Network adapters do not appear in Device Manager. What to do if there are problems with the network card? The adapter does not work, does not install, or does not appear
Not long ago, the author of these lines encountered an unpleasant situation - one of the computers, which had worked perfectly previously, was connected to the router in a new location using wired connection. Several devices regularly receive Internet from this router, but the newbie himself refused to work, giving the error: “The network adapter does not have acceptable parameters IP settings".
That is, a patch cord, aka Ethernet cable, perfectly provides a regularly humming system unit with the Internet, and when connected to a long-suffering system unit, the latter stubbornly ignores the connected Internet.
What is this error and how to get rid of it - let's figure it out together.
We try to turn it off and on
I admit right away - in my case, the old one helped me good way. I simply unplugged the router and then reconnected it to electrical network, and everything worked on its own. However, before I tried this miracle method, I had to thoroughly study the problem.
Therefore, first of all, try to “turn off and then turn on again” your problematic device, and also reboot the router. Well, what if it actually helped me in the end?
You can also enable or disable the Internet connection manually. To do this, go to the “Change adapter settings” menu. You can find it in the following way:
Right-click on the connection icon and select “Control Center..”
You can also use the following method: press on the keyboard Win + R, dial ncpa.cpl and confirm your entry with the key Enter.
In the window that opens, select your connection and click disable, and then, in the same way, using the right mouse button, click enable.
Checking the connection. Did not help? Let's move on.
Update the IP address
We are trying to update the IP address automatically. For this we use the command line.
Launch the command line and enter the following code:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
This method is the safest, and most likely the most useless.
Resetting the TCP/IP protocol
Let's try to reset network settings. To do this, use the command line again, and then enter the following queries:
netsh int ip reset
netsh int tcp reset
netsh winsock reset
Afterwards we restart the computer. Wrong again? Let's try the following.
We try other ways to solve the error: “The network adapter does not have valid IP settings”
- Try disabling your antivirus or third-party firewall.
- Remove Network adapter V Device Manager, and reboot. After such an execution, the drivers will be automatically reinstalled. If this does not happen, try downloading drivers from the manufacturer’s official website.
- Uninstall the program Bonjour from Apple, if you have it installed, sometimes it causes a crash.
- Check if the network card is disabled in the BIOS.
I hope your problem will be solved as easily and painlessly as in my case. Just in case, it’s worth checking that the cable and network adapter are working properly. Try disconnecting and reconnecting the cable. Update your drivers operating system. If it doesn't help, maybe it's worth it
The network adapter is one of the main components of a computer, because it is difficult to even imagine a PC that is not connected to the Internet. Microsoft is aware of this, so support for the vast majority of network cards is already included in the operating system distribution Windows systems 7. But time and progress do not stand still: from the moment Windows release 7 almost eight years have passed, new network controllers and even data transfer methods have appeared, and with them new network adapters. The use of such components requires additional settings both at the stage of OS installation and during its operation.
Why configure a network card in Windows 7
Change basic settings A network adapter may be necessary to expand the range of tasks performed by a network client computer:
- thin Wi-Fi setup under operating conditions with big amount wireless devices (apartment house, office building);
- installing drivers for a network card that is not supported by the OS out of the box;
- some Internet providers (VPN, pptp, wimax) require additional configuration of network parameters;
- installation and configuration of extended wireless channels communication using RadioEthernet adapters.
How to find out what kind of network cards are installed in the system
You can find out the presence and number of active network adapters on your PC using one of following methods: View the “Network adapters” branch in the “Device Manager” system utility or analyze the contents of network connections in the control panel.
- To get to the Center shared access and network management", click on the icon active connection to the network, located on the right side of the task bar.
The “Network and Sharing Center” is called through the taskbar - By clicking on the interactive block “Changing adapter settings”, display the contents of the network adapter connections window.
Network connections are opened from the Network Control Center - Change the display sort to "Device Type" so that the physical network cards appear first in the window. Availability in the list virtual adapters may confuse you, but they are easy to distinguish by name: it will definitely contain the word virtual.
The display of network cards can be configured in the " Network connections»
Or open Device Manager using command line:
If you have installed software packages work with a 3G modem, VPN clients or virtual machines, then both the “Device Manager” and “Network Connections” will additionally display software network cards created by these programs.
Forcibly turning off such adapters can lead to the most unpredictable consequences, including the inability to boot the PC.
Video: how to find out the model of your network card
How to enable or disable a network card (including using BIOS)
For laptops, turning network interfaces on and off is available using a key combination; for desktop PCs, using BIOS settings or "Control Panels".
To disable the adapter wireless network on a laptop, press the Fn+F12 combination or use a special switch on the case. Some laptop models automatically turn off network interfaces when you select the maximum power saving profile or when you disconnect the cable from the network adapter.
The button to disable the wireless network adapter on some laptop models is located on top panel Disable network card You can programmatically through “Network Connections”.
Network cards USB standard, Cardbus or PCMCIA support hot-disconnection. The easiest way to disconnect them is to simply remove them from the corresponding connector. Do not forget to first disconnect the network cable (patch cord) from them.
Video: how to enable a network card using BIOS
How to install a network driver on Windows 7 (including without the Internet)
Since the network card is used primarily to access the Internet, its inoperability makes it difficult to automatic installation drivers. Fortunately, drivers for a network card, like any other device, can be installed into the system by first recording them onto removable media.
- Write down the network adapter drivers by first downloading them from the manufacturer’s website onto a flash drive or CD. If you downloaded the drivers as a zip archive, be sure to extract it. If the drivers were not downloaded from the official website, then check the archive for viruses.
- Connect the media to the computer, make sure that it is read normally and displayed in Explorer. Then open Device Manager by entering the command devmgmt.msc in the Run window.
The device manager is launched using the command in the “Run” window - Expand the “Other devices” branch and find “ Network Controller" or "Unknown device" with a yellow exclamation mark icon. This will be your network card for which no drivers are installed. An exclamation point indicates that the device cannot start normally.
Installing drivers for an unknown device (network card) begins by selecting this very device in the “Device Manager” - From the context menu, go to “Update drivers”.
In “Properties” you can start updating device drivers - In the Driver Update window, select manual installation.
Select manual update to point the system to the path to the files - Specify the path to removable media with the network card driver package and click Next.
Specify the system path to the folder with driver files - Within a few minutes, the drivers will be installed and your network card will start working.
Taking advantage DriverPack service Solution, you can install missing drivers automatically, without wasting time searching, downloading and installing. The DriverPack Online version downloads almost instantly and does not take up much disk space.
Video: how to install a network adapter driver without Internet access
Setting up a network card
Most ISPs practice completely automatic setup client network card, but in some cases it may be necessary additional customization network adapters. This could be using two channels from different providers, distributing 3G Internet using a computer without using a router, setting up Wi-Fi repeaters and other work scenarios. This is especially true for configurations with multiple network cards.
How to find out the network card settings - IP address, MAC address and IP address of the provider gateway and change them
In most cases, the IP address, gateway address and DNS server The network card receives automatically from the router (router). And on the provider’s side, a DHCP server is probably running, which will provide your card with settings in automatic mode. But in some cases it may be necessary manual setting these important parameters. The easiest way to do this is through the “Network Connections” window.
- Open the network snap-in dialog by typing the ncpa.cpl command in the Run window.
The Network Connections snap-in can be launched via the Run command - Select the required network adapter and open it context menu.
- From the menu, select the “Properties” command. This will open a list of services and protocols running on your network card.
To find out connection properties, right-click on the desired connection - In the list of protocols, select “Internet protocol version 4 (TCP/IP v4)” and open it.
Open TCP/IP properties to change the address, gateway and DNS server - In the window that opens, you can change the following parameters:
- Save your changes by clicking OK.
Carefully make changes to the network card settings. An error in even one digit will render the network inoperable. In the worst case, you can cause an address conflict with another computer and it will also lose access to the network.
You can view the settings of the network card, as well as its physical (MAC address), using system utilities, which are run from the command line.
Video: how to configure a network card on Windows 7
How to update a network card
Updating network card drivers is almost no different from installing them, except for the location of the network adapter in Device Manager. If the adapter without drivers was in the " Unknown devices", then the working one, as it should, will be located in the "Network adapters" branch. 
Normally functioning network cards are located in the “Network adapters” branch
Video: how to update the network driver
Is it possible to create two network cards
In the network life of each user, there may be a need for a second network adapter in the computer. It would seem that it could be simpler: add another card to the expansion slot and you’re done. That's just tablet computer or a netbook cannot be helped in this way; their expansion capabilities are extremely limited. In this case, a virtual network card can help. It will do an excellent job of distributing traffic between two network segments, filtering Internet streams, viewing digital television and other tasks. Adding it is not difficult at all: this feature is preinstalled in the Windows operating system itself.
- Using the Win+R combination, open a command line window and enter the “Device Manager” launch command in it - mmc devmgmnt.mmc.
- From top menu select “Actions”, and from it - “Add a new device”.
"Device Manager" allows you to add a third network card manually - In the Add New Hardware Wizard, select manual installation type to access the list of drivers network devices.
Manual type adding a device will allow you to select a network card from the list of categories - From the list of categories, select “Network adapters”, and from there “Microsoft loopback adapter”.
Microsoft loopback adapter will take over the functions of the second network adapter - Click OK. The virtual network card will be added and appear in the Network Connections window.
How to reset all network driver settings
If your Internet suddenly disappears or most web pages do not open, one of the solutions to the problem would be full reset settings and TCP/IP protocol stack.
Video: Resetting TCP/IP protocol settings in Windows 7
How to disable the adapter
To disable a network card, it is best to use Device Manager - standard remedy operating system. Select a card from the “Network adapters” section, and select “Disable” from the top menu of the program. The network card will be turned off instantly; there is no need to restart the computer. 
Disabling a network card is done using the “Device Manager”
Disabling the network card will result in the Internet connection being interrupted and disconnected from local network. If you have files open on network drives- be sure to save them before disconnecting the adapter, otherwise the data in them may be damaged or lost.
What to do if you have problems with your network card
Most often, problems arise with wired network adapters, because in multi-story buildings, cable routes are laid by providers in boxes not intended for this purpose, adjacent to the wires high voltage, telephone pairs and cables antenna television. High humidity low temperature have a detrimental effect on the wire insulation and sooner or later a breakdown occurs in the cable. The cause of the breakdown can also be caused by high voltage current during a thunderstorm or from higher voltage neighbors. It's rare that a network card can survive such an adventure. It either burns out completely, or begins to behave incorrectly, in cable industry jargon - “glitch”. 
A high voltage discharge passing through the cable led to the destruction of the integrated network card chip
The network adapter does not have valid IP settings
A very common problem caused by incorrect communication between the router and the network adapter is when the adapter does not have valid settings. The result is predictable: the network connection becomes inoperable, and the Network Diagnostic Tool displays an error message.
There are several options to fix the error: turn the router on and off; Disconnect the power supply from the router (or turn it off with the button, if there is one), wait 5-10 seconds and turn the router on again. When you restart, the DHCP server is initialized, the problematic network adapter will receive new address IP and the problem will be fixed.
You can also update the IP address programmatically. To do this, enter a couple of lines in the command prompt window: ipconfig /release and ipconfig renew, then close the command prompt window and check whether your network connection is restored.
The last method is to reset and clean up the TCP/IP stack. It may be damaged malware(viruses) or inappropriate use of Internet connection optimizer utilities. Open the command prompt window again and type following commands(without semicolon):
- netsh int ip reset;
- nets int tcp reset;
- netsh winsock reset.
After this, restart your computer. Now the network adapter will work correctly.
For lazy users who don't want to bother with a boring command line, Microsoft company has released a utility that will make all the corrections automatically. Download the Netshell program from the Microsoft website, run and follow the instructions of the patch wizard.
The error “This device cannot start is displayed Code 10”
This problem almost never occurs on laptops; desktop computers that can be expanded with PCI cards are susceptible to it. The error is caused by a conflict software resources integrated network adapter and one (several) expansion cards in PCI slots. 
Expansion cards may conflict with the network adapter and cause it to fail
Remove all cards from the expansion slots and start the computer in this configuration - the error should disappear.
The problem of starting the device can also be resolved by leaving all expansion cards in place, but reinstalling the system from scratch.
The network adapter does not work and will not install
The vulnerability of wired network cards to atmospheric and static electricity often causes adapter failure during thunderstorms, electrical work, or even power surges. Laying extended sections network wire outdoors “through the air” increases the risk of damage several times. If your provider practices laying cable routes along the outside of the building walls, you are at risk. Another rain with lightning or even work welding machine in the entrance may cause your network card to stop working, and trying to install drivers for it will result in an error.
Only replacing the network adapter will solve the problem. For desktop computer- PCI standard, and for a laptop - USB or PCMCIA. 
A PCMCIA network card will bring your laptop back to life
Try to connect the Internet cable from your provider to the router, and then connect computers to it. After all, the failure of an inexpensive router cannot be compared with the failure of an integrated laptop adapter, or even damage to the entire motherboard.
Windows 7 does not see the network adapter
If the network adapter does not appear in the Network Connections window and is not visible in the Device Manager, as well as in the Unknown Devices section, then probable cause This is due to the failure of the hardware of the network card. Repairing the network adapter integrated into the card is not economically feasible. The best solution The problem will be buying a new network card and installing it in the computer. 
An adapter with a PCIx interface can replace not one, but four network cards
A damaged integrated network adapter should be disabled using BIOS setup tools.
Network card settings are lost
When you try to manually register the TCP/IP address of the gateway and DNS server, the settings are not saved, but are reset to default values, that is automatic receipt addresses from the router. The reason may be incorrect deletion or reinstalling a third party antivirus system with firewall functions.
Reset the TCP/IP protocol and clear its stack. Open a command prompt window and type the following instructions (without the semicolon):
- netsh int ip reset;
- nets int tcp reset;
- netsh winsock reset.
Restart your computer. Now the network adapter will work correctly and all settings will be successfully saved.
A non-working network adapter can put the user in a difficult situation, because it also means no access to the Internet. But a flash drive with a driver, command line utilities and, of course, the Control Panel will help you easily fix all problems and return your computer to full functionality. The same applies to fine adjustments wireless network, eliminating conflicts between network clients and in obtaining the highest possible speed.
The idea of writing this article was born at the moment when, at the request of a friend to fix a problem on his computer with a WiFi connection, it was discovered that Network adapter is not in Windows Device Manager. Let me remind you that it is this device that is responsible for connecting to the Internet via wireless signal. We began to figure out the essence of the problem step by step, and I will share this algorithm with you today.
Let's think about it and systematize all the possible reasons why the device manager does not see the network adapter.
WiFi adapter is broken
This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen, so this option cannot be ruled out. In my practice, there have been cases where computer network cards burned out that were connected to PCI slot the motherboard inside the system unit, and much smaller cards installed in laptops. Since the device is not working, the adapter does not appear in the device manager.
USB connector is faulty
Continuing the topic of breakdowns, we will touch on the option in which the problem is not in the adapter at all, but in USB port which simply doesn't work. That is, when your computer connects to the Internet via external adapter, connected to this same USB. To check if this is true
- try to insert the adapter into the adjacent port
- if it doesn’t work, or if it’s the only one, which is not uncommon on laptops, then try connecting another device to this connector, for example a mouse
In the case when the mouse works, but the adapter does not, this is the reason. If the mouse doesn’t work, then it’s definitely a USB problem. And even worse, if none of the ports is functioning, this alarm bell may indicate the absence of some drivers on the motherboard, and about serious malfunctions associated with the operation of bridges on the motherboard - but this is a topic for another article...
USB extension cable is faulty
In order to better catch a signal that is poorly reaching the computer, “advanced” users use USB extension cable, which is placed closer to the access point. So, this could be the whole problem - either the cable is leaky or the connector is loose. Try plugging the adapter directly into the computer. Another type of such connection is through a USB hub, when the laptop has a shortage of USB inputs. But here there may still be a problem with malnutrition devices. If it is quite enough for flash drives, then it may not be enough for a wifi whistle.
Drivers not installed or lost
Drivers conflict with others or are not suitable for this version of Windows
The case is quite rare, but it happened to me once, as a result of which I was forced to abandon one model wifi adapter and put another one. I couldn’t figure out what was going on - it kept appearing in the dispatcher and then disappeared again. Even repeated removal and installation of factory drivers did not help. Perhaps they simply did not support Windows 10 correctly - I was never able to find out for sure.
Here is the experience of solving a problem when the network adapter is not in Windows Manager, I hope it will be useful to you in correcting this error.
A network adapter (also called a network card) is a device without which it is impossible to establish a connection to worldwide network. In some cases, disabling it and re-enabling it helps solve communication problems. Many network cards can be connected to a computer, with different network connections. However to the average user this is often not necessary. This article is intended for Windows 7 owners, but will be useful for almost every Win-line operating system.
To enable the network adapter in Win 7, click the “Start” button, find the “Computer” item on the right, right-click on it, bringing up the context menu. In it, select the “Properties” line by clicking on it once. In the “System” control panel window that appears, find the “Device Manager” tab on the left and go to it. A list similar to the screenshot below will open. We look for the “Network adapters” item in it, click once, getting a drop-down list. If there are no sub-items in the list, or you cannot find an item called “Network Adapters” at all, the network card may not be physically enabled or is faulty. What to do in this case? Below we will give some tips and solutions (see point 6). Let's continue with the setup. The screenshot attached above illustrates what enabled and working network adapters look like. If one of them shows an arrow (the icon is circled in red), the card just needs to be turned on. To do this, right-click on the image and select “Engage” from the context menu. The arrow should disappear and the network adapter should work.
There can be many reasons for a lack of network connection; they are not limited to a faulty network card. If after reading this manual you still have questions, ask them in the comments or contact technical support your Internet provider.
A computer is a complex machine that interacts with a huge amount various components. Sometimes some devices malfunction. For example, when working with the Internet, various problems arise. Quite often, people are faced with a situation in which they cannot see the cable on their PC. What to do in in this case? What could be the reasons similar phenomenon? What should I do to restore my Internet connection?
Damage
The first and most common cause of the problem is the presence physical damage at the connected equipment. The network card does not see the Internet cable? It is necessary to first check its integrity. It is likely that the cord is crushed or completely broken.
Next, it is recommended to verify the integrity of the cable connection sockets, as well as the plugs. If everything is normal, you can look for the cause of the problem elsewhere. The presence of damage means that the network card will not be able to see the cable until the problem is fixed.
What helps here, as a rule, is replacing the cable and connection plugs. No other options are provided.
Settings
The next option is also not so rare. Often the network card does not see the cable from the Internet if the network settings are messed up. This phenomenon usually does not cause panic among users.
To eliminate this situation, the user is asked to open the “Network Control Center”. In the window that appears, look at the results. If there is a red cross between the computer and the connection, there really is a problem with the Internet. Most likely, the network card does not see the cable due to incorrect settings.
Correcting the situation boils down to the user clicking on the red cross between the PC and the Internet, and then waiting for the test results. Once it is completed, you can follow the help wizard to set up your network.
If the network card no longer sees the cable, you need to contact your provider. Data is taken from him to configure the network, which is entered into the appropriate fields (for example, IP address). It is proposed to work in the same “Network Control Center”.
Drivers
But that's not all! A computer is a complex device. When problems occur, it can be difficult to determine the source of the problem. Therefore, solving the problem consists of searching through all possible reasons failures. There are not so few of them.
The network card does not see the cable? It is possible that the problem lies in the software. More precisely, in the drivers. It is likely that one or another is outdated on the computer. software for equipment. And therefore it is not recognized in the operating system.
The situation can be easily corrected. To do this you need:
- Open "Device Manager". The best way to do this is by right-clicking on the My Computer shortcut. Next, you need to select “Properties”, and then select the desired service.
- Open the "Network adapters" section.
- Click on the name of the network card and select "Drivers" there.
- Click on "Rollback".
This technique helps when the network card suddenly starts to malfunction. That is, when the cable was previously recognized. This technique allows you to roll back to earlier ones.
With reinstalling drivers, everything is simpler - just download or upload using installation disk software on the official website of the network card manufacturer, and then install it. Just a few minutes - and it's done!
Shutdown
Users often complain that their built-in network card does not see what to do in this case? Doesn't matter about the built-in component we're talking about or not. The main thing is that the reasons for the failures remain the same.
It should not be ruled out that the network card is disabled or does not work at all. You can check this in Device Manager. If in the section with network adapters there is a red cross next to the name of the network card, then the problem really is with a non-working device.
As a rule, it is recommended to simply replace the non-functioning component. And then the Internet cable will again be recognized by the operating system. In practice, people still do not often encounter equipment incompatibility. But it still shouldn’t be ruled out.
Incompatibility
More and more often, users are faced with a situation where the network card does not see the cable. Windows 7 allows you to detect problems very quickly. All listed layouts are relevant for this OS.
But owners of Windows 10 may encounter a problem such as hardware incompatibility. Some modems, speakers, microphones, mice and other computer components do not work with this operating system. Therefore, you can get rid of the problem:
- reinstalling the operating system;
- by purchasing a new network card/modem.
No more options are offered to combat equipment incompatibility. Every user should remember this.
Viruses
If all of the above options did not help, and the network card does not see the cable, you can scan the operating system for viruses. They are often the cause of most problems and failures.
You can detect a virus using antivirus program. After scanning your PC, you need to disinfect the operating system. Next is to restart the computer. If the network card did not see the cable due to the presence of viruses, then the described steps will help resolve the problem.
