removing multiple NIC entries in windows server 2003

[xyyz]

for some bizzare reason, the current nic is numbered as #5, which means there are 4 other copies out there that i can't see.

this wouldn't bother me normally, but at the moment, the OS is giving me grief about assigning the same address to NIC#5 as i did to NIC#2.

how do i go and remove the other 4 hidden entries?

i've tried showing all the devices in device manager, but it only shows one other one, and when i uninstall that, the system seems adapterless. also, for some other reason, i can't uninstall some miniport drivers that i no longer need. so if anyone can tell me how to remove those, that's be gret too.

 

[imported_Phil]

Device Manager -> View -> Show Hidden Devices.
Remove everything from the Network section, reboot and see if it works

You may need to do this in Safe Mode, as it's Server 2003; it might complain if you try to remove the networking stuff while it's running.