How do I manually remove a network adapter in Windows XP's registry editor 32 (REGEDT32.EXE)?

[David O.]

Windows XP assigns a number to my PC's network adapter after the device
driver is updated or when Windows detects the hardware adapter as a "new
device" after previous drivers are removed from the system cache folder.
This problem occurred after I had installed updated device drivers.

There is only ONE hardware adapter installed and connected to my PC
(internal card) yet Windows detects this hardware as a new device -- after
rebooting Windows it will detect the hardware as new, then search for its
driver, then install and assign a sequential number at the end of the device
name. For example, "AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter #2".

Windows XP also assigns a number to the adapter network connection each time
Windows detects the adapter as a new device. For example, "Wireless Network
Connection #3".

I know that part of the problem is in the Registry Editor 32 keys. ALL of
the registry keys for this adapter need to be deleted so that Windows will
detect the hardware as a "FIRST time" device hardware detection -- this will
"reset" adapter to "AR5001X+ Wireless Network Adapter".

I do not know all of the registry keys to delete and I searched Microsoft
Knowledge Base but could only find an article for manually deleting a
network adapter in Windows NT.

Does anyone know the KB article for removing network adapter registry keys
in Windows XP?

Thanks.
David

 

[Jerry]

Don't know the keys you're asking about but; try booting into Safe Mode,
open Device Manager, delete all instances of the offending adapter, reboot,
and Windows will re-detect.