Reinstalling almost any hardware, including an Ethernet controller, can be the simplest solution to many computer problems. It may seem like a pain to do, but it's better than spending hours trying to diagnose the cause of a problem. Starting with a reinstall saves time in the long run. If you’re new to troubleshooting your own computer problems, reinstalling an Ethernet controller is a good beginner project.

When you find the program Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver, click it, and then do one of the following: Windows Vista/7/8: Click Uninstall. Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program). Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Realtek Ethernet Controller Driver. Using Device Manager to Uninstall Devices and Driver Packages.; 2 minutes to read Contributors. In this article. Device Manager is a Control Panel application that allows you to manage devices and drivers on your system. Reinstalling almost any hardware, including an Ethernet controller, can be the. One of the first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall and reinstall the device.

Ethernet

An Ethernet controller is simply a wired network card. Ethernet is the standard protocol used for most networks. Because of the popularity and wide use of the Ethernet protocol, the term 'Ethernet card' is often used generically for modern network, or NIC, cards. The RJ45 cable used to connect these cards to routers, DSL modems and cable modems is referred to as an Ethernet cable.

Purpose of Reinstalling

Often a hardware device can stop working for other reasons than hardware failure. One of the first troubleshooting steps is to uninstall and reinstall the device. This can involve reinstalling just the drivers -- the software the computer uses to talk to components attached to it -- or physically removing and replacing the device as well. The more thorough process ensures the correct drivers are used and that the hardware is firmly connected. Reinstalling solves a good percentage of many hardware problems.

How to reinstall

Click on the Windows Start button to open the Start menu and click on “Control Panel.” Type “Device Manager” into the search text box at the top right of the Control Panel window. Find your Ethernet controller listed under Network Adaptors, right-click on it, and choose 'Uninstall' from the context menu. Shut down the computer and unplug the power. Make sure you have discharged any static electricity. Open the computer case and remove the Ethernet controller from its card slot by pulling it out gently. Put the controller back in place or, if you have another open slot, place it in a different slot. Restart the computer. Windows will find the controller automatically; just browse to where the driver files are located when asked to do so by Windows. The Ethernet controller is now completely reinstalled. If you have an on-board Ethernet controller, there is no physical card to take out. Just make sure the controller is enabled in the BIOS, which you access upon startup by pressing the function key indicated on the startup screen displayed as your computer boots.

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• Henry Amon; Information Systems Specialist; Salisbury, Maryland

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