Many AMD devices have been suffering from performance issues since upgrading to Windows 11, but that looks like it’s finally coming to an end. After a successful trial via the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft has released an update that fixes the problem. It’s optional, so just head into Settings and wait for Build 22000.282 to appear.
As we reported earlier this month , performance on many AMD Ryzen PCs drops noticeably after the user updates to Windows 11 . Increased cache latency leads to a performance decline of between 3-5%, but this can reach 10-15% in demanding games “commonly used for eSports”. Elsewhere, issues with AMD’s “preferred core” technology reduces performance during tasks that rely heavily on the CPU.
If you’re still running Windows 10 on an AMD Ryzen device, you can now upgrade without worrying about any hit to performance.
Plenty of other fixes in Build 22000.282
Solving the AMD-related performance problems was the key fix in the latest Windows 11 Insider Build, but far from the only one. Another high-profile issue concerned a missing taskbar (and consequently Start menu) for some users. As we reported last month, a workaround is available, but this is now an official fix.
If you’re having problems with error messages that won’t disappear, this update should help too. See the full list of bug fixes in the official blog post for Build 22000.282 .
Microsoft confirms new printer-related problems
Just as several issues appear to have been fixed, more have emerged. The latest of these concerns printers, something that has plagued Windows 10 in recent months .
As Microsoft itself has acknowledged, there are two issues affecting the installation of printers on Windows 11 devices. One can stop you from installing via HTTP connections, while the other prevents installation using the Internet Printing Protocol. The problems also affect all recent versions of Windows 10 but appear to be quite hit-and-miss – they might not affect you every time.
A temporary workaround involves copying packaged drivers from another secure location on the device, but you’ll need some expertise to do this.
The safest alternative is to physically connect via USB, but even that won’t work on many Brother printers. On an official support page , the manufacturer says that updating to Windows 11 can stop your device from being able to:
- Detecting the printer when connected via a USB cable
- Changing the printer settings
- Connecting more than one printer to the same device
Brother recommends connecting via another wired method or wirelessly, but let’s hope this isn’t a sign of things to come.
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
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It seems there are still more undiscovered vulnerabilities lurking in the Windows 10 print queue and its associated services.
Just last week, Microsoft issued an official warning about a new CVE-2021-34481 issue, after the recent KB5004945 update didn’t completely close the security gap. However, it does fix a related problem, so we’d still highly recommend downloading it.
An official patch for this new problem is yet to be released. Microsoft is still investigating which versions of Windows are affected – this may include the small number of devices still running Windows 8 and Windows 7. Fortunately, no attacks related to this specific vulnerability have been observed yet.
What is the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability?
Like many similar issues in the past, the CVE-2021-34481 security gap affects the printer spooler. It gives hackers system-level user rights, allowing them to execute malicious code that can seriously harm your PC. This can be used to install programs, modify user data and even create new accounts with full system rights.
This vulnerability cannot be exploited directly by hackers, but combining it with a separate vulnerability removes any restrictions. While a lot of the code can be executed remotely, there’s also a method which involves tricking an unsuspecting user into clicking a malicious link within an email or message.
It may take a while for Microsoft to release an official patch. If any specific attacks are revealed, this should speed up the process. In the meantime, you’ll need to take matters into your own hands.
How to (temporarily) fix the CVE-2021-34481 vulnerability
While we wait for an update, Microsoft recommends turning off the print queue service, also known as the printer spooler:
- Open the Windows PowerShell app
- In the window that appears, type ‘Get-Service -Name Spooler’ and hit enter
- If you see a name displayed, check if it matches CVE-2021-34481. If no information appears, it’s worth proceeding with the turning it off anyway
- To stop the service, type ‘Stop-Service -Name Spooler –Force’ and hit enter
- You can then disable it by entering ‘Set-Service -Name Spooler -StartupType Disabled’ from the same window
This will avoid the vulnerability from potentially affecting your PC before an official patch is released. However, there is one big trade-off here – you’ll no longer be able to print from your device, both locally and via your home network.
A version of this article was originally published in German on our sister site, PC-Welt .
- How to install Windows 10 KB5004945 update (July 2021)
- Windows 10 security update breaks the taskbar (June 2021)
Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
Recent stories by Anyron Copeman:
- Windows 11 23H2 update: Everything you need to know
- Windows 12: Everything we know so far
- How to get the Google Play Store on Windows 11
