Repair an Ethernet Controller

Used to process network activity between multiple computers or devices, most modern computers have Ethernet controllers installed directly onto the computer motherboard. These onboard devices run on the system bus and use your processor to decode and transmit the network streams. The software drivers for Ethernet controllers are usually part of a driver bundle for your motherboard that can usually be obtained individually from Windows Update. If you are having a problem with network or Internet connectivity and you suspect a problem with your Ethernet controller, you should uninstall and then reinstall the software and driver.

• Insert the motherboard driver CD into your CD drive. If you do not have a driver CD, you may need to download the drivers on another computer and put them on a disk. Windows does have a limited number of popular Ethernet controller drivers available. Additionally, Windows also keeps a record of previous drivers you have used. If you do not have the CD, you can attempt to use the Windows driver archive first.

• Press the "Windows" and "R" keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
• Type "Devmgmt.msc" and press the "Enter" key. This loads the hardware device manager.
• Double-click "Network adapters." This expands a list of the installed network devices on your computer.
• Right-click the Ethernet controller and select "Uninstall." Press "OK" on the "Confirm Device Uninstall" dialog.
• Click "Action," and then "Scan for hardware changes." The device will reinstall. Continue to the next step if the device is still not working or if you are prompted for a driver.
• Right-click the Ethernet controller and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab and select "Update Driver."