Red "X" on network adapters when enabled, plugged in or connected

[tankman1989]

I've often experienced something that I consider strange with XP, Vista & 7. Sometimes I will go to network connections/adapters and an adapter will have a red "X" on it when it is connected to the network (cabled or wireless) and the adapter is working. Disabling the connection makes the "X" go away but the icon also greys out. The reason I am writing about this now is that I have a connection that has the red "X" and says network cable unplugged but the cable is plugged in and the NIC is properly working (checked on Linux Live CD).

Does this sound like a driver issue? I've tried to fix the problem before with updating the driver but usually am unsuccessful with it. It has resolved itself at times, I'm guessing after some MS updates or fixes - but it is a real PITA at times when I have to install a new NIC of some kind to get things working.

Today this was happening on a Dell Lat D620 w/ XP pro, broadcom gigabit NIC. I installed the drivers from the originally shipped driver CD (OS was installed from original media as well) and got the red "X" thing. None of the drivers or updates would get it working. I finally downloaded SP3, installed, and the "X" went away.

Another time I had an Atheros based PCI wireless card that installed perfectly except the red "X". It found networks but just wouldn't connect - this was on Win 7. I tried using the Win wireless manager after the failed attempt to use the wireless card management device (I disabled the 3rd party manager before trying the Win manager). Nothing I did would make it work, even re-installing it, trying different drivers etc. I was going to give up and was going to use a USB wireless dongle but the moment I plugged the USB device in the red "x" disappeared and the wireless card worked from there out. I had the pleasure of doing this whole install with the customer staring over my shoulder, explaining to her what was going on, and she thought it was really odd and unexplainable as well. The fact of just plugging in a USB wireless dongle and having it instantly free up or enable the PCI device is very strange IMO. Anyone have any ideas on this or any of this issue at all?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Update firmware, update motherboard drivers, update NIC drivers....will typically address the issue.

The Atheros wireless...well....that's Atheros wireless for ya.....worst pieces of junk in the world, I will never...ever....order/support a laptop with Atheros for client. Years and years of finding new bugs and compatibility glitches with those things....I'm done with them.

 

[d4rkeagle]

I have had the same issue lately, and no matter what I do, (even tried what the guy above said to) and nothing will work.

 

[Ciaran]

Is the network service able to start?

If not try this in an elevated cmd prompt:

net localgroup Administrators /add networkservice
press enter then type:
net localgroup Administrators /add localservice
press enter then type:
exit
press enter and restart your computer

Source: http://www.techsupportforum.com/for...-service-or-group-failed-to-start-535234.html

 

[saadmirza87]

Driver issue

Sounds a lot like a driver issue. From device manager uninstall the driver (don't delete the software). Than from Tools click on scan for hardware changes and it should automatically install the driver back

 

[PBComputer]

Check the driver is up to date, also make sure that the correct services are running, in services.msc.

If those fail run a check on the memory as I've seen a faulty stick cause this before.

Paul

 

[onetech4all]

re:

Maybe you can also try to disable and enable the card.
Disable IPv6 (if you are using it).