Red X over network icon - no connection at all

[raildogg]

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is having a nice 4th of July!

I turned on my computer about an hour ago and saw a solid red X over the network icon in the system tray in Windows 7. I then went to Control Panel and over to Device Manager where all of the icons under Network Adapters had exclamation marks next to them.

I then proceeded to uninstall the Ethernet NIC and then restarted the computer. When the computer started back on, it said that the Ethernet card had been successfully installed etc. However, the red X still appeared and all the other icons under the Ethernet NIC still had an exlamantion mark. When checking their properties, it said that Windows could not load driver (Code 31).

I could not upgrade Windows since it said I have a newer version. It asked me to uninstall iTunes and ATI Catalyst drivers etc in order to install the Windows upgrade. Even after I uninstalled them, it still would not let me install the Windows! I just wanted to get fresh Windows settings but keep my old files.

Anyway, I just did a Windows restore and the problem seems to have gone away.

Does anyone know of a good solution to this problem?

Thanks.

 

[serpretetsky]

which problem? The drivers you fixed or upgrading windows 7? What do you mean by "upgrading" windows 7? like to windows 8?

 

[raildogg]

which problem? The drivers you fixed or upgrading windows 7? What do you mean by "upgrading" windows 7? like to windows 8?

I am sorry for not being clear. I mean I wanted to upgrade my Windows to basically repair this version but keep the files. Windows would not let me since it said I have the newer version of Windows 7.

The problem is the one I described above about the red X appearing over the network icon. That why did restoring to an earlier date fix it. Also, about Windows not being able to load the drivers (Code 31). I don't want this to happen again.

Thanks.