Windows 11's highly anticipated 24H2 update is causing widespread Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors for users with certain Western Digital NVMe SSDs, particularly the SN580 and SN770 models. The issue appears to stem from Host Memory Buffer (HMB) compatibility problems in the new update, leaving many users frustrated with unstable systems.

The Core of the Problem

The 24H2 update introduces changes to how Windows handles Host Memory Buffer (HMB) technology, which certain NVMe SSDs use to boost performance. Western Digital drives utilizing this feature are experiencing:

  • Frequent CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED BSOD errors
  • System freezes during boot or heavy workloads
  • Event Viewer logs showing nvme driver failures
  • Performance degradation in some cases

Affected users report these issues primarily occur with:

  • WD Black SN770
  • WD Blue SN580
  • Some reports of similar problems with SN850X models

Microsoft and Western Digital's Response

As of publication time:

  • Microsoft has acknowledged the issue in internal support channels
  • Western Digital has updated their firmware compatibility notes
  • No official patch has been released by either company
  • Enterprise customers are being advised to delay the 24H2 update

Temporary Fixes and Workarounds

Registry Hack Solution

The most reliable temporary fix involves modifying Windows Registry settings:

  1. Open Registry Editor (regedit)
  2. Navigate to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stornvme\Parameters\Device
  3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named HMBAllocationPolicy
  4. Set the value to 0
  5. Reboot your system

This disables HMB functionality for the NVMe driver, potentially reducing performance but restoring stability.

Alternative Solutions

  1. Roll back to Windows 11 23H2 through System Restore
  2. Disable HMB in SSD firmware (if available in WD Dashboard)
  3. Update to latest WD firmware (some users report v7311100 helps)
  4. Clean install Windows 11 24H2 with HMB disabled initially

Performance Impact Considerations

Disabling HMB may cause:

  • 5-15% reduction in random read/write speeds
  • Slightly higher CPU usage during disk operations
  • Minimal impact on sequential transfers

For most users, the stability tradeoff is worthwhile until a proper fix arrives.

Long-Term Outlook

Industry analysts predict:

  • Microsoft will likely issue a patch within 6-8 weeks
  • Western Digital preparing firmware updates for affected drives
  • Future Windows updates may include better HMB handling
  • The issue highlights growing pains with NVMe optimization

Protecting Your System

Before applying the 24H2 update:

  1. Check your SSD model in Device Manager
  2. Backup critical data
  3. Create a system restore point
  4. Consider waiting if using WD SN580/SN770 drives

For users already affected, the registry modification has proven the most reliable solution while awaiting official patches.