[I have Windows XP Home SP3.]

I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old network card (that formerly connected to my cable modem with an ethernet cable), because I'll need a wired connection for firmware updates.

Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or should I leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an icon in the system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No kidding? ;-)

If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.

Thanks for your advice.

Daddy

"Daddy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
[I have Windows XP Home SP3.]

I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old network card
(that formerly connected to my cable modem with an ethernet cable), because
I'll need a wired connection for firmware updates.

Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or should I
leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an icon in the
system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No kidding? ;-)

If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device
Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.

Thanks for your advice.

Daddy

=====
Just tell the Notification Tray manager to not show you that icon, and turn
off notifications for that network adapter. End of problem.

If you disable it, the red X is actally helpful for when you go to use it,
and have forgotten that you disabled it.

HTH
-pk

Daddy wrote:

> [I have Windows XP Home SP3.]
>
> I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old network
> card (that formerly connected to my cable modem with an ethernet cable),
> because I'll need a wired connection for firmware updates.
>
> Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or should I
> leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an icon in the
> system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No kidding? ;-)
>
> If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device
> Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.

There is no reason to disable the NIC unless you want to. Having "a big red
'X'" in Device Manager is no big deal. I don't disable the ethernet
adapters on any of my laptops.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

If you don't want to disable the NIC, you can simply unbind all the
protocols and services from it. It stays as an active device but has
no functionality. Just untic/uncheck all the bindings from it's properties
(TAB).

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Daddy wrote:
>
>> [I have Windows XP Home SP3.]
>>
>> I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old network
>> card (that formerly connected to my cable modem with an ethernet cable),
>> because I'll need a wired connection for firmware updates.
>>
>> Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or should
>> I
>> leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an icon in the
>> system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No kidding? ;-)
>>
>> If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device
>> Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.
>
> There is no reason to disable the NIC unless you want to. Having "a big
> red
> 'X'" in Device Manager is no big deal. I don't disable the ethernet
> adapters on any of my laptops.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>

"Daddy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> [I have Windows XP Home SP3.]
>
> I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old
> network card (that formerly connected to my cable modem with an
> ethernet cable), because I'll need a wired connection for firmware
> updates.
>
> Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or
> should I leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an
> icon in the system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No
> kidding? ;-)
>
> If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device
> Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.

Sure you can do that, it's not going to harm anything by just disabling
the network card. In the long run it'll make it easier on you for when
you do need to use the wired connection. Then you wouldn't have to shut
down the pc, open it up, reinstall the card, etc...

--
Roy Smith
http://roysmith1959.spaces.live.com/
Windows 7 Beta

Thanks for everyone's help. I appreciate it.

Daddy

"Roy Smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Daddy" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> [I have Windows XP Home SP3.]
>>
>> I recently installed a wireless router. I didn't remove the old
>> network card (that formerly connected to my cable modem with an
>> ethernet cable), because I'll need a wired connection for firmware
>> updates.
>>
>> Is it okay to 'disable' the old network card in Device Manager or
>> should I leave it 'enabled'? It's currently enabled, and there is an
>> icon in the system tray telling me "a network cable is unplugged." No
>> kidding? ;-)
>>
>> If I disable the old network card, the icon goes away, but then Device
>> Manager puts a big red 'X' on the entry for the network card.
>
> Sure you can do that, it's not going to harm anything by just disabling
> the network card. In the long run it'll make it easier on you for when
> you do need to use the wired connection. Then you wouldn't have to shut
> down the pc, open it up, reinstall the card, etc...
>
> --
> Roy Smith
> http://roysmith1959.spaces.live.com/
> Windows 7 Beta
>
>
>