Windows 11 24H2: after 6 months of blue screens, this defective driver no longer wreaks havoc

It all starts in April 2025. Shortly after the deployment of Windows 11 24H2Microsoft detects a critical incompatibility with the sprotect.sys driver, developed by SenseShield Technology. This component, used for encryption and software protection, caused major malfunctions: repeated blue screens of death, complete system freezing, or even the inability to start the computer. In some cases, data loss has even been reported.

Faced with the seriousness of the situation, Microsoft immediately activated a safeguard hold (save block) under the identifier 56318982. This measure prevented the download and installation of the 24H2 update on machines equipped with the problematic driver. A salutary decision, certainly, but which left those who had already carried out the manual installation via ISO in a quandary.

A long-awaited resolution

For six months therefore, affected PC owners had to wait. Microsoft and SenseShield have worked together to identify and fix the root cause of the conflict between the driver and the new system layers in Windows 11 24H2.

On October 15, 2025, Microsoft officially removed the block. Recent versions of software using SenseShield technology have included the necessary fixes, making the sprotect.sys driver now compatible with the 24H2 update.

A thorny detail remains

However, Microsoft warns that the sprotect.sys driver installs automatically with some applications. “Many applications use SenseShield technologyexplains the company in its official communication. Therefore, it can be difficult to determine which update may be necessary.”

Concretely, if an application loses its functionality afterupgrade around 24H2, Microsoft recommends updating it to a newer version to resolve the issue. A pragmatic approach which leaves it to users and system administrators to identify the software concerned (in particular the VirBox solutions used for anti-piracy protection).

Note that even once the blockage has been lifted since October 15, it may take up to 48 hours before Windows 11 24H2 becomes accessible via Windows Update on your machine.