Microsoft's October 2023 updates have introduced a critical issue affecting USB mice and keyboards during Windows Recovery mode. Users have reported that after installing these updates, their USB input devices become unresponsive when attempting to use recovery options such as Safe Mode or System Restore. This problem impacts a wide range of devices and Windows versions, causing significant inconvenience for troubleshooting and system repair. The root cause appears to be related to changes in USB driver handling within the recovery environment, which disables USB input functionality. Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix, but no official patch has been released yet. In the meantime, affected users are advised to use alternative input methods like PS/2 devices or network-based remote control tools to navigate recovery options. This incident highlights the risks of deploying updates without extensive compatibility testing, especially for critical system components like input devices. IT professionals and end-users should monitor Microsoft's update channels closely for remediation announcements and consider delaying non-essential updates until the problem is resolved. Staying informed and prepared can mitigate downtime and maintain productivity during system recovery scenarios.
This Cyber News was published on www.bleepingcomputer.com. Publication date: Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:10:28 +0000