TL;DR
A user reports that a Windows 11 security update (KB5068861) repeatedly failed and a later rollback left their Qualcomm Snapdragon Dev Kit unbootable. Attempts to repair or reinstall Windows succeeded partway but now the device will not boot past the Snapdragon logo, and there is no documented firmware recovery path.
What happened
The author ran a Snapdragon Dev Kit with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 32GB RAM and a 512GB SSD as a daily driver from October 2024 until a Windows security update (KB5068861) failed to install in early December. Multiple install attempts, manual installs from the Microsoft Update Catalog, and system-repair commands (sfc /scannow, DISM) did not resolve the rollback. After temporarily disabling updates, the user re-enabled them; a subsequent restart triggered the same update, and the rollback sequence behaved abnormally. The device booted into a new profile, many Microsoft apps were unusable, and random reboots or power-offs followed. The author accessed the Boot Device Selection menu with difficulty, disabled Secure Boot, and tried a clean Windows 11 ARM install from USB using previously downloaded Snapdragon drivers. The installer progressed but froze at the driver-selection step, after which the machine now fails to boot past the Snapdragon splash logo. The SSD tested OK in another machine. Qualcomm discontinued the dev kit and the device lacks a documented firmware recovery path.
Why it matters
- System updates can interact with low-level firmware or boot components and, in some cases, leave devices unbootable.
- Developer-focused hardware without OEM recovery tools can become effectively unrecoverable after a firmware or boot failure.
- Lack of vendor support for discontinued developer kits increases risk for users relying on them as daily drivers.
- Recovery and reflashing mechanisms matter for platform resilience — consumer devices often have OEM-backed safety nets that dev kits may not.
Key facts
- Device: Snapdragon Dev Kit with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite ARM64 CPU, 32GB RAM, 512GB SSD.
- Initial stability: The device ran Windows 11 for ARM as the owner’s daily driver from October 2024 with no reported hardware or software issues.
- Problem update: Windows security update KB5068861 failed to install and rolled back in early December.
- Repair attempts: The owner ran sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, cleared package cache, and tried manual installation from the Microsoft Update Catalog; none fixed the issue.
- Rollback recurrence: After re-enabling updates, the same update attempt triggered a rollback that left the system in a partially broken state (new profile, apps unusable).
- Reinstall attempt: The owner disabled Secure Boot, prepared a Windows 11 ARM USB installer and a second USB with previously downloaded Snapdragon Dev Kit drivers, and began a clean install that initially ran but froze at the driver-selection screen.
- Current state: The machine now reboots or powers off before passing the Snapdragon boot logo; Boot Device Selection is intermittently accessible but many options are unselectable.
- Hardware check: The SSD was reseated and tested in another machine and was found to be functional.
- Support status: Qualcomm discontinued the Snapdragon Dev Kit and the author had previously downloaded drivers before they disappeared from Qualcomm’s site.
What to watch next
- Whether Microsoft issues a cumulative update or fix addressing the KB5068861 installation and rollback problem that affected multiple users.
- Whether Qualcomm releases a firmware recovery or reflashing tool for the discontinued Snapdragon Dev Kit (not confirmed in the source).
- Any announcement from Qualcomm or third parties about documented recovery procedures or official support for this dev kit (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Windows Update: Microsoft’s service that delivers operating system patches, security fixes, and feature updates to Windows devices.
- UEFI / Boot Device Selection (BDS): The modern firmware interface for initializing hardware and choosing boot devices or configuration options before the OS loads.
- Secure Boot: A UEFI feature that helps ensure a device boots using only software trusted by the original equipment manufacturer.
- WinPE: Windows Preinstallation Environment, a lightweight version of Windows used for deployment, recovery, or installation tasks.
- DISM and SFC: Command-line tools used to repair Windows images (DISM) and check or repair system files (SFC).
Reader FAQ
Did the Windows update definitively brick the dev kit?
The author attributes the failure to the update sequence, but a definitive, independently verified cause is not confirmed in the source.
Can the device be recovered now?
All recovery attempts described in the source failed and there is no documented firmware recovery path for the dev kit; a successful recovery is not confirmed in the source.
Was the SSD the cause of failure?
The SSD was reseated and tested in another machine and appeared to be functional, suggesting the SSD itself was not the primary cause.
Is Qualcomm still supporting the Snapdragon Dev Kit?
According to the author, Qualcomm discontinued the Snapdragon Dev Kit and stopped future support; the owner had downloaded drivers before they were removed from Qualcomm’s site.
How Microsoft (Probably) Killed My Snapdragon Dev Kit 2026-01-06 + Reading Time: 5 mins Section: Blog Posts Categories: blog Tags: tech computing IT Windows Microsoft Back in October 2024, I…
Sources
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