Ethernet drive?

Question

Is it possible to delete the ethernet drive from my computer?

I did some cleaning to see if that would help with my computer being slow and since then, the ethernet drive isnt working to let me use DSL to get onto the internet.

When I say cleaning, I did a clean online that removed unneeded registries, old programs, etc. I also use McAfee and did a system clean. Other than the clean, we had a bad T-Storm with very close lightning near our house.

I'm not sure which caused it or if it's just coincidence or not. Embarq helped me do some things to check my LAN, etc. and it is still saying my DSL is unplugged.

How much is a new ethernet drive and how hard is it to install if you know nothing about computers. Embarq told me to get a new "netwrok interface card" IF the new modem they mail me doesnt work.

I dont know if I should take it to a shop for repairs, etc. or not.

If it cannot be deleted, I think I accidently blocked it when I was adjusting my firewall and security settings. I did a system restore to prior to the changes and cleaning and it is still not recognizing the ethernet drive. How can I unblock the connection to make it work if it didnt go bad?

Answer 1

Sounds like in your cleaning you somehow managed to delete either the drive for your network card, or whatever software came with your DSL modem. It is probably just going to take a reinstall of the correct software package.

Begin by going into the Control Panel, clicking on the System icon, and then the Hardware tab. Go into the Device Manager. You will see a listing of all the devices currently on your PC.

Look and see if you have any devices that show a yellow ! in a triangle in front of them (may say "Unknow Device"). That shows you a device that is currently not working properly. Right click on the device and "uninstall" it. Reboot the PC and hopefuly it will correctly reinstall the card and you will be back in business.

If during the reinstall, it tells you it can not find the software driver for it, you may have to go to the website of the PC's manufacturer and download the driver.

Answer 2

You can't exactly delete an ethernet card from a computer but it sounds like you may have damaged the drivers for the card. Drivers are the software that is needed for the computer to communicate with the hardware.

Right click on my computer and choose properties, then click on the hardware tab and then on device manager.

Have a look through the device manager for network adaptors, then click on the little plus beside that. If there is nothing there then have a look right at the bottom of the list of hardware for listed as unknown device with a yellow question mark beside it. If it is there in the network adaptors then make sure there is no yellow question mark or red cross on the little icon for it.

If it is there under network adaptors, or there is an unknown device then the card is probably fine and just needs the drivers loaded, these will usually be on a disk that came with the computer.....If the device is not listed at all then it is probably damaged and may need to be replaced. The good news is that they are pretty cheap these days.

If you don't have the disk or it is not listed at all it is probably a job for a tech who should be able to put a new one in for somewhere around $50- $80 NZ

Answer 3

ethernet card is not costly, maybe your existing network card is deffective, ..