You've just started the day, coffee in hand, ready to get through your to-do list. But suddenly, nothing works. A software update ran overnight, and now your billing system won't open, your printers won't print, and your team is asking you what happened. Sound familiar?

Software updates are supposed to improve things, but every so often, they do the exact opposite. Let's talk about why updates sometimes cause problems, how to reduce the risk, and what you can do if it's already too late.

Why Updates Break Things

New software, old connections

One of the most common causes of an update breaking your workflow is that the new version no longer "talks" properly to the other systems or programs you rely on. Software programs often connect to other apps behind the scenes, whether it's your accounting software linking to a bank feed, or your POS system syncing with inventory tools.

An update may change how that communication works. If the other apps haven't been updated to match, things can fall apart. Suddenly, you're stuck with software that no longer plays well with the rest of your setup.

Hardware drivers get left behind

Hardware drivers are small bits of software that help your computer use physical equipment such as printers, scanners, or even keyboards. When your system updates but the driver hasn't been updated (or doesn't exist for the latest version), that hardware might stop working.

For example, that reliable printer in the corner might suddenly become a paperweight if the driver doesn't support the latest operating system.

Some updates are just... bad

Sometimes the update itself is flawed. A recent high-profile example was a faulty update from CrowdStrike that caused widespread issues on Windows machines across the globe. No one saw it coming, but it took out PCs and servers in thousands of businesses overnight.

Even the biggest tech companies can release buggy updates that cause damage, and once they're installed, rolling back can be tricky without technical help.

What to Do Before an Update

Don't let updates happen blindly

It's tempting to allow every machine to automatically update itself, but that's risky. Some updates are safe, others need testing first, especially if you rely on specific apps or equipment to keep your business running.

Working with a Technology Solutions Partner means updates are reviewed before they go live. We test compatibility with your setup, check vendor release notes for known issues, and time the rollout so there's a backup plan if something goes wrong.

Keep track of what matters most

We like to sit down with our clients and identify the software and hardware they can't live without. These are the areas that need special attention during updates. If something breaks, we know what to focus on first and how to get things back up quickly.

What to Do If an Update Breaks Your System

Don't panic, but don't push random buttons either

When something stops working after an update, it's tempting to start clicking around or trying to uninstall things. That often makes the situation worse.

Call your IT team first. We can assess whether the update can be rolled back safely, whether a patch has already been released, or if there's a workaround to keep your business moving while we sort it out properly.

We might roll it back or patch it up

Depending on the situation, we might uninstall the update, roll the system back to a restore point, or apply a patch from the vendor. In other cases, we might isolate the issue and reconfigure things to temporarily work around it.

The main goal is to keep your business operational with as little downtime as possible.

How We Can Help

If you're tired of unexpected tech headaches, we can help you take control of updates. We don't just apply patches and hope for the best, we review what's changing, test it against your setup, and have rollback plans in place before anything is touched.

When something breaks, we already know your systems, your software, and your team, which helps us fix things faster and with less disruption.

Final Thought

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Updates should make your systems better, not break them. If you are tired of scrambling after every glitch or patch, it is time to flip the script. We will manage updates the right way, test before rollout, and have a recovery plan ready. So your team can keep working while we handle the tech.

Related Article:

What happens when you interrupt a Windows update

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