Win Update KB5121003 Windows 11 Cumulative Update build 26100.9168 (24H2) and 26200.9168 (25H2) - Aug. 11

Jamis · 2026-08-12T14:47:37-0400

Unpaused WU @12:14P. First restart @ 12:22P. 2026-08 Security Update KB5121003/26200.9168 started and finished @ 2:27P. It stalled at 73% for most of the time using 5% of the CPU, 1Gb of memory, & 10Mb/s of the SSD. Two additional restarts and it was done. sfc /scannow found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. So far, so good

cereberus · 2026-08-12T15:14:50-0400

dbartenstein said:
Waiting for the complaints to roll in......

Keep on waiting - actual real issues are quite rare but yeah some will whinge over the most trivial issues e.g. the hard drive got formatted

fg2001gf11F · 2026-08-12T15:18:09-0400

FrancoDT said:
I'm back to getting a brief turn on Windows Security pop up message on boot/reboot with this build even though it's already on.

I saw the same message on one of my machines in R.P. channel. (I cannot reproduce it now on the same machine).
Another machine with the same build and security version did not show the message at all.

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2
Installed on ‎8/‎29/‎2025
OS build 26200.9168
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.344.0

gunrunnerjohn · 2026-08-12T15:50:43-0400

itsme1 said:
Did you run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup, restart the computer, and then run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth`? That worked for me when I encountered the error with `RestoreHealth`.

No go, same error. Where exactly did you get the image for build 26200.9168.

thecaretaker · 2026-08-12T15:56:14-0400

rawintellect said:
The command is slightly incorrect. Based on what I see the command should be (assuming your index number of 6 is correct):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:ESD:C:\Users\My user name\Desktop\W11\sources\install.esd:6 /LimitAccess

Thanks, I'll give it a try and report back,

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T16:06:15-0400

fg2001gf11F said:
I saw the same message on one of my machines in R.P. channel. (I cannot reproduce it now on the same machine).
Another machine with the same build and security version did not show the message at all.

Mine takes 3-5 minutes after boot now before the popup.

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T16:10:13-0400

Kuromi said:
On the Windows 11 Release Preview channel, some devices may randomly get enrolled in the Windows Defender Beta channel and start receiving experimental feature policies.

If you see the “Turn on virus protection” notification shown in the screenshot, you may also notice that the Defender-related processes now include DefenderAiPlatformHost. At the moment, this seems to conflict with the status detection in Windows Security, causing the notification to appear even though Defender itself is working normally.

If you don't want to keep receiving this notification, you can remove the MpCampRing and MpEngineRing values under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine

This will put Windows Defender back onto the retail channel. After you receive the next Security intelligence update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus, the settings should be restored and the issue should go away.

Thanks for this info, at least we know the why now.

And welcome aboard, just noticed first post lol.

fg2001gf11F · 2026-08-12T16:27:46-0400

FrancoDT said:
Mine takes 3-5 minutes after boot now before the popup.

View attachment 179477

Showed up again here too after several minutes.

thecaretaker · 2026-08-12T16:37:53-0400

rawintellect said:
The command is slightly incorrect. Based on what I see the command should be (assuming your index number of 6 is correct):

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:ESD:C:\Users\My user name\Desktop\W11\sources\install.esd:6 /LimitAccess

Still no joy. It runs through very quickly compared to checking online. I've double checked the path.

I've attached the log file in case anybody can pin point what is going wrong.

I tried doing a Windows Update reinstall version. It fails.
I tried installing the ISO I downloaded with the Windows Media Tool, so it is the correct one. It installs and I get to my desktop but Windows says it is not activated. I tried logging in with a Microsoft Account and re-entering the product key but it says it is incorrect and can't be activated. It also prevented my ESET NOD32 from running. I couldn't turn off do not disturb (never even knew it had that). I ended up in a right pickle, so installed my previous backup which runs sfc /scannow and all DSIM commands without any errors with Macrium.

I've let Windows Update install this update and my PC is running flawlessly apart from the /scanhealth "component store is repairable" and restorehealth issue in the image above.

I can only conclude this is a Microsoft issue, not an issue with my PC setup.

jrgm · 2026-08-12T16:42:35-0400

I too have this issue.

Seems to me that this is a known, narrowly-scoped, non-functionally-impacting quirk at this time and not worth pursuing.

And I do have file and system image level backups so, that's a layered defense on my part just in case something goes wrong.

The claims of a repair Install seems like a plausible "fix" but I don't feel I have the time for it at this time to confirm it. It should download a repair copy of the currently installed Windows version straight through from Windows Update's own pipeline and reinstalls OS files in place, including what seems to be missing files for DISM — apps, personal files, and settings are preserved, and untouched.

In regards to doing a fresh install from scratch for this issue, my oppinion is, don't.

DISM isn't broken, and Windows isn't broken either, but there is a real, if currently silent, discrepancy in the component store that no repair source has resolved yet.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.26100.8972
Image Version: 10.0.26200.9168 as of August 12, 2026, after the latest Windows update cycle.

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T16:53:49-0400

jrgm said:
I too have this issue.

Seems to me that this is a known, narrowly-scoped, non-functionally-impacting quirk at this time and not worth pursuing.

And I do have file and system image level backups so, that's a layered defense on my part just in case something goes wrong.

The claims of a repair Install seems like a plausible "fix" but I don't feel I have the time for it at this time to confirm it. It should download a repair copy of the currently installed Windows version straight through from Windows Update's own pipeline and reinstalls OS files in place, including what seems to be missing files for DISM — apps, personal files, and settings are preserved, and untouched.

In regards to doing a fresh install from scratch for this issue, my oppinion is, don't.

DISM isn't broken, and Windows isn't broken either, but there is a real, if currently silent, discrepancy in the component store that no repair source has resolved yet.

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.26100.8972
Image Version: 10.0.26200.9168 as of August 12, 2026, after the latest Windows update cycle.

To clarify, it has to be an ISO repair install though. The required files won't be updated using the method in the below screen shot.

fg2001gf11F · 2026-08-12T17:00:52-0400

Kuromi said:
On the Windows 11 Release Preview channel, some devices may randomly get enrolled in the Windows Defender Beta channel and start receiving experimental feature policies.

If you see the “Turn on virus protection” notification shown in the screenshot, you may also notice that the Defender-related processes now include DefenderAiPlatformHost. At the moment, this seems to conflict with the status detection in Windows Security, causing the notification to appear even though Defender itself is working normally.

If you don't want to keep receiving this notification, you can remove the MpCampRing and MpEngineRing values under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\MpEngine

This will put Windows Defender back onto the retail channel. After you receive the next Security intelligence update for Microsoft Defender Antivirus, the settings should be restored and the issue should go away.

As you mentioned, here are the different settings on 2 different R.P. machines.

This one does not show the message.

This one gets the message.

Same settings on other insider channels with the same issue.

itsme1 · 2026-08-12T17:01:56-0400

gunrunnerjohn said:
No go, same error. Where exactly did you get the image for build 26200.9168.

View attachment 179474

You will need to perform a repair.

When it worked for me, I used PowerShell commands. If you haven't done so in PowerShell, Repair-WindowsImage -Online -RestoreHealth.

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T17:07:19-0400

fg2001gf11F said:
As you mentioned, here are the different settings on 2 different R.P. machines.

This one does not show the message.
View attachment 179485

This one gets the message.
View attachment 179486

Well, looks like we both have an RP machine in Windows Defender Beta channel

thecaretaker · 2026-08-12T17:07:52-0400

FrancoDT said:
To clarify, it has to be an ISO repair install though. The required files won't be updated using the method in the below screen shot.

I did try that but it failed. I'm giving it another try as I type. But I don't hold much hope it will be different a second time.

There must be a lot of people repairing their PC, I got a message at first that said it couldn't find the Windows 11 version 25H2 (repair version) and to try again later.

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T17:16:08-0400

thecaretaker said:
I did try that but it failed. I'm giving it another try as I type. But I don't hold much hope it will be different a second time.

There must be a lot of people repairing their PC, I got a message at first that said it couldn't find the Windows 11 version 25H2 (repair version) and to try again later.

Again, it has to be an ISO download to fix it though. The settings recovery method won't work.

jrgm · 2026-08-12T17:25:14-0400

FrancoDT said:
To clarify, it has to be an ISO repair install though. The required files won't be updated using the method in the below screen shot.

View attachment 179483

Ah, there it is! Thanks!

Well, for me it seems reasonable to just let this sit for now. If the next monthly cumulative update happens to reconcile it on its own, great.

Otherwise, at least for me, I won't waste time on a reinstall for a non-impacting issue.

You guys perused the dism.log files when this happens, right?

FrancoDT · 2026-08-12T17:32:21-0400

jrgm said:
Ah, there it is! Thanks!

Well, for me it seems reasonable to just let this sit for now. If the next monthly cumulative update happens to reconcile it on its own, great.

Otherwise, at least for me, I won't waste time on a reinstall for a non-impacting issue.

You guys perused the dism.log files when this happens, right?

I would agree that is the reasonable method to sit and be patient for the next update unless you get OCD like some of us sometimes do and can't wait.

jrgm · 2026-08-12T17:36:00-0400

FrancoDT said:
I would agree that is the reasonable method to sit and be patient for the next update unless you get OCD like some of us sometimes do and can't wait.

Got it.

I'm the same, but lately, I don't seem to have the energy for it anymore.
Just letting the thought juices flow here, so everyone can take a deep breath and make their own decisions based on community feedback.

fg2001gf11F · 2026-08-12T17:53:20-0400

Kuromi said:
I’ve updated the solution with a more reliable method. It turns out the registry values can be restored by Windows Defender after being manually deleted.

I’ve added the PowerShell method to the original post, which should prevent the values from coming back after a reboot.

Create a custom gradual rollout process for Microsoft Defender updates - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Learn how to use supported tools to create a custom gradual rollout process for updates

learn.microsoft.com

I think I'll let Microsoft deal with this.

Available	Next Step
	This update downloads and installs automatically from Windows Update and Microsoft Update.
	To install this release from the Microsoft Update Catalog, select the option that matches your device architecture (arm64 or x64), and then follow the instructions.

Win Update KB5121003 Windows 11 Cumulative Update build 26100.9168 (24H2) and 26200.9168 (25H2) - Aug. 11

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