Windows thinks it has a hidden NIC somewhere

spudbynight

spudbynight

spudbynight

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I've got an issue with Windows. I've just reinstalled after a hardware upgrade and when trying to set my static IP for home network connectivity I got an error message like this :

“The IP address you have entered for this network adapter is already assigned to another adapter “Fast Ethernet Adapter #2”. “Fast Ethernet Adapter #2″ is hidden from the Network Connections folder because it is not physically in the computer. If the same address is assigned to both adapters and they both become active, only one of them will use this address. This may result in incorrect system configuration. Do you want to enter a different IP address for this adapter in the list of IP addresses in the Advanced dialog box?”

So Windows won't allow me to assign my chosen IP address as it thinks there is another network adaptor with that IP address. I only have one network, adaptor, the onboard gigabit Ethernet. It seems to think the old network adaptor on the old motherboard I had is still in place. I can't seem to find a way to remove this.

I tried the solution listed HERE without any success. It still won't allow me to use my chosen IP address. I could just ignore this whole problem and select a different IP address but I am worried that I am storing up issues for later with a phantom network adaptor. I saw a Microsoft knowledgebase article HERE which suggested using devcon to remove this. Unfortunately, after downloading 15GB of Visual Studio SDK stuff I can't actually manage to fine devcon anywhere.

Anyone any ideas how I can actually remedy this?
 
Your first solution has worked for me in the couple of occasions I've needed it.

In an administrator command prompt run
C:\>set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
C:\>devmgmt.msc
In the Device Manager window click View → Show hidden devices. Remove the greyed-out adapters under Network Adapters.
Reboot


Worst case though there should be no issue with clicking No to the "Do you want to enter a different IP address" dialog, and having it assigned to both.
 
I already tried the first solution without success. If I click no at the "Do you want to enter a different IP address" I lose network connectivity.

What is frustrating is the IP I want to use (192.168.1.3) isn't currently showing on the network
 
Why aren't you allowing DHCP to do it's thing?? I've got a large-ish home network now and manually assigning IP's is a pain, I let the router control and configure IP's with the exception of my NAS box, it's just so much simpler :)
 
Because I have various devices access media shares on my PC. They are connected to those shares at static IP addresses

Also, what is weird now, is that setting ANY static IP kills connectivity. I only get an error if trying to set it to 192.168.1.3. Any other IP address is accepted without an error message but my connection dies.

I currently have DHCP enabled on the PC and I have reserved the IP address I wanted from the router directly. This seems to be working, but it doesn't explain what the problem has been.

:(
 
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What are the address ranges you're using i.e. are they all hosted within the same IP ranges? Very odd if you're saying reserving one kills all comms, unless you are reserving at the same adress as something on the router itself?
 
Did you ever set up a VLAN on the network adaptor, normally that's when you get the duplicate logical adaptor show up.
 
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