Dual-boot systems fail after Microsoft update

A recent Microsoft update intended to address a significant vulnerability in the GRUB bootloader has inadvertently caused issues for many dual-boot systems running both Windows and Linux. Users began reporting boot failures with the error message, “Something has gone seriously wrong,” after the update was applied. The vulnerability, rated 8.6 out of 10 in severity, allowed potential bypassing of Secure Boot, a security feature designed to prevent malicious software from loading during startup. Despite Microsoft's assurances that the update would not affect dual-boot systems, it has rendered many devices unable to boot into Linux when Secure Boot is enabled. Affected distributions include popular ones like Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint. Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the issue or provided guidance for affected users, leaving them to seek solutions independently. One workaround involves disabling Secure Boot or deleting the SBAT policy introduced by the update. This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the reliability of Secure Boot and the complexities involved in managing security across different operating systems.

- Microsoft’s update intended to fix a GRUB vulnerability caused boot failures in dual-boot systems.

- Users received error messages indicating a serious issue after the update was applied.

- The update affected multiple Linux distributions, despite Microsoft’s claims it would not.

- Microsoft has not acknowledged the problem or provided support for affected users.

- Workarounds include disabling Secure Boot or deleting the SBAT policy.