Bypass ESU Blue

Warning : Install KB5126836 (2026.10 Rollup) on Windows 8.1 Break Explorer

Don't Install it

KB5123066 (2026.09) is worked

Other Updates (KB5127356, KB5126773, KB5127664, KB5127688) Tested

 

Hi,

Do you have more details? Remember that the update requires modding such as: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/1924758

My two cents. Thank you.

 

Still need patch from July 2026 for imstall on Windows 8.1 ?

 

Indeed, can you please share more information? Because by default 2026-10 cannot work on 8.1
I tested KB5126836 in Server 2012 R2 and Explorer seems to work fine so what modification method did you use to test on 8.1 ?

Also please describe more precisely what happens, is there an error with explorer.exe itself or shell32 etc
explorer.exe doesn't load at all ? Blue Screen ? Any specific errors in the Event Viewer report ?

The only potential problem that I saw is I think some of the personalisation settings were re-applied (re-initialized?) after reboot.
Maybe that is somehow problematic on Client ?

 

As i understand Windows 2012 R2 support is ended? October was the last patch or not?

 

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Usbaudio.sys problem is still not fully fixed
they can't end this on a flawed Rollup
but then again nothing surprising from M$

 

I think you should start worrying about the Windows update certificate in 2027.

 

Now that Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2 finally stopped being supported, I guess there's 2 questions remaining.

For reference, these are just questions, not requests:

1. Is a Simplix-style update slipstreamer/installer planned for Windows 8.1?
2. Are there any other confirmed issues beside USB Audio?

Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 updates did stop on January this year, so unless an out-of-band update happens to land, I don't expect any further updates for 8.1 either.

 

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I wonder if this can be fixed "properly" via enforcing August 2026 version for usbaudio.sys. It's not the right way to fix the issue, admittedly, but it's either a rollback, or having to suffer with a mangled driver.

 

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I think now we sure "will not be". All MS notes tell about bye servers 2012 / 2012 R2. I don't think will be changes that.

 

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Sorry for slow reply

I was testing 8.1 ESU on VM.

2026.09 Update (KB5123066) Install successfully at 2026.sep

and take snapshot -> Install KB5123066 -> Reboot -> Now Explorer Broken (can execute task manager and run other software (like notepad) by it)

Screenshot = Current status.
Screenshot 2 = Broken Explorer (Taskbar Exist and Icon on Desktop exist but I can't open Explorer Window/Start Menu)

 

The question still remains :
Which modification method did you use to install KB5126836 on 8.1 ?