After a failed OS load following a patch, what should the technician do next?

Rebooting into safe mode and rolling back the updates is a sound approach following a failed operating system load after applying a patch. Safe mode loads a minimal set of drivers and services, allowing the operating system to start with the bare essentials. This environment is useful for troubleshooting issues, as it prevents any problematic third-party applications or drivers from loading, which might be causing the failure.

Once in safe mode, the technician can effectively roll back the updates or patches that may have caused the instability, restoring the system to its last stable configuration. This is a common procedure utilized when recent changes to the operating system create performance or stability issues. By rolling back these updates, the technician can potentially resolve the problems that were introduced, allowing the system to boot normally again.

In contrast, repairing the Windows Registry, configuring boot options in the BIOS, or disabling Windows services and applications may not address the immediate cause of the failed OS load resulting from the patch. These options might be more complex or take more time, while safe mode and rolling back updates offer a direct method to resolve the issue efficiently.