Windows Update Broke File Transfer?

I am on Windows 11 Pro 10.0.26100 Build 26100.
CPU Intel i7-9700F, 32 GB RAM

Today Windows Update forced me to update to 2025-09 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5065426) (26100.6584)

There was no option to skip this update. Only prompt me to restart to effect the update.

After restart, I have problems copying files from C: (Samsung 970 EVO Plus PCIe 3.0 SSD NVMe) to D: (WD Black 4TB Performance Hard Drive - 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 256 MB Cache, 3.5" - WD4005FZBX).

There is only 1 file. File size is less than 1.2 GB. It takes about half an hour to copy from C: to D:. The transfer rate went to 0 a few times and there were a few long pauses in between. I killed the task and restarted and used robocopy from command prompt and the result is the same.

I tried another file and the result is also the same. It took me half and hour to transfer a 1 GB file between internal disks.

This morning, before the Windows Update. Everything is fine. My transfers will take less than 10 seconds.

I don't have any other issues (at least for now) with the new update. I can surf Internet fine. I can run files from both C: and D: fine. Chkdsk reveals no issues.

This is quite frustrating. Anyone experienced the same and if there is any workaround? Other than changing OS to RHEL, Mac etc.