Microsoft to deliver fix for Surface RT users hit by application-update problems

Summary: Microsoft expects to deliver in early February a fix for Windows RT devices hit by application-updating problems caused by fixes introduced with the latest set of Patch Tuesday updates.

Microsoft is working on a fix for Windows RT users hit by application-updating problems that seemingly were introduced by the latest set of updates Microsoft pushed out for the operating system earlier this month.

As The Next Web noted late last week, some Surface RT users have not been able to access the Windows Store or Windows Update since applying the latest set of Patch Tuesday fixes, rolled out on January 8. A firmware update for Surface RT devices was also part of the batch of updates delivered at that time.

A Microsoft spokesperson said the company expects to have a fix ready by early February. Here's the official statement:

“Some Windows RT customers who attempted to apply January’s bulletins had issues installing updates. Specifically, impacted Windows RT devices went into connected standby mode during the download of updates from Windows Update, causing the connection to be disrupted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and are working to correct the issue; we expect to have a fix in place in the first week of February.”

The spokesperson's statement noted that the coming fix will be for all ARM-based Windows RT devices. Surface RTs comprise the significant majority of systems running the Windows RT operating system at this point.

Microsoft officials announced on January 22 that the company will expand Surface RT's availability to customers in 13 Western European markets beyond the countries where it is available now. (Surface RT is already available in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the U.S.)  Microsoft also plans to make available a 64 GB version of the Surface RT that isn't bundled with the black Touch Cover for $599.

One final note: As part of Microsoft's Surface-related announcements yesterday, officials started using the slightly shorter (but still awful) "Surface Windows RT" and "Surface Windows 8 Pro" names to refer to the first two Microsoft-made PC/tablet hybrids. Before yesterday, the products were known officially as "Surface With Windows RT" and "Surface With Windows 8 Pro." I'm not sure why Microsoft doesn't just call them Surface RT and Surface Pro like most of the rest of us do. But there you have it.

Source  www.zdnet.com