Experiencing display problems following the installation of recent Nvidia drivers? Company officials are now attributing the troubles to Microsoft and advising users to remove the January 2026 security patch.
The KB5074109 patch from Microsoft, released in January, has triggered numerous difficulties, including black screens—previously called blue screens—along with crashes in Outlook, File Explorer failing to respect configurations in the desktop.ini file, and disruptions to dial-up modem functionality. Reports indicate it's also affecting gameplay performance.
This conflict arose because Microsoft and Nvidia launched their updates in close succession: the KB5074109 patch and Nvidia's GeForce Game Ready driver version 591.86. While players first suspected Nvidia's software, customer support representatives countered by suggesting that deleting the Windows patch could resolve the matter.
"Although the problems emerged following a Windows 11 update, our team is investigating," stated Manuel from Nvidia. "From what we've determined, the primary resolution involves removing KB5074109."
Feedback from users highlights graphical anomalies across multiple titles. These remarks from Manuel came four days prior, shortly after Microsoft deployed an optional fix under KB5074105, which addressed system instability and delivered further enhancements. Such corrections are slated for inclusion in the upcoming security release on Patch Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
As noted by Tom's Hardware, this situation lacks an easy answer since both the January and February updates aim to correct vulnerabilities and bolster PC protection; thus, eliminating recent code isn't preferable. That said, a forthcoming Nvidia update might address the compatibility, similar to past instances.
For those facing disruptions and eager to eliminate the January update ahead of February's rollout, navigate to Windows 11 Settings, then Update & Security, followed by Windows Update, Update History, and Uninstall Updates; search for KB5074109 and select the uninstall option if available. Note that Microsoft may have already resolved it through the out-of-band KB5078127 patch. Generally, it's advisable to retain updates except in cases of severe necessity.