Windows 10: KB4515384 completely breaks my system

I have successfully avoided the curse of the broken Windows 10 update since 2015 across my own systems and those I'm responsible for at work. Unfortunately, KB4515384 seems to be the end of my lucky run on my main desktop at least - although I haven't had any issues with it on the other PCs I have at home, a 3rd gen Core i7 desktop, a 3rd gen Core i5 desktop, my Dell Latitude 5175 2-in-1 or my partner's Dell Venue 7130 2-in-1 or any of the old machines at work.


So, let's start with system specs:

Gigabyte AX370 Gaming K7 with latest firmware (F42a as of the time of this post) - booting in pure UEFI mode, CSM disabled

AMD Ryzen 2700X

16GB TeamGroup DDR4-3200

512GB Samsung 970 Pro NVMe SSD (with the Windows install on it, partitioned in the 'default' manner for Windows 10)

480GB TeamGroup SATA SSD (with Gentoo Linux on it, 256MB ESP + the rest one ext4 partition)

2TB WD Green SATA HDD (with a single NTFS partition on it [and no ESP], used for data storage)

PowerColor Red Devil Vega64

Corsair HX750i PSU


After a lot of playing around and a reinstall, I have established the following:


1. Installing KB4515384 on my machine prevents my system booting altogether. It hangs on the first boot screen indefinitely. Or at least I thought so, until I discovered that unplugging my 2TB SATA drive (with the NTFS partition on it) allows it to boot again. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until I reinstalled Windows... Oops - hotplugging that drive post-boot works fine and Windows can still see the SATA SSD with the Linux install on it, so it seems the SATA controllers are working fine.


2. Once booted, both of my onboard ethernet adapters (one Intel I211, the only one I had been using thus far, and one Killer [really Qualcomm/Atheros] E2500) Code 10 regardless of driver, as does my ASMedia USB 3.1 XHCI controller (but the two AMD USB XHCI controllers still work fine).


3. Uninstalling KB4515384 restores the system to normal.


As for drivers, I haven't installed anything but the latest AMD chipset drivers, the AMD Catalyst driver for the GPU and the Realtek UAD audio driver this time. I did previously have up-to-date vendor drivers for most of the hardware in the system installed, but I thought perhaps one of those was causing the issue so I haven't installed more up-to-date ethernet drivers or the Samsung NVMe driver this time round. Just out of the box/Windows Update-supplied drivers for everything else.


The only thing that's different in the system log when booting with KB4515384 installed is some (perhaps expected, given it's not working) spew from the Intel I211 driver (e1i65x64):


Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection

PROBLEM: Unable to start the network adapter.

ACTION: Install the latest driver from "http://www.intel.com/support/go/network/adapter/home.htm".


Intel(R) I211 Gigabit Network Connection

PROBLEM: The MAC address on the network adapter is invalid.

ACTION: Visit "http://www.intel.com/support/go/network/adapter/home.htm" for assistance.


Incidentally, the MAC address is not missing before somebody goes barking up the wrong tree - I have had funny issues with MACs getting wiped out for onboard ethernet adapters after firmware/BIOS updates and CMOS resets but not this time - the MAC is still reported correctly in firmware setup and everything still works fine in my Linux install, but that should be obvious given that a) other stuff is broken and b) my system works fine after uninstalling KB4515384.


Obviously I've just paused updates for now, others are having (far less severe) issues with this update so I'm sure there will be a re-run soon but I'm concerned that this could become a long-term issue if the replacement update includes whatever 'fixes' break my system. I think I've tried just about every plausible workaround after a few days of messing around with the system but I thought it was worth posting on here just in the hopes that a) somebody might have an idea I've totally missed or b) it brings some kind of hardware incompatibility to Microsoft's attention.

:)

 

KB4515384 breaks Action Center

same issue on my PC. I tried install KB4515384 on one of my workstation with no luck. Menu start stopped working with critical error and sign out demand. After uninstall latest CU problem with start
menu was solved but action center won't open now. Windows 10 especially 1903 is the most bugged OS ever. I suggest stay at 18362.295 as long as possible or until all flaws will be finally fixed

 

KB4515384 breaks Action Center

The same problem! First with the KB4512941 where I had several programs that no longer opened. So Microsoft replaced it with the KB4515384 and nothing goes even the Ctrl-Windows-S screenshot no longer works !!! So I uninstalled this update and everything
became normal!

 

Windows 10 KB4515384 is breaking down core features

“Your Start menu isn’t working. We’ll try to fix it the next time you sign in,” a message titled ‘Critical error’ reads, and it includes a link to sign out.

“I tried install KB4515384 on one of my workstation with no luck. Menu start stopped working with critical error and sign out demand. After uninstall latest CU problem with start menu was solved but action
center won’t open now. Reinstalling update do nothing. Windows 10 especially 1903 is the most bugged OS ever. I suggest stay at 18362.295 as long as possible or until all flaws will be finally fixed,” a user noted.Again, a small number of users are experiencing
this problem.A few users are also reporting problems with Action Center and external
USB devices such as the keyboard.

even safe mood not fixing it

what i can do ?