Cannot UNinstall network card...IP address conflict

[Guest]

Winxp sp2

My network card died. I replaced it with a different brand.
When I try to set the fixed IP address, it tells me there
is a conflict and the address is already assigned to another
card.

No problem, just uninstall the old card.
Safe mode, device manager, show hidden devices.
Click uninstall.
"can't cause it may be used to boot system...or words to that effect."

So, I can't uninstall it. I can't move the ip address out of the way,
cause it's not installed.

Google found me many people with the same problem, but no solutions.

What now?
Reinstalling windows is NOT an option.
mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Winxp sp2

My network card died. I replaced it with a different brand.
When I try to set the fixed IP address, it tells me there
is a conflict and the address is already assigned to another
card.

No problem, just uninstall the old card.
Safe mode, device manager, show hidden devices.
Click uninstall.
"can't cause it may be used to boot system...or words to that effect."

So, I can't uninstall it. I can't move the ip address out of the way,
cause it's not installed.

Google found me many people with the same problem, but no solutions.

What now?
Reinstalling windows is NOT an option.
mike

Try again and read the message carefully. It says that the address is
already in use by another card. It then asks you "Do you wish to use a
different address?" If you click the "No" button, it uses the address you
chose.

 

[Guest]

Try again and read the message carefully. It says that the address is
already in use by another card. It then asks you "Do you wish to use a
different address?" If you click the "No" button, it uses the address you
chose.

Thanks,
That would have been a great answer to the question, "How do I get past the
error message?"

I'll restate the question, "How do I uninstall the card that no longer
exists?"


Thanks, mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks,
That would have been a great answer to the question, "How do I get past
the
error message?"

Indeed, and it gets you going in just about all cases.

I'll restate the question, "How do I uninstall the card that no longer
exists?"

Simple: You launch the Device Manager, then click View / Show hidden
devices. You can now right-click the unwanted device and uninstall it.

 

[Guest]

Indeed, and it gets you going in just about all cases.



Simple: You launch the Device Manager, then click View / Show hidden
devices. You can now right-click the unwanted device and uninstall it.

I apologize for being such a poor communicator.
The second paragraph of my original post (referenced on this very page)
detailed my failed attempt to do exactly that.
Can you help me with strategy to accomplish that when the simple directions
fail me? Am I missing some permissions or magic incantations?
Thanks, mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I apologize for being such a poor communicator.
The second paragraph of my original post (referenced on this very page)
detailed my failed attempt to do exactly that.
Can you help me with strategy to accomplish that when the simple
directions
fail me? Am I missing some permissions or magic incantations?
Thanks, mike

The fault is on my side - I failed to re-read your original post. At
the same time I find it difficult to accept the error message you quoted
there. As we all know, a network adapter is not an essential device
for booting up Windows. Can you try once more, then post the
error message verbatim?

 

[mike]

The fault is on my side - I failed to re-read your original post. At
the same time I find it difficult to accept the error message you quoted
there. As we all know, a network adapter is not an essential device
for booting up Windows. Can you try once more, then post the
error message verbatim?

The exact error message is:
"Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot up
the computer."

mike

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

The exact error message is:
"Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot up
the computer."

mike

I have never come across this problem before but it appears that a number of
other people have. One of these links might help:

http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-xp/65415-unable-uninstall-network-adapter.html
http://forum.soft32.com/win4/Problems-uninstalling-wireless-network-adapter-ftopict221389.html
http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/271229da-2f07-405b-ab24-061265c65edb/

Instead of removing the device, you might leave it in place and modify its
IP address directly by a registry hack.

 

[mike]

I have never come across this problem before but it appears that a number of
other people have. One of these links might help:

http://www.techtalkz.com/windows-xp/65415-unable-uninstall-network-adapter.html
http://forum.soft32.com/win4/Problems-uninstalling-wireless-network-adapter-ftopict221389.html
http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/271229da-2f07-405b-ab24-061265c65edb/

Instead of removing the device, you might leave it in place and modify its
IP address directly by a registry hack.

Thanks,
The plot thickens...
I followed the microsoft link.
I had poked around in the registry before, but all those classid's
scared me. Have no idea what they're doing.

The registry structure was much more complicated than described, but I
searched the
registry for the phantom card name and started deleting stuff:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\Descriptions
Delete entry for the phantom device...device still in device manager

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8169&SUBSYS_816910EC&REV_10
cannot delete key "big number": Error while deleting key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\MS_PSCHEDMP\0002
Cannot delete 0002 error while deleting key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}\0012
Key deleted

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8169&SUBSYS_816910EC&REV_10
error while deleting key
Still can't remove phantom device in device manager.

Rebooted
Phantom device still in device manager.
changed ip address on installed device to non-conflicting address.
Changed ip address on installed device back to previously conflicting
address.
No address conflict error message.
Phantom device now GONE from device manager.

The *\0002 key that wouldn't delete before is gone.
The only remaining registry key containing the card name is
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8169&SUBSYS_816910EC&REV_10\4&3b1caf2b&0&00F0
looks like has had stuff appended to it.

I have no idea what fixed it. There was a stuff in the *\0012 key, so
don't know what mischief I caused deleting it.

This shouldn't be this hard.
I was hoping to learn from this. The device manager should let me
manage devices.
The registry editor should let me edit the registry.
And I still don't know why I couldn't or what to do next time I encounter
a similar issue.
But, so far, it's working.

Thanks, mike

 

[John John (MVP)]

[snip...]

This shouldn't be this hard.
I was hoping to learn from this. The device manager should let me
manage devices.
The registry editor should let me edit the registry.
And I still don't know why I couldn't or what to do next time I encounter
a similar issue.

For future references:

Error message when you try to set an IP address on a network adapter
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269155

As for the keys in the Enum subkey, onle the System account has
permission on these registry keys:

Enum
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/30004.mspx?mfr=true

John