Imagine paying for extended security updates only to have them fail spectacularly. That's the reality for many Windows 10 commercial users right now, as Microsoft's first Extended Security Update (ESU) Patch Tuesday release has stumbled out of the gate. But here's where it gets controversial... Just as the tech giant gears up for its Ignite conference, the November 11 update, KB5068781, is refusing to install on devices activated through the Microsoft 365 admin center, leaving users staring at a cryptic 0x800f0922 (CBSEINSTALLERS_FAILED) error message.
Microsoft has acknowledged the issue, stating it's under investigation, but as of now, there’s no fix or workaround. This isn’t an isolated incident—it’s the second ESU failure in a week. Just days ago, Microsoft rushed out an out-of-band patch after users reported enrollment issues. And this is the part most people miss... Ironically, the latest update was supposed to fix an earlier problem where Windows 10 users were incorrectly told their operating system had reached the end of support, despite paying for extended updates.
Microsoft’s ESU program is designed to provide commercial customers with continued security updates after Windows 10’s free support ended on October 14. However, these recent blunders raise questions about the program’s reliability. For instance, how can businesses trust a system that seems to break as often as it fixes? Is Microsoft’s focus on AI-driven innovations like Copilot distracting them from addressing core stability issues?
The timing couldn’t be worse, especially with Ignite around the corner. While Microsoft might be eager to showcase its futuristic vision, many customers would likely prefer they focus on fixing current problems. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri recently touted the OS as “evolving into an agentic OS,” but users are more concerned with basic functionality than AI-enabled dreams.
The Register has previously criticized Microsoft’s quality control—or lack thereof—and this latest fiasco only adds fuel to the fire. For Windows 10 users, it seems “business as usual” translates to “expect sloppy updates.” What do you think? Is Microsoft spreading itself too thin, or is this just a temporary bump in the road? Let us know in the comments.
