Get ready for the March 2023 Windows 7&8.1 Patch Tuesday updates

It’s totally understandable that the main focus right now is on Windows 11, but the majority of Windows users still don’t feel like abandoning its predecessor (Windows 10).

Be sure to check out the latest versions of Windows 10, which is 22H2, and also Windows 11, which has also reached version 22H2.

And, as you surely know by now, the Redmond-based tech colossus also releases security updates for some of the obsolete operating systems, during Patch Tuesday.

What this means is that not only Windows 10 and 11 users will receive updates during this time. We’re also looking at Windows 7, Windows 8, and various Server versions as well.

We’ve already presented the 74 new updates that became available, along with the official  download links, so all that remains is going a bit more in-depth.

Without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at what Windows 7 and Windows 8 users were given to work with on the March 2023 Patch Tuesday.

What should I expect from this month’s security update release?

The Redmond-based tech colossus has just released Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 8.1, in the form of KB5023765, and Windows 7, in the form of KB5023769.

Keep in mind that they each come with a whole host of improvements and known issues with some pretty neat workarounds.

Also, remember that Microsoft has recently terminated all ESU for both Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 operating systems.

Windows 7

KB5023769

Improvements

• The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (Lsass.exe) might stop responding after System Preparation (sysprep) is run on a domain-joined device.
• By order of the Mexican government in October 2022, the United Mexican States will not observe daylight saving time (DST) in 2023. Key changes in the order include the following:
  • Updated DST rules for Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) and Central Standard Time (Mexico) to no daylight saving time starting in 2023.
  • Changed Chihuahua time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico).
  • Changed Ojinaga time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico)
  • Created a new time zone America/Ciudad_Juarez and mapped it to Mountain Standard Time (Mexico).
• This update implements the final phase of DCOM hardening as described in KB5004442. This phase removes the ability to disable changes through the registry.

Known issues

• After installing this update and restarting your device, you might receive the error, “Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer”, and the update might show as Failed in Update History.
• After this update or a later Windows update is installed, domain join operations might be unsuccessful and error “0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy” occurs. Additionally, text stating “An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy” might be displayed.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 8.1

KB5023765 

Improvements

• After applying a Windows update released on or after July 12, 2022, hyperlinks embedded in an Office document that use the search-ms protocol might stop working.
• The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (Lsass.exe) might stop responding after System Preparation (sysprep) is run on a domain-joined device.
• By order of the Mexican government in October 2022, the United Mexican States will not observe daylight saving time (DST) in 2023. Key changes in the order include the following:
  • Updated DST rules for Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) and Central Standard Time (Mexico) to no daylight saving time starting in 2023.
  • Changed Chihuahua time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico).
  • Changed Ojinaga time zone from (UTC -7:00) Mountain Standard Time (Mexico) to (UTC -6:00) Central Standard Time (Mexico)
  • Created a new time zone America/Ciudad_Juarez and mapped it to Mountain Standard Time (Mexico).
• This update implements the final phase of DCOM hardening as described in KB5004442. This phase removes the ability to disable changes through the registry.
• Known issue resolved: When an existing computer account is reused to join a computer to an Active Directory domain, the join is unsuccessful. Additionally, the following error occurs on devices that have installed Windows updates released on or after October 11, 2022.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

These older, now obsolete versions of the Windows operating system are no longer safe for use, and it is highly recommended you upgrade to a supported version.

And, since the time has come to say goodbye, it is about time you figure out the next steps you will need to take.

Have you encountered any issues after downloading and installing these new security updates for Windows 7 and 8.1?

Share your experience with us in the dedicated comments section located below.