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Can't remove NIC in XP Home

boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
I had to replace a defective motherboard. The original had an onboard NIC and the replacement didn't. No biggie as I didn't need it anyway.

I am unable to remove the NIC from Device Manager in either normal or Safe Mode. The error message is, Failed to uninstall the device. The device may be required to boot up the computer.

The system is running fine but the boot up is quite slow. I would like to get rid of this device. I could wipe out and start over as there is nothing on the machine but XP and some updates at this point, but I would prefer to delete it. Already activated too.

What's the secret to this? Simple procedure in 98.
 
If you just wipe out the install and reload on the same machine, you can do a reactivation over the internet. It won't complain that it has already been activated.

Can't help you with the NIC thing though..sorry.
 
Hey thanks that's good to know. I'll probably just go that route then. Didn't feel like having to give Microsoft an explanation.
 
Derango,

"If you just wipe out the install and reload on the same machine" the first line of his post said "I had to replace a defective motherboard". He's probably looking at a call, a MB change should (unfortunately) trigger one since it's not identical.

Bill
 
Oh shoot. Yea...probably. Unless he actiavted with the new Motherboard (which is what I thought before)

The call is painless though. Just say "upgraded hardware" and they'll give you a new code 🙂
 
I activated after the new motherboard. Of course the new install won't reflect the onboard NIC, so I guess I'll just find out.
 
Sometimes two identical boards minus one feature will share a common bios, and XP will see the non existant hardware item from the bios and show it is there, when in fact it is not. This has happened to me on two boards. I simply disable the item in device manager. It wont kill you to have it there since it isnt using any resources
 
That is the case here. Two versions of the board but only one BIOS version. There was even a new BIOS version and I flashed to it thinking it would take care of the situation but no go. But I follow what you're saying. I may wipe it out and start over and the NIC may still show up.

I am able to disable the item in Device Manager. There are no less than 7 devices listed under the catagory of Network Adapters.

Direct Parallel
Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC- Packet Scheduler Miniport
WAN Miniport (IP)
WAN Miniport (IP) - Packet Scheduler Miniport
WAN Miniport (L2TP)
WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
WAN Miniport (PPTP)

First system I've built with an onboard NIC, does this look typical? All these items look reasonable to me.

I've built three systems using XP Home. Two of which were more "performance" oriented. They got to the desktop in no time at all. Very quick. This one takes much longer but perhaps it's because it's built around an MSI MS-6368 (VIA PLE 133) with onboard video and sound. This a system for my parents that will be used only for email and very light surfing.

I may still wipe it out just for the sake of curiosity.
 
Well a clean install never hurts anything.. 🙂 Typically MA and PA get stuck with the slow mo system, so Im sure it will seem like it zips along to them no matter what you decide. 🙂
 
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