Hundreds of "Microsoft 6to4 Adapters" and several "Microsoft ISATAP Adapters" in device manager and the number is growing

Question

I got hundreds of "Microsoft 6to4 Adapters" and several "Microsoft ISATAP Adapters" in my device manager. It seems the number is growing also. These devices are hidden, thus it would be normally not noticed. I found this problem when I am using "ipconfig" command to check local ip address.

Does any have see similar problem? Is there a method to remove and fix the problem?

Answer 1

Hi minichocobo,

6to4 adapter is a component used for transmitting IPv6 packets trough IPv4 network correctly.

I suggest you completely uninstall the drivers and re-install it and check if the issue persists.

Refer the following link and follow the steps given by Lionel Chen – MSFT.

**http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistahardware/thread/3a503cdb-e61c-44bc-97c4-0b38b0e5f929**

These drivers are installed by the updates on your computer, Check if you have the latest drivers installed.

If everything is working fine you may remove the old drivers.

I would also advise you to download the Network drivers from the manufacturer's website.

For more information refer to the articles below:

Hardware and drivers**http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/help/hardware-drivers******

---

Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly

**http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Update-a-driver-for-hardware-that-isnt-working-properly**

Regards,

Divya R – Microsoft Support.

Answer 2

I have spent quite some time on this problem and have now fixed three different Windows 7 PC's with this problem.

I found the cause of the problem to be hundreds on Microsoft 6to4 Adapters suddenly appearing on the PC's.

I solved the problem by using the Device Remover application, downloaded from here

http://www.pro-it-education.de/software/deviceremover/#\_download

It is still a Beta version, but extremly powerfull

Run it and select all the Microsoft 6to4 adaperts located under Networking, remove selected devices and then reboot. That should be it.

Answer 3

Hello,

the issue may be caused by problem described in this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/980486 hostednetwork is allowed by default in Win7, but should not be started, anyway it worth to disbaling it in GPO (http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/Windows7/AdminTips/Security/DisabletheWirelessHostedNetworkorVirtualAPFeature.html) if not really needed...