Reinstalling Win 10 on a buddy's HP desktop. Thought this puzzling symptom might indicate a more sinister problem. Cha-ching. Resolved.
Thank you.

Thanks for this. I also had to delete my old Windows partition on my SSD due to existing MBR. Nice step-by-step Mark. :cake:

EVERY single (unsolicited) Windows 10 Home update procedure knocks out my internet access so I can't access internet after a Windows Update.

Found several solutions here at 10 Forums some time...