Windows 10: Utility or Easy Way to Manage/Delete Network Interfaces and Connection

Hi all,

I do a lot of networking and often connect various USB Ethernet and WiFi NICs, in addition to the internal ones. Over time, these add up to tons of Ethernet 1, 2, 3 etc and Network 5, 8, 10, etc. I usually ignore it. But how does one clean it up?

This has caused problems where if I have a static IP (the usual) on an interface and it is disconnected, I can't assign it to another one, or if I can, there are often problems. Even plugging the same USB adapter back into the same port doesn't restore the original connection or network.

The bit about showing all interfaces so they show up in Device Manager as hidden devices doesn't work for this.

Thanks!

:)

 

Windows 10 Anniversary Device Manager Issues

Hi
mccainmw,

You simply need to boot into Safe Mode, then use Regedit. And Search Local Machine for the exact Name of the Connection. Rename it or Delete it. This occurred in Windows XP, a lot.

 

ActiveSync disconnects wifi

RNDIS is the same thing as enabling Advanced Network Functionality.

What you found on my website is close, but not the same issue. With WM5.0 and ActiveSync 4.x, Microsoft tightened up WIFI security. Part of this tightening of security involved making it so the pocket pc could not maintain a WIFI connection while it was connection
to a computer via ActiveSync. This tightening of security should have not break the computer's internet connection, and most users do not have their computer's internet connection get disrupted when they run AS4.x on their computer.

I think the problem has to do with how your network manages its resources. I am not a network expert by any means, but when I first read about this issue, I spent quite a lot of time researching it and trying to understand what could be causing the issue.
This is what I learned:

Windows Mobile 5.0 and ActiveSync 4.x use the Windows system TCP/IP stack for communication, so the PDA device connection appears as a network interface on your PC. It appears that your PC can only handle one network connection at a time and that the ActiveSync
connection takes priority over your internet connection. If your computer is Bluetooth enabled, I bet you can synch up your PDA via Bluetooth with no problem.

I think the problem you are experiencing is either related to Network Connection Managers or to Network Traffic Optimizers. I am quoting liberally from information I found on Microsoft's website:

"Network Connection Managers are utilities that allow PCs to handle multiple, consecutive network connections (e.g. Ethernet, Wireless LAN, etc.). In some cases, the utilities will shut down network interfaces and promote other interfaces for the best
connection performance. Some of these utilities are implemented as NDIS Intermediate Drivers that monitor and affect the Windows system TCP/IP stack.

Network Traffic Optimizers are utilities that enhance a connection to increase connection throughput. In some cases, this is done by modifying the network packets or re-directing network traffic to save transfer time. Some of these utilities are implemented
as Transport Driver Interface Drivers that are installed in the Windows system to monitor the TCP/IP stack.

Here's an interesting article I just found on Microsoft's website that does not address your issue but explains the Advanced Network functionality a little better.

Did you try this? (I posted a link to this reply earlier in this thread to the MobilitySite forum - this procedures seems to change the priority in the internet connections on a network):

Open Start - Settings - Control Panel

Open Network Connections

Make sure your PDA/Phone is connected

You device will show up as a Local Area Connection X (X being a number). Make note of this network name.

Next, in network connections, click on Advanced in the menu, and then advanced settings.

Make sure that your PDA/PHONE device (local area connection X) is at the bottom. Click the green down arrow on the right to move down.