If your Dell PC suddenly started shutting down, running hot, or draining its battery last week, you are not alone. Microsoft’s July 2026 Patch Tuesday update - KB5101650 - has been causing problems on certain Dell models.
The good news: it is not a hardware failure. It is not a virus. Microsoft has released a fix.
Here is exactly how to check if you are affected and what to do about it.
Are You Affected?
You probably have the problem if:
- You own a Dell laptop or desktop
- Windows Update was installed KB5101650 between July 14 and July 19
- Your computer started randomly shutting down, overheating, or losing battery faster than usual
Not all Dell models are affected. But enough are that Microsoft blocked the update on July 18 and released an out-of-band fix.
How to Check if KB5101650 Is Installed
- Press the Windows key and type View update history
- Click the result that says “View update history”
- Look for an entry that says KB5101650
If you see it, you have the affected update.
How to Fix It
Microsoft released the fix as KB5121767 on July 19. If your Windows Update is set to automatically install updates, it may have already been applied. Here is how to check:
- Press the Windows key and type Check for updates
- Click the result
- If KB5121767 is waiting, click Install now
- Restart your computer
If you do not see it in the list, you can install it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog:
- Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog
- Search for KB5121767
- Download the version that matches your system (64-bit or 32-bit)
- Run the installer and restart
What If You Have a Different Brand?
If you have a Lenovo, HP, ASUS, or other brand, and you are seeing similar issues - check. The initial reports were Dell-specific, but Microsoft’s own update quality track record means other brands could be affected too. The same fix applies.
If your computer is not having problems, you can ignore this. Not every update affects every system.
What to Do Going Forward
If you want to avoid this kind of thing in the future, here is a simple rule: pause updates for two weeks after Patch Tuesday.
Microsoft releases updates on the second Tuesday of every month. Most problems are found and fixed within a week or two. By waiting two weeks before installing, you let other people find the bugs for you. This is called a “deferral strategy” and it is what IT departments have been doing for years.
- Press the Windows key and type Check for updates
- Click Pause updates and choose 1-2 weeks from the dropdown
Install the deferred updates when the two weeks are up. You will get the same security fixes, but with the known bugs already patched.
The Bottom Line
The July update is a pain, but it is a temporary one. If you have a Dell that started acting up, install KB5121767 and you will be back to normal in five minutes. If you want to avoid this next month, pause your updates for two weeks and let Microsoft fix their own mistakes before you install them.
This is the first article in the PC Basics section. More coming - if there is a computer problem you keep running into, let me know and I will write it up.