Microsoft has officially recognized a significant problem affecting users with Windows and Linux dual-boot systems. The August 2024 “Patch Tuesday” update has caused a critical error that prevents Linux from booting on dual-boot systems, resulting in a crisis for affected users.
The issue stems from a Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) setting designed to block old and vulnerable boot managers. Due to a dual-boot detection error, the SBAT update was incorrectly applied to these systems, causing Linux access to be blocked.
The problem affects all supported client and server editions of Windows 10 and 11, from Windows Server 2012 to Windows 11 version 23H2 and Windows Server 2022.
Microsoft has proposed a temporary solution, advising users not to restart Windows to apply the problematic update and to use a specific registry key to block its installation:
reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecureBoot\SBAT /v OptOut /d 1 /t REG_DWORD
The company is working on a permanent solution. Meanwhile, users are advised to follow Microsoft’s recommendations to avoid further system damage. This incident highlights the importance of rigorous testing and correct system configuration detection before releasing critical updates, especially given the widespread use of dual-boot configurations among developers and advanced users.
