Following the recent release of Microsoft’s Windows 11 update, version 24H2, users with Western Digital NVMe SSDs are experiencing significant issues, primarily manifesting as persistent blue screen crashes. The update, which aimed to enhance AI capabilities and other features, seems to have unintentionally disrupted the functioning of some SSDs, particularly the WD Black SN770 and WD Blue SN580 models.
These SSDs utilize Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology instead of having their own DRAM cache. HMB allows these drives to use system RAM as a cache, generally around 64MB. However, with the new update, Windows 11 is allocating up to 200MB for I/O caching, far exceeding the usual amount. This unexpected change is likely the culprit behind the SSD-related crashes.
Feedback on Western Digital’s forums indicates that rolling back to the previous version of Windows 11 (23H2) resolves these problems, confirming that the update is indeed at fault.
This situation highlights a recurring issue with Microsoft’s current approach to updates. Since shifting their testing approach to the Windows Insider program, everyday users sometimes feel like they’re unofficially beta testing new updates. While some of these updates bring impressive improvements, others, like this one, can destabilize systems.
For those currently facing these issues, a workaround exists. Adjusting registry settings to limit HMB to 64MB or disabling it altogether could provide temporary relief. Although this might decrease performance during large file transfers, it should help stabilize the system for users after rebooting.
