Windows 11 Security Update for 22H2 & 23H2 May Cause Recovery Errors

A recent Windows 11 security update, KB5058405, released on May 13, 2025, has caused significant boot failures for some users running Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2—especially in enterprise and virtual environments.

Affected systems display a recovery error with code 0xc0000098, specifically referencing the ACPI.sys file, a crucial kernel-mode driver responsible for power management and device configuration in Windows.

This issue has been observed primarily on:

• Azure Virtual Machines
• Azure Virtual Desktop
• On-premises VMs hosted on Citrix or Hyper-V

Home and Pro edition users are less likely to encounter the problem, as it predominantly affects IT-managed virtual environments.

Technical Details and Troubleshooting Steps

The ACPI.sys file (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is essential for Windows to interact with hardware resources and manage power states.

If this file is missing or corrupted, Windows cannot boot.

The KB5058405 update appears to trigger this error in certain configurations, particularly after being deployed in virtualized setups.

For IT administrators facing this issue, Microsoft recommends using the Azure Virtual Machine repair commands for affected Azure VMs.

There is currently no universal workaround for on-premises environments, but Microsoft is actively investigating and plans to release an out-of-band update soon.

Common Troubleshooting Commands:
To reset Windows Update components, administrators can use the following commands in an elevated Command Prompt:

textnet stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
Ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
net start bits
net start wuauserv
net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc

These steps can help resolve update-related issues, but may not directly fix the ACPI.sys error in all cases.

Update Status, Known Issues, and Feature Overview

Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is working toward a resolution.

In the meantime, users are advised to avoid deploying KB5058405 on critical virtual infrastructure until a fix is available.

The update is part of the ongoing support for Windows 11, version 23H2, which will receive monthly security updates until November 11, 2025, for Home and Pro editions, and until November 10, 2026, for Enterprise and Education editions.

Critical Issues in Windows 11 Version 23H2 Updates

Key Features in Windows 11 Version 23H2:

• Introduction of Microsoft Copilot (AI assistant)
• Enhanced Windows Backup and Passkey support
• AI-powered tools in Paint, Snipping Tool, and Photos
• Improved accessibility features (Voice Access, Narrator)
• Energy-saving options like Wake on Approach and Adaptive Dimming

The KB5058405 update highlights the complexities of maintaining large-scale Windows deployments, especially in virtualized and enterprise environments.

IT professionals should monitor Microsoft’s release health dashboard for updates and consider pausing affected updates in critical systems until a fix is issued.

For now, understanding the technical underpinnings—such as the role of ACPI.sys and the impact of cumulative updates—remains crucial for effective troubleshooting and system stability.

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