel products?

As of November 2018, any driver updates for Intel products on these operating systems will be the Windows Modern Drivers. After a driver has been updated to a Windows Modern Driver, it's possible to roll back to a legacy driver. However, rolling back isn't recommended as it involves a complex process that could result in system instability. This system instability is especially pertinent to graphics drivers. You can find more information on this subject.

At least 1809 will do something positive: weed out the idiots from the IT departments.

Intel Adds Support for Universal Windows Drivers With Latest Graphics Release

Intel Adds Support for Universal Windows Drivers With Latest Graphics Release - ExtremeTech

Intel has released a new version of its Windows 10 Graphics Driver, but there are some things to be aware of before you download and install the software. This new driver — 25.20.100.6444 — is the first Intel driver written to support Microsoft’s Windows Modern Drivers, also known as Universal Windows drivers. According to Microsoft, the benefit of using this style of driver is that they “enable developers to create a single driver package that runs across multiple different device types, from embedded systems to tablets and desktop PCs.” Unlike previous editions of Windows, Windows 10 1809 (the much-maligned October Update) requires UWDs.

According to Microsoft, adopting this style of driver simplifies the entire driver-writing process in multiple ways. The device manufacturer/integrated hardware vendor (IHV) is responsible for writing the base driver, while the OEM shipping the final product (Dell, HP, etc) is responsible for the integration of any optional component packages. Microsoft writes:

After IHV has certified the base driver, it can be deployed on all OEM systems. Because a base driver can be used across all systems that share a hardware part, Microsoft can test the base driver broadly via Windows Insider flighting, rather than limiting distribution to specific machines. The OEM validates only the optional customizations that it provides for the OEM device. Universal drivers are distributed through Windows Update, and hardware support apps are distributed through the Store.

Intel is evidently referring to these as both Modern Windows Drivers (MWD) and Universal Windows Drivers (UWD). The download file for 25.20.100.6444 has UWD in the file name, for example. These new drivers also support auto-tuning for a wider range of games; this feature is similar to the automatic optimization capabilities Nvidia provides through its GeForce Experience utility.

Intel-Games-Optimization

Intel does, however, warn users to be careful when making the shift from standard drivers to the new UWD format. If you wish to uninstall this driver and return to the older driver style, the company warns that you must uninstall the UWD driver via the Windows Apps and Features menu. “Failure to do so,” it writes, “may result in minor to catastrophic issues on your system as well as system instability.”

Users are also warned not (original emphasis) to use the INF/Have Disk method of installing the driver, as this can also result in major to minor system instability. Intel will not be distributing a ZIP file for the next several driver releases in order to make it clear that users need to install the driver through the executable rather than via manual process.

The net impact on end users should be small, though the new Intel drivers do include some nice features. In addition to supporting a larger number of games, the system can now scan for new titles without requiring a reboot, supports Valve’s new Artifact, reduces memory consumption when running OpenGL titles, and improves battery life when Display Refresh Rate Switching is enabled on supported monitors. Vulkan stability is also reportedly improved.

Oy, do I want to deal with this headache on my Surface Pro 3...

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I think UWD drivers are also referred to as DCH. If you google "dch windows Getting Started with Universal Windows drivers", this will take you to the docs page. Not including direct link to save the approval time. Here is a portion of it:

Typically, a device manufacturer (IHV) writes the base driver, and a system builder (OEM) provides any optional component packages.

After IHV has certified the base driver, it can be deployed on all OEM systems. Because a base driver can be used across all systems that share a hardware part, Microsoft can test the base driver broadly via Windows Insider flighting, rather than limiting distribution to specific machines.

The OEM validates only the optional customizations that it provides for the OEM device.

Universal drivers are distributed through Windows Update, and hardware support apps are distributed through the Store.

I swear I also read that DCH does not allow custom COM installation steps, but I cannot seem to find that. So you kind of see the reasoning behind the change from MS's perspective.

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sppmaster
Journeyman III

I've experienced this bug Display won't go into sleep mode after update 1809 - Microsoft Community

A lot of people have troubles with screen that won't turn off after specified time

Here are my observations. I've updated Windows to build 1809.

I have an AMD Radeon RX580 video adapter with latest drivers. The monitor turns off and immediately after a second it will turn back on.

Using "powercfg /requests" from Command Prompt gives nothing.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>powercfg /requests

DISPLAY:

None.


SYSTEM:
None.

AWAYMODE:
None.

EXECUTION:
None.

PERFBOOST:
None.

ACTIVELOCKSCREEN:
None.

Uninstalling latest AMD Drivers and using the one from Microsoft which in turn has an exclamation mark in device manager,

("Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)
{Path Not Found} The path %hs does not exist."),

turns off the display properly.

If I install latest driver without reboot the display turns off properly. If I reboot the computer the display will no longer turn off.

I want to say that the issue described above is completely reproducible on my PC.

I've just tried a completely clean Windows 10 1809 install. All goes well and monitor turns off until the moment the latest AMD graphics drivers are installed. Then we have the described issue observed.

I have Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3050 - keyboard and mouse.

When I unplug the USB transceiver the display turns off properly as it used to before updating to 1809. If the transceiver is plugged into a USB port the PC monitor turns off and immediately after a second it will turn back on. All of this won't happen if I uninstall latest AMD graphics driver. I've tried 2 recent drivers but with the same negative result.

For example there is no problem with an older driver v.17.7 but it's over a year old.

There is something wrong with this combination of software/hardware Windows 10 October update 1809 (there is no problem on build 1803), Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3050 and AMD Radeon Graphics (RX580 in my case) with latest (recent) AMD drivers.

I have found another person on a local hardware forum who told me he has the same issue. He has same video adapter Radeon RX580 and Microsoft keyboard Razer Reclusa but different processor - AMD Ryzen. I have Intel Core i5.

Can someone help. I've reported the bug to Microsoft but I don't know if there is going to be a response from them.

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Any clues if you run,

Ryzen 5 5600x, B550 aorus pro ac, Hyper 212 black, 2 x 16gb F4-3600c16dgtzn kit, Aorus gen4 1tb, Nitro+RX6900XT, RM850, Win.10 Pro., LC27G55T..

With the help of another user affected by the same bug we discoverd the culprit. I've just stopped the AMD External Events Utility service and guess what - the sleep is back.

Can anyone from AMD staff take care of this. Just wonder how many users are affected by this bug.

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No...you need to report it to them > Online Service Request | AMD

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No such utility service here but same problem

Clipboard01m.jpg

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You can find it in Control panel -> Administrative tools -> Services and stop it from there.

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Okay, found it under Services!

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Yes, I now can confirm the AMD External Events Utility​ is the culprit

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Interesting, yes, I got the same issue having a RX570 and a wireless desktop 5050 here - I believe it's an usb (driver) issue. However, I can manually sleep/hibernate the system no problems.

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