![What's With All The Jokes About A Microsoft Windows Outage? The Disastrous CrowdStrike Update And Memes About Blue Loading Screens Explained CrowdStrike update catastrophe image example depicting multiple PCs with BSODs.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/editorials/icons/mobile/000/009/570/loading_screeeen.jpg)
What's With All The Jokes About A Microsoft Windows Outage? The Disastrous CrowdStrike Update And Memes About Blue Loading Screens Explained
Millions of Americans woke up to the news that their weekend has been inadvertently elongated — but only if their office uses a Microsoft Windows system paired with a cybersecurity software called CrowdStrike.
News of a global Microsoft outage affecting everyone from airlines to banks to Fortune 500 companies had people puzzling over what could have caused such a worldwide software failing, with flights being grounded in some parts of the world and entire television broadcasters going dark for hours.
![](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/050/654/blue_screen.jpg)
If you've seen memes about a bright blue loading screen (or "BSOD") affecting everything from workplace computers to the MSG Sphere, here's a recap of how one cybersecurity firm's software update caused perhaps the largest global system blackout entirely by accident.
What Is CrowdStrike And Why Did It Cause Microsoft Windows Systems To Endlessly Reboot?
CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity software trusted by hundreds of companies around the world, from global banks to international airlines. Sometime in the early hours of July 19th, 2024, many Windows operators reported that a CrowdStrike update caused their systems to start endlessly rebooting.
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage ANTA NPD2 Troy Hunt @troyhunt Subscribe Something super weird happening right now: just been called by several totally different media outlets in the last few minutes, all with Windows machines suddenly BSoD'ing (Blue Screen of Death). Anyone else seen this? Seems to be entering recovery mode: Recovery It looks like Windows didn't load correctly If you'd like to restart and try again, choose "Restart my PC" below. Otherwise, choose "See advanced repair options" for troubleshooting tools and advanced options. If you don't know which option is right for you, contact someone you trust to help with this. • 1:42 AM ⚫ Jul 19, 2024 4.7M Views See advanced repair options Restart my PC](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/892/042.png)
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage Troy Hunt @troyhunt .7h The issue is worldwide: sky news We apologise for the interruption to this broadcast. We hope to restore the transmission of Sky News shortly. Sky News goes off-air and as TV channel is hit by technical issues elac news 06.00 NG NEWS From dailymail.co.uk Donald Trimna hamill thrine hook the American Dream" during his one 16 Troy Hunt 1182 @troyhunt .7h 1.3K Hearing multiple reports of a Crowdstrike agent issue Matt George @mattygeorge 7h Replying to @troyhunt Apparently crowdstrike agent 14 1765 Troy Hunt @troyhunt .7h Airports down Mike Manrod 351K 1K ılı 496K @CroodSolutions .7h Replying to @troyhunt Same here - extremely widespread. Airports are down. 11 2774 884 483K □ ↑](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/895/e84.png)
Faced with a glowing "blue screen of death," people began to notice that their workplaces weren't the only ones dealing with a seeming Microsoft outage. According to a senior Microsoft official, reports of booting and rebooting systems began pouring in from around the world before the sun hit the eastern coast of the United States.
One of the first widespread shutdowns as a result of the bug was the grounding of several major American airlines, with a Reddit user posting the news early on July 19th.
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage r/news 6 hr. ago Mr-EdwardsBeard United, Delta and American Airlines issue global ground stop on all flights Title Changed by Site abcnews.go.com 12K 2.2K abc NEWS BREAKING NEWS Share Open](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/900/bee.png)
So What Actually Caused The Microsoft Windows Outage Of 2024?
CrowdStrike's CEO, George Kurtz, took to his X / Twitter account around 5 a.m. EST on July 19th to issue some damage control. He said that the outage was a result of a "defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts," and that a fix had been deployed from their end.
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage George Kurtz @George_Kurtz CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they're communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers. 5:45 AM • Jul 19, 2024 3.5M Views](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/904/dae.png)
The CEO went on to apologize to all his users, further clarifying the bug that caused the outage. Sky News, one of the media companies that experienced a blackout due to the outage, uploaded the video to their YouTube channel.
Is There Any Way To Fix The Windows Rebooting Error?
Some X users posted about how the issue could be fixed by deleting the file causing the bug. X user @brody_n77 made a post on July 19th, 2024, saying that deleting the "C-00000291*.sys" in the Windows CrowdStrike folder would resolve the issue, while another X user lamented about how his airline desk clerk would not let him try the fix on their computer.
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage Brody @brody_n77 There is a faulty channel file, so not quite an update. There is a workaround... 1. Boot Windows into Safe Mode or WRE. 2. Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike 3. Locate and delete file matching "C-00000291*.sys" 4. Boot normally. 1/2 2:30 AM ⚫ Jul 19, 2024 897K Views](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/947/682.png)
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage Russell Kaplan @russelljkaplan Trying to convince the United gate agent to let me reboot Windows in safe mode and delete "C-00000291*.sys", to no avail 7:41 AM • Jul 19, 2024 812.2K Views](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/865/024/fe5.png)
How Did Internet Users React To The Microsoft Windows Outage?
Initial posts about the global Windows system outage discussed how companies were (or were not) adapting to their systems being in flux. An X user from India shared how, in lieu of operating computers, he had been handed a handwritten boarding pass for his domestic flight. Other internet users posted memes and jokes mocking Microsoft hours before news about CrowdStrike's involvement in the bug broke.
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage Akshay Kothari 向 @akothari The Microsoft / CrowdStrike outage has taken down most airports in India. I got my first hand-written boarding pass today goindigo.in Toll free 1 800 180 38 38 Call 0 99 10 38 38 38 Name AKShay Kothal From HYD Flight #66376 Boarding Time Sequence # AVIATIO To CCU Date 191724 INTERNATIONA Departure Time 11.55 Seat # 25F K3VLN ou for choosing IndiGo today. Please be at your departure gate at the indicated boarding time. Any passenger failing to do so may be boarding privileges. Frisking passengers and checking of hand baggage is a mandatory procedure. Passengers are requested to co-operate Go's Security Services Team. Have a pleasant fight 1000064 3:34 AM ⚫ Jul 19, 2024 • 5.1M Views . IndiGo Name Dat 7 Akshay Ko FYD CCU 66376 197124 Boarding Time Departure Time Sequence 11.55 Gate Seal 8903](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/933/fca.png)
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage colecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. our device ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just O complete t](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/931/30b.png)
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage :( Microsoft PORIG](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/949/f28.png)
![CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage 1994 It's amazing to think what great and exciting things people will be doing with PC's in 30 years 2024 :( Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you. 20% complete 06 PROTETORU](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/864/952/2ed.png)
For the full history of CrowdStrike Microsoft Global Outage, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.