Cannot disable Local Area Network

Question

XP Pro SP3 Right click LAN icon and get message"It is not possibe to disable the connection at this time.The connection may be using one or more protocols that do not support plug-and-play, or it may have been initiated by another user or the system account.

I am the Admin and only user.

When I di ipconfig /all I get this:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : LAPTOP

        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :

        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid

        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : domain_not_set.invalid

                                            domain_not_set.invalid

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : domain_not_set.invalid

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-A1-0C-53

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.67

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

                                            184.16.4.22

        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 12, 2010 10:18:00 AM

        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:18:00 AM

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : domain_not_set.invalid

        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Dell Wireless 1350 WLAN Mini-PCI Card

        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-90-96-A7-2C-08

        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.68

        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

                                            184.16.4.22

        Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, October 12, 2010 10:18:29 AM

        Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:18:29 AM

Answer 1

Hi cciaffone ,

if you cannot disable your local area connection by going to Network Connections

please try disabling via Device Manager

go to RUN  and type the following in RUN : DEVMGMT.MSC

under Network Adapter try disabling your ethernet card.

hope that helps

Answer 2

Hi

Download and run these two utilities.

They help to identify what actually is loaded at StartUp and running in the background.

 It might show you what is causing the uncalled for Network traffic and thus does not let you disabling the LAN.

StartUp & Process Explorer

http://www.ezlan.net/infestation.html#startup

---

Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

Answer 3

Here's the solution and also the probable cause ....

First go here : https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/50470

Next download the driver for your system - either 32 or 54 bit XP

It's probably this one :

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition*

Windows XP* version 18.3

Run the installer and it will replace your network driver.

Now you should be able to disable the adapter.

The probable cause is that either windows on a new install has put in it's own driver version - which does not work, OR you have automatic updates enabled and Microsoft "updated" the driver to a version that does not work properly.

Once the adapter has the correct driver then it allows itself to be right click disabled/re-enabled from the task bar icon or network folder icon.