Users who install Windows 10 version 1511 build 10586.36/Cumulative Update 6 and Office patch 6366 may be in for a double whammy (Correction: As noted Microsoft Press author Ed Bott has observed, Windows 10 patch KB 3124200 does not in fact destroy Word customizations as originally reported. That damage was actually done by the Office 6366 patch — specifically, an update to Word 2010, 2013 and 2016 — that many people installed simultaneously with KB 3124200. You can find manual repair steps for the Office 6366 patch here. InfoWorld regrets the error. This post and its title have been edited to reflect the correction.) The patching situation with Windows 10 has gone downhill in recent weeks. While it originally looked like KB 3124200 (cumulative update 6) solved the major Wi-Fi problem introduced by KB 3116900 (cumulative update 5), it now appears as if KB 3124200 is also causing problems. Radu Tyrsina at Windowsreport has amassed a list of more than a dozen problems with KB 3124200, including the following: Install failures, which have become very common with cumulative updates. Usually, but not always, frozen installations can be fixed by installing the patch manually. File Explorer, Calculator, Store, Calendar, and/or Maps won’t work. Outlook won’t open. Errors 0x80242fff, 0x8007000d. Installation failures are particularly bothersome on Windows 10 machines because Windows Update continues to slam its head against the wall, downloading and installing the impossible patch over and over again. At the same time, Microsoft has released Office update 6366, which wipes out your Word customizations. Somehow the installer takes it upon itself to rename the Normal.dotm file to Normal15Pre.dotm, NormalOld.dotm, and/or Normal.dotm.old. That may sound like a minor problem, but it effectively breaks nearly any customization you have in Word. AutoText entries, macros, default template settings such as margins and fonts, custom styles, envelope return addresses, autocorrect and autoformat settings, and much more get trashed. Microsoft has a new article, KB 3129969, that steps you through the process of fixing the problems introduced by Office update 6366. Related content opinion On a personal note... Woody Leonhard looks back a bit, looks ahead to retirement — and shares good news about who's picking up the Windows patching torch. By Woody Leonhard Nov 09, 2020 3 mins Small and Medium Business Computers Windows news analysis Get Microsoft's October patches installed — and seriously consider Win10 2004 Odd ancillary patches have their problems, but the mainstream October patches look pretty reliable. The big question: Is Win10 version 2004 up to your stability standards. I’m skeptical -- especially because it has few worthwhile improvements. By Woody Leonhard Oct 30, 2020 6 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Computers news analysis Microsoft Patch Alert: October 2020 The big news with this month’s patches – aside from the usual smorgasbord of strange errors – has more to do with the patches that are outside the regular cumulative update stream. Remarkably, we didn’t get any security fixes By Woody Leonhard Oct 22, 2020 189 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Office Microsoft news analysis With Patch Tuesday here, be sure Windows Update is paused With all the flotsam floating around, it’s easy to lose sight of Second Tuesdays. October’s arrives tomorrow and, with it, another round of Windows and Office patches. Take a minute to make sure you aren’t in the front lines, as eve By Woody Leonhard Oct 12, 2020 5 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Windows Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe