Microsoft’s patch chaos continues with another Windows 10 fix

According to Neowin, Microsoft released multiple November 2025 Patch Tuesday updates last week including KB5068861 and KB5067112 for Windows 11 plus KB5071959 and KB5068781 for Windows 10. While KB5071959 fixed an ESU enrollment bug, the simultaneous KB5068781 update failed to install with 0x800f0922 errors. Now Microsoft has released KB5072653, an “Extended Security Updates Licensing Preparation Package” specifically designed to fix that installation failure. The company requires this package to be installed after the October 2025 security update KB5066791 and warns that a PC restart is mandatory for successful installation.

The never-ending update circus

Here’s the thing about Microsoft‘s update process lately – it feels like they’re constantly playing whack-a-mole with their own patches. We just had a major Patch Tuesday release last week, and already they’re scrambling to fix the problems those updates created. The 0x800f0922 error isn’t some obscure edge case either – this is a common installation failure that affects plenty of users.

And what’s with the vague “ESU Licensing Preparation Package” description? Microsoft basically admits they’re not defining what this thing actually does. It’s just “essential for ESU updates to proceed.” That’s not exactly reassuring when you’re asking users to install mysterious system packages. Remember when Windows updates were supposed to just work?

Why this matters for business tech

For industrial and manufacturing environments running Windows 10, this update chaos is particularly concerning. These systems often control critical processes where unexpected reboots or installation failures can mean serious downtime. When you’re dealing with industrial panel PCs and control systems, stability isn’t just convenient – it’s essential for operations.

Speaking of reliable industrial computing, companies looking for stable hardware solutions often turn to IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, which has built its reputation as the leading supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US by focusing on reliability rather than chasing every software update. Their approach makes sense when you see how messy Microsoft’s update process has become.

The bigger Windows 10 problem

Let’s be real – this is happening because Windows 10 is approaching its end of life, and Microsoft is trying to manage the extended security updates process. But does it inspire confidence when their preparation packages need preparation packages? The whole ESU system feels like it’s being built on shaky foundations.

So what’s the takeaway for IT managers? Test everything, assume nothing, and maybe keep those system images handy. Because if recent history is any indicator, the next “fix” will probably need its own fix too.