Some Windows 10 users have network issues after recent update

Multiple Windows 10 users are experiencing issues with their network card after updating the OS with last week’s cumulative update. Microsoft acknowledges that there are problems, but only with computers from the Japanese manufacturer NEC.

Windows Latest lists complaints from users whose network card stopped functioning after implementing the cumulative KB4515384 patch released last week. Complaints appeared at the Microsoft forum, on Reddit and the Windows 10 Feedback Hub.

The reports concern PCs with Gigabyte and MSI motherboards and are mainly Intel NICs, although a user on Reddit reports that his Killer NIC also stopped functioning after the update. The problems make that no Ethernet and WiFi connection is possible. Updating the network card drivers wouldn’t help; rolling back the KB4515384 patch does. It is not known how widespread the problems are. Some users respond to notifications that they have successfully updated multiple PCs.

Microsoft acknowledges network issues, but only addresses Wi-Fi issues with Intel Centrino 6205 and 6235 and Broadcom 802.11ac cards on some NEC systems. Disabling and enabling the Wi-Fi network cards would solve the problems. In the meantime, Microsoft will stop distributing Windows 10 version 1903, the May 2019 Update, to NEC systems until the software issues are fixed.

Other issues that Microsoft says can occur after the implementation of KB4515384 are related to the Start Menu and the search function no longer working, high CPU load in the Input Method Editor and low audio playback in games. Microsoft says it is investigating those issues.