Software Repair

Identify and Eliminate the Top Software Glitches Plaguing Users Right Now

November 11, 2024

As a seasoned IT professional, I’ve seen my fair share of software issues plague users across a variety of devices and platforms. From frustrating bugs to crippling system failures, these glitches can severely impact productivity, user experience, and even critical operations. In this comprehensive article, I’ll dive deep into the top software glitches currently troubling users and provide practical tips to help you identify and eliminate these problems.

Windows 11 24H2 Update Woes

One of the most significant software issues I’ve encountered lately is the slew of bugs that have plagued Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update, known as 24H2. While this update was intended to enhance the Copilot AI, spruce up File Explorer, and improve overall performance and stability, it has instead been marred by a variety of frustrating glitches.

System File Checker (SFC) Stuck in a Loop
The Windows System File Checker (SFC) tool is designed to scan your system for corrupted files and automatically repair or replace them. However, with the 24H2 update, the SFC tool gets caught in a loop of false positives, constantly reporting corrupted files that it claims to have fixed, even after multiple scans. This renders the tool useless, as you can never truly confirm the integrity of your system files.

Massive Unremovable Update Cache
The 24H2 update also leaves behind an 8.63GB update cache that users struggle to delete through the usual methods. While Microsoft has acknowledged this as a reporting bug, the cleanup tool mistakenly reports the freed-up disk space as still available for cleanup, leaving users confused and unable to reclaim the lost storage.

Compatibility Issues with Easy Anti-Cheat
The 24H2 update also doesn’t play well with the Easy Anti-Cheat program, which is automatically installed with some online games to prevent cheating. Users with Intel’s Alder Lake+ processors and vPro platform can experience the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) when running this software. Microsoft is working with the Easy Anti-Cheat developer to resolve this glitch.

Blue Screens of Death Galore
Beyond the clash with Easy Anti-Cheat, the 24H2 update can also lead to BSODs in other situations. Intel and Microsoft have discovered incompatibility issues with certain drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST) on Intel 11th Gen Core processors, causing blue screens for affected users. Additionally, there are reports of BSODs for PCs with certain Western Digital SSDs and Z890 motherboards.

Vanishing Mouse Pointers
Another bug in the 24H2 update and other recent Windows updates causes the mouse pointer or cursor to vanish in Chromium-based apps like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. This issue only occurs when interacting with a text input field, but a workaround is available.

Connectivity Woes
Some users who have installed the 24H2 update are also reporting issues with their internet connections. These users can connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but they don’t receive a valid IP address, effectively preventing them from accessing the internet or their local network. Using a static IP address can resolve this problem in certain cases.

Fingerprint Sensor Failures
Microsoft has also acknowledged that the 24H2 update can cause the fingerprint sensors on a limited number of PCs to become unresponsive, making it impossible for users to unlock their devices with a fingerprint scan.

Broken Clipboard History
The latest Windows 11 update also breaks the clipboard history feature for some users, with the tool insisting that the clipboard is empty even when users have already copied one or more items to it. This bug was flagged by Windows Insider testers months ago, but Microsoft seemingly failed to fix it properly.

Network Visibility Issues
Another network-related problem caused by the 24H2 update is the inability to see other computers or devices on the network, preventing file and printer sharing. This issue could be related to the Function Discovery Resource Publication (FDResPub) feature, which allows Windows 11 to remain visible on the network.

Printer Setup Troubles for Copilot+ PCs
Users with Copilot+ PCs (a Microsoft-branded PC configuration) are also reporting issues when trying to set up or use a printer after upgrading to the 24H2 update. The glitch seems to be affecting printers from manufacturers like HP, Canon, and Brother, and Microsoft has published a support article with some workarounds.

These are just some of the many glitches plaguing Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 update. The company has listed several other issues on its Known Issues and Notifications page, and I’ve encountered a few of these problems firsthand on a test Windows 11 PC.

FAFSA Form Woes

While software glitches in the Windows ecosystem are certainly frustrating, users seeking financial aid for their education are also facing their fair share of troubles with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

School Search Issues
When searching for a school from the 2024-25 FAFSA form, users may find that the full name of the school is not displayed on the screen. This can be particularly problematic for schools with multiple programs or locations, making it difficult for users to know which entry to select. To work around this, users can search by the school’s Federal School Code instead of the school name.

Incorrect Pell Grant Notifications for Graduate Students
Another issue with the 2024-25 FAFSA form is that graduate students who are notified of having a Pell-eligible Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) are shown an incorrect message stating they may be eligible for a specific Federal Pell Grant amount. However, graduate students are ineligible for Pell Grants, so they should disregard this message.

Spouse Invitation Issues for Married Filers
If a user who is married and has filed jointly (Married Filing Jointly) changes their marital status to Married Filing Separately after entering their spouse’s information, the user is not shown the page to invite the spouse, even though an invitation is now required to capture the spouse’s financial information. To work around this, the user must log in to StudentAid.gov, navigate to “My Activity,” select “Edit Contributor Information,” and then “Update Information” to effectively remove and re-add the contributor, allowing an invitation to be sent.

Missing Mailing Address for FSA ID Users
Some users may find that the mailing address section on the Student Identity and Information page of the 2024-25 FAFSA form is blank, indicating that the user does not have an address stored in the FSA ID system. To resolve this, the user should go to their Account Settings, navigate to the Contact Information page, select the terms and conditions checkbox, and click save. This will associate the user’s address that appears under Settings with the FSA ID.

Rare FAFSA Creation Errors
In rare cases, a parent who has started a 2024-25 FAFSA form on behalf of a student may be unable to continue past the Student Information page and receive an error message stating that there is already an application on file for the student. This happens when the system creates a FAFSA but fails to generate and attach the student’s record to the application. To resolve this, the student must access or restart the 2024-25 FAFSA form.

Inviting Contributors with Foreign Addresses
When a student attempts to invite a parent contributor who has a foreign address but no Social Security number (SSN), the student encounters an error message that prevents them from completing the invitation. To work around this, the contributor must temporarily update their mailing address to a U.S. address, invite the student, and then update the address back to their foreign address.

FAFSA Submission Issues for Students without an SSN
If a student with no Social Security number (SSN) starts the 2024-25 FAFSA form but saves and exits before answering the “State of Legal Residency” question, the student will be unable to continue the application later. In this case, the student must complete a paper FAFSA form.

Financial Information Challenges for Contributors without an SSN
All users without an SSN, including those with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), must manually enter their financial information in the 2024-25 FAFSA form due to an issue that prevents federal tax information from being pulled into the form. There is currently no workaround for this problem, and the Department of Education is working to resolve it.

Contributor Access Issues for Those with Pending SSA Matches
Individuals who have a StudentAid.gov account with a pending Social Security Administration (SSA) match status and are invited to participate in a FAFSA form as a contributor are unable to access the FAFSA invitation from their StudentAid.gov Dashboard or the “My Activity” section. These contributors must wait until their information has been verified by the SSA before attempting to access the FAFSA invitation.

Invisible FAFSA Invitations for Students
Students who have been invited by a parent to the FAFSA form are not seeing the FAFSA form invitation in the “My Activity” section of the Dashboard. Instead, they see a FAFSA form in “Draft” status when they have not accepted the invitation to the application. To work around this, students do not need to accept the invitation to access the FAFSA form; they can log in to their StudentAid.gov account and select the draft form from the “My Activity” section.

These are just a few of the many software glitches and user experience issues plaguing the 2024-25 FAFSA form. The Department of Education has published a comprehensive list of open issues and their current statuses on the FAFSA Simplification Information page, which is regularly updated.

Pixel 7 Pro Frustrations

While software issues in the Windows and FAFSA ecosystems are concerning, users of Google’s Pixel 7 Pro smartphone are also facing their own set of frustrations.

Connectivity Troubles
One of the primary issues Pixel 7 Pro users have encountered is intermittent Wi-Fi connectivity problems. Every so often, the internet connection will drop, and while the phone shows it’s connected, nothing will work until the user manually restarts the network settings.

Unresponsive UI Elements
Some Pixel 7 Pro users also report issues with the user interface, such as the phone refusing to acknowledge swipes up to exit an app, apps crashing and dumping the user back to the home page, and the Recent Apps list cycling to the far end for no apparent reason.

Sluggish Unlocking
Another frustration for Pixel 7 Pro users is the occasional sluggishness when unlocking the device. What should be a quick and seamless process can sometimes take several seconds, leading to multiple unsuccessful unlock attempts.

Locking Animation Bugs
Perhaps the most infuriating bug for Pixel 7 Pro users is the issue with the locking animation. When locking the device, there’s a cool visual effect where the display wipes to black, swishing into the power button. However, the screen remains unlocked during this animation, leading to accidental taps and unwanted actions, such as muting podcasts, while the phone is being put away.

These software glitches, while individually minor, can add up to a truly frustrating user experience for Pixel 7 Pro owners. The fact that Google, the company behind the Android operating system, is struggling to provide a polished software experience on its own flagship device is both disappointing and concerning.

Addressing the Glitches

As an experienced IT professional, I understand the frustration that users face when dealing with these types of software issues. While no software is ever truly perfect, the sheer volume and severity of the glitches plaguing Windows 11, the FAFSA form, and the Pixel 7 Pro are unacceptable.

Windows 11 24H2 Update
For the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft needs to prioritize resolving the most critical bugs, such as the SFC tool loop, the unremovable update cache, and the various BSOD issues. The company should also work closely with the developers of Easy Anti-Cheat and other affected software to ensure seamless compatibility.

In the meantime, I’d advise Windows 11 users to hold off on the 24H2 update and stick with their current version until Microsoft can address the majority of these problems. The ongoing spread of one bug after another and the need to stall the update for many people both point to a significant issue with this latest release.

FAFSA Form
The Department of Education should also make addressing the FAFSA form issues a top priority. While some of the problems, like the missing mailing address and the rare FAFSA creation errors, can be worked around, others, such as the financial information challenges for contributors without an SSN, require a more comprehensive solution.

The Department of Education has done a commendable job of documenting the various issues and providing workarounds where possible. However, users shouldn’t have to navigate a minefield of bugs and glitches just to complete a critical financial aid application. The Department should strive to deliver a smooth, user-friendly FAFSA experience.

Pixel 7 Pro
As for the Pixel 7 Pro, Google needs to take a hard look at the software quality assurance processes for its flagship device. The connectivity issues, unresponsive UI elements, and locking animation bugs are unacceptable in a $900 smartphone.

Google should prioritize fixing these problems through software updates, as well as closely examine its development and testing procedures to ensure that future Pixel releases are more polished and reliable. Users who have been loyal to the Pixel brand deserve a truly exceptional and bug-free experience.

Conclusion

Software glitches can be incredibly frustrating for users, regardless of the platform or device. The examples I’ve discussed in this article – the Windows 11 24H2 update, the 2024-25 FAFSA form, and the Google Pixel 7 Pro – all demonstrate the significant impact that software issues can have on user productivity, user experience, and critical operations.

As an IT professional, I urge the responsible companies to prioritize addressing these glitches and providing users with a reliable, high-quality software experience. Microsoft, the Department of Education, and Google must dedicate the necessary resources to identify and eliminate the root causes of these problems, ensuring that their products and services meet the expectations of their users.

By addressing these software glitches, these companies can restore user confidence, improve overall satisfaction, and maintain their position as leaders in their respective industries. IT professionals like myself will be closely monitoring the progress and eagerly awaiting the resolution of these issues to provide our clients and loved ones with the best possible technology experience.

Remember, the key to overcoming software glitches is a combination of diligent troubleshooting, effective communication, and a relentless commitment to quality. With the right approach, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities for growth and innovation, ultimately benefiting users and the technology industry as a whole.