Remove Old Network Cards From Device Manager

When I installed a network card, I had trouble with it, resulting in me
switching it around PCI slots to make it work.

The end result is that there are 4 copies of the same driver (Ethernet Card
#2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport), but when I right-click one and choose
uninstall, I get "This device may be required for the computer to boot"
message, and so I cannot uninstall it. Is there anyway to bypass this, as
it is slowing my computer up when starting.

Thanks
Graeme

The only solution I found for the problem was a complete reinstall of XP and all programs.

The NIC is included in the activation (hash) code which is why you are getting "required for the computer to boot."

--
Just my 2˘ worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
"Graeme" <john.fagg1@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:ztQCb.1095$R6.940510@newsfep2-win.server.ntli.net...
| When I installed a network card, I had trouble with it, resulting in me
| switching it around PCI slots to make it work.
|
| The end result is that there are 4 copies of the same driver (Ethernet Card
| #2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport), but when I right-click one and choose
| uninstall, I get "This device may be required for the computer to boot"
| message, and so I cannot uninstall it. Is there anyway to bypass this, as
| it is slowing my computer up when starting.
|
| Thanks
| Graeme
|
|

Actually you can remove them, and quite easily ... need to go into the
registry though.

Do a 'Edit/Find' in 'regedit' for the card no's 2 thru 4 (there'll be
several instances of each) and, when you find them, you'll probably have to
change the permissions to allow you to remove it (rt-click on the item,
select 'Permission's and allow yourself full control). I'd leave the GUID's
that each card references alone. If you later re-install the card, it will
show up as #5 but you can locate it in registry and just change the
'friendly name'.

Obviously, this provides the opportunity for things to go very badly if you
delete the wrong thing, so back up your data ... better still, create an
image of your drive in case all turns to worms. And, unless this really
annoys you to see the old drivers, probably best to just leave them alone.
--
HTH ... Fred

mrtee wrote:
> The only solution I found for the problem was a complete reinstall of
> XP and all programs.
>
> The NIC is included in the activation (hash) code which is why you
> are getting "required for the computer to boot."
>
>> When I installed a network card, I had trouble with it, resulting in
>> me switching it around PCI slots to make it work.
>>
>> The end result is that there are 4 copies of the same driver
>> (Ethernet Card #2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport), but when I
>> right-click one and choose uninstall, I get "This device may be
>> required for the computer to boot" message, and so I cannot
>> uninstall it. Is there anyway to bypass this, as it is slowing my
>> computer up when starting.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Graeme

Yikes, this is pretty dangerous. Try this instead

Type the following commands at a command prompt

set DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
devmgmt.msc

Now you should be able to remove the old cards.

--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"FredP" <!@#$@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:QdTCb.44189$8y1.184789@attbi_s52...
> Actually you can remove them, and quite easily ... need to go into the
> registry though.
>
> Do a 'Edit/Find' in 'regedit' for the card no's 2 thru 4 (there'll be
> several instances of each) and, when you find them, you'll probably have
to
> change the permissions to allow you to remove it (rt-click on the item,
> select 'Permission's and allow yourself full control). I'd leave the
GUID's
> that each card references alone. If you later re-install the card, it
will
> show up as #5 but you can locate it in registry and just change the
> 'friendly name'.
>
> Obviously, this provides the opportunity for things to go very badly if
you
> delete the wrong thing, so back up your data ... better still, create an
> image of your drive in case all turns to worms. And, unless this really
> annoys you to see the old drivers, probably best to just leave them alone.
> --
> HTH ... Fred
>
> mrtee wrote:
> > The only solution I found for the problem was a complete reinstall of
> > XP and all programs.
> >
> > The NIC is included in the activation (hash) code which is why you
> > are getting "required for the computer to boot."
> >
> >> When I installed a network card, I had trouble with it, resulting in
> >> me switching it around PCI slots to make it work.
> >>
> >> The end result is that there are 4 copies of the same driver
> >> (Ethernet Card #2 - Packet Scheduler Miniport), but when I
> >> right-click one and choose uninstall, I get "This device may be
> >> required for the computer to boot" message, and so I cannot
> >> uninstall it. Is there anyway to bypass this, as it is slowing my
> >> computer up when starting.
> >>
> >> Thanks
> >> Graeme
>
>