Busted Windows 8, 10 update blamed for breaking Brits' DHCP

Computers running the Microsoft operating systems are losing network connectivity due to what appears to be a problem with DHCP. Specifically, it seems some Windows 10 and 8 boxes can no longer reliably obtain LAN-side IP addresses and DNS server settings from their BT and Plusnet broadband routers, preventing them from reaching the internet and other devices on their networks.

If an operating system upgrade is the cause, it would be the second case of egg-on-face for Microsoft's Windows Update team in as many weeks.

Whatever the cause is this time, the result is broken DHCP with PCs being left with no automatically assigned IP addresses. The scale of the issue is unclear, although in our view, it’s mushrooming and it’s striking PCs apparently randomly. Acer, Dell and HP machines have all been affected, we're told.