phantom NIC card blocking Internet access

[J Choy]

I have discovered a "phantom" NIC adapter in the System
Information/Components/Network/Adapter window. In Index 7,
there's a Netgear FA511 Cardbus adapter with all key
information "Not Available." In Index 8, there's a second
Netgear FA511 Cardbus adapter WITH all key info available.
This machine cannot connet to the Internet via a DSL
router/DSL modem, I fear because of this phantom card. I
can ping the DSL router just fine.
I've tried uninstalling/rebooting/reinstalling the Netgear
card drivers, TCP/IP, network connection settings, etc.
Only the real card in Index 8 is removed by these actions.
The phantom Index 7 card is unaffected.
Anyone know how I can get rid of this phantom card?

 

[Mr_jones9999]

Hello,

you didn't say what OS you were using, but under Windows
2000 pro, you can go to the install/uninstall new hardware
in the control panel and when you go to uninstall hardware
up at the top you must check mark the show hidden devices,
that will redo the window with all pieces and parts shown,
win 2000 is pretty forgiving as it won't let you remove
hardware that is needed to run the machine, and even if
you do it will reinstall on next boot. you may see the
adapter but it will be dimmer than the in use one, you
simply uninstall that dimmer one also.

BE CAREFULL that you don't uninstall stuff you don't want
to go away,

good luck

Mr_jones9999

 

[Steven L Umbach]

This KB may or may not help, but is worth a look at how to unistall a ghosted network
adapter. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=269155

 

[Steven L Umbach]

With all going on you might consider an inplace upgrade of Windows 2000. It will
reinstall the operating system but preserve your data and applications. The main
problem with that type of reinstall is that you will have to reinstall first your
service pack and then all critical updates at no more than around seven at a time.
There is no guarantee it will fix the problem but very well could and I have used it
more than a few times. If you have a high speed internet connection, the reinstalling
of service pack and critical updates should not be a big issue. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=292175 --- use repair option right
after User Agreement.

Thanks for the clues, but it didn't solve the issue. The phantom card is still

there; can't get it to appear in any kind of listing other than System Info; still
can't figure out how to get rid of the darned thing. (Actually, things are worse
now, because some critical drivers (for main display, etc) got nuked -- not at all
sure how this happened, since I didn't delete anything manually).