Microsoft Pulls Windows RT Patch Which Breaks PowerPoint

Microsoft has withdrawn yet another botched Patch Tuesday update after users of Windows RT found they were unable to open PowerPoint on their devices.

Patch KB2920732 was meant to improve the stability of the platform, specifically when watching video, but users who downloaded the update and then tried to open PowerPoint were greeted by a prompt which said the programme was either “not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error.”

Clicking on the prompt did not solve the problem, nor did reinstallation.

Microsoft patch

“Shortly after the release of KB2920732 , Microsoft became aware of an issue affecting users of PowerPoint 2013 on Windows RT devices,” said Microsoft. “We have removed KB2920732 from the Microsoft Download Center and Microsoft Update and will provide a new update as soon as a fix is available.”

Microsoft has invited affected users to refresh their device, which will keep personal files and settings, but has warned that the only remaining option may be a full reset, which would require a full backup.

The company patched more Common Vulnerability Exposures (CVEs) in 2014 than in any other year but it has been forced to withdraw a number of updates in recent times, including one in October which impacted Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008.

It has also been critical of Google’s Project Zero team for publishing details of two Windows 8.1 flaws after a 90 day deadline for a patch to be issued expired, despite the fact an update was on the way.

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