Windows 10: Windows Connection Manager disables integrated NIC

A little background, in our environment we disable the Windows Connection Manager service on our workstations and laptop as to not let Windows control the network connections. This works perfectly for 99% of our devices. We have a laptop with a wired ethernet connection that is the exception. This laptop was just updated from Windows 10 1909 which had this service disabled and worked fine to Windows 10 2004. Whenever we disable the Windows Connection Manager service WCMSVC the integrated NIC is disabled 2-3 seconds later loosing network connectivity. This device is also connected to a dock with an ethernet port which reacts the same way. We are not connecting both the integrated ethernet port and the dock ethernet port at the same time rather just using them for testing.



The only way we have found to restore network connectivity is to enable this service. Does anyone have any suggestions on why this one device would be reacting this way to the service being disabled vs the other workstations/laptops that have this same service disabled and still maintain network connectivity? Additionally, our GPO by default disables this service which we can enable but if the other devices work without this service this device should as well. Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Chris

:)

 

Losing network connection

As has been suggested..make sure your chipset/NIC drivers are up-to-date.

In addition, make sure any and all power saving features are disabled for the NIC - I've seen very similar problems caused by Windows suspending the NIC when idle and when it resumes - no connectivity.

 

Window's 10-Realtek NIC issue - Device manager sees a NIC, but no network connection

Do you have a spare NIC card or USB->NIC you could try? If it were my computer, I'd just assume the NIC was shot at this point and would disable it in the BIOS.

 

Windows 10 ver. 1511 (OS Build 10586.71)After Boot reported that the NIC is disabled though it is not.

Windows 10 ver. 1511 (OS Build 10586.71)

Laptop: Compaq 8710p On Microsoft list of compatible devices

NIC: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN. NB! There is no further update to this NIC.

Wen I start my laptop, after it has been off for several hours, it does not connect to network. Troubleshooting tool reported that the NIC is disabled though it is not.