- Jan 24, 2011
- 9,378
Virgin Media, Proximus also raise alarm on broken DHCP
A broken software update for Windows 8 and 10 is knackering internet connectivity for users of several ISPs in the UK, Europe and potentially beyond.
Virgin Media in Blighty the latest provider to admit the dodgy code is knocking a number of its customers offline. Proximus in Belgium also says a Windows 10 update is breaking network access.
The problem emerged last week, when BT and Plusnet in the UK admitted that computers running Microsoft's latest patches are losing network connectivity due to what appears to be a problem with their Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) clients.
Essentially, the PCs cannot automatically pick up their LAN-side IP address, router address and DNS settings from their broadband routers, causing them to drop off the internet and disappear from other devices on their network.
This happens regardless of ISP and broadband box, and is understood to be caused by a bad Windows Update patch. If you use static addresses, you should be OK.
In a support forum message posted yesterday, Virgin Media advised that some Windows 10 users were experiencing difficulty connecting to the internet after installing the latest update.
"Microsoft are aware and investigating," it said.
One reader, Adam Comben, got in touch with The Register to report: "We have a retail repair shop and have seen around 25 instances of this since Thursday.
"It doesn’t matter what ISP or router they’ve been using – we’ve had TalkTalk, BT, Plusnet, Sky, you name it. All with the same problem, will not obtain an IP via DHCP."
He said the issue is definitely a DHCP problem caused by a broken Windows Update, "although we’ve not been able to identify the cause it’s an extremely quick fix."
Read more: Botched Microsoft update knocks Windows 8, 10 PCs offline – regardless of ISP
A broken software update for Windows 8 and 10 is knackering internet connectivity for users of several ISPs in the UK, Europe and potentially beyond.
Virgin Media in Blighty the latest provider to admit the dodgy code is knocking a number of its customers offline. Proximus in Belgium also says a Windows 10 update is breaking network access.
The problem emerged last week, when BT and Plusnet in the UK admitted that computers running Microsoft's latest patches are losing network connectivity due to what appears to be a problem with their Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) clients.
Essentially, the PCs cannot automatically pick up their LAN-side IP address, router address and DNS settings from their broadband routers, causing them to drop off the internet and disappear from other devices on their network.
This happens regardless of ISP and broadband box, and is understood to be caused by a bad Windows Update patch. If you use static addresses, you should be OK.
In a support forum message posted yesterday, Virgin Media advised that some Windows 10 users were experiencing difficulty connecting to the internet after installing the latest update.
"Microsoft are aware and investigating," it said.
One reader, Adam Comben, got in touch with The Register to report: "We have a retail repair shop and have seen around 25 instances of this since Thursday.
"It doesn’t matter what ISP or router they’ve been using – we’ve had TalkTalk, BT, Plusnet, Sky, you name it. All with the same problem, will not obtain an IP via DHCP."
He said the issue is definitely a DHCP problem caused by a broken Windows Update, "although we’ve not been able to identify the cause it’s an extremely quick fix."
Read more: Botched Microsoft update knocks Windows 8, 10 PCs offline – regardless of ISP
