Microsoft releases patch to fix Windows 10 update that kicked users off the internet

Following media coverage and complaints from European internet service providers (ISPs), Microsoft has quietly released a patch that repairs problems caused by a Windows 10 update that saw multiple users' computers have internet connectivity problems.

For several days since late last week, some Windows 10 computers across the world that installed the latest mandated Windows Update began experiencing internet problems. According to the Register, the problem was due to the update accidentally breaking the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

This caused the computers not to be able to obtain IP addresses from their internet routers, which then effectively kicked people off both the internet and their own local Wi-Fi network.

After receiving complaints and support calls from numerous users, several European ISPs were forced to address the issue and even write up detailed advice on how their customers could reconnect to the internet,. Eventually Microsoft told the BBC that it was advising customers restart their machines and try to consult the official Microsoft website.

However, it seems that the problem is much bigger than it previously appeared, as now Microsoft has issued a patch to fix the earlier Windows Update patch.

Microsoft explains that patch number KB3206632, which was pushed out by Microsoft on 13 December, addresses "a service crash in CDPSVC (Connected Devices Platform Service) that in some situations could lead to the machine not being able to acquire an IP address".

Windows 10 users are encouraged to download this patch, which may not appear for you unless you first restart your PC, and Microsoft has clarified on the patch page that it released the patch to fix internet connectivity problems.

Microsoft's latest operating system has seen a huge amount of complaints and has been in the news constantly since it was released for a range of unsavoury reasons, to the scale that it could almost be compared to much bemoaned older operating systems like Windows Vista and Windows ME.

To give a quick summary, there was the issue with the Get Windows 10 nagware that annoyed Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users so much and even hijacked a live TV news broadcast; or the Windows 10 updates that force PCs to use Microsoft products by default; or the update that automatically deleted certain crucial software drivers for proprietary software.

Then there was the mysterious 6GB of data quietly installed on Windows machines; to say nothing of the bizarre Wi-Fi Sense feature that silently tracks users and sends the data to Microsoft.