Solutions to Uninstallation Issues with Intel® Ethernet Network Drivers

Documentation

Install & Setup

000005781

08/14/2020

What am I seeing?

When I try to uninstall Intel® Network Adapter drivers, Intel® PROSet, or adapter teams from Windows*, one of the following happens:

  • The uninstall failed.
  • The uninstall requires a system reboot. After rebooting the system, the driver, software, or team failed to uninstall.
  • You get a message that you must uninstall the previous version of Intel® PROSet. When using the uninstall programs feature in Windows* Control Panel, the normal removal of Intel® Network Connections fails.

How to fix it.

Before starting this procedure, download drivers and software for Intel® Ethernet Adapters for use during the installation step. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Remove the phantom adapters from Device Manager.
  2. Uninstall and remove any existing teams and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs).
  3. Uninstall the drivers for the network interface cards (NICs) via Device Manager.
  4. Reboot.
  5. Install the latest drivers and software.
  6. Re-create any teams and VLANs.

If this solution doesn't work, can I manually remove registry items?

If the previous solution doesn't solve the issue, complete the following steps:

Caution
 Make sure you back up your registry before proceeding. Changing or deleting registry keys can have unintended consequences.

 

  1. Remove the phantom adapters from Device Manager.
  2. Uninstall and remove any existing teams and VLANs.
  3. Using Device Manager, uninstall the drivers for the NICs.
  4. From a command prompt, open regedt.exe.
  5. Back up the registry, File > Export.
  6. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002bE10318}
    • Remove the numbered (0001 or 0007) registry keys where its DriverDesc value(s) = the name of your Intel LAN connection.
  7. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}.
    • Remove one of the following registry keys where, in subKey Connection:
    • Name value= Local Area Connection X and PnpInstanceID value = \ROOT\IANSMINIPORT\xxx
    • Name value= Local Area Connection X and PnpInstanceID value = PCI/VEN_8086&DEV_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  8. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards.
    • Remove the numbered key (1 or 5) where its Description value = the name of your Intel LAN connection(s).
  9. Remove the following keys, if present:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Network_Services\ANS
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Network_Services\DMIX
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Network_Services\INST_LANGUAGE_PRIV
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Network_Services\NCS2
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Prounstl\Dins
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\Prounstl\Services
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\SupportedDevices
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iANSMiniport
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iANSProtocol
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PROSetDX
    • Search in the Uninstall section for Intel® Network Connections. If you find a key where the DisplayVersion value equals your PROSet/DMIX version (DisplayVersion = 14.5.1.0), delete this key: ({AAA8CA88-8A22-43D1-867F-ABD7944C9815}).
  10. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folders, and remove the following:
    • ..\Intel\ANS\
    • ..\Intel\DMIX\
    • ..\Intel\DMIX\Hlp\
    • ..\Intel\DMIX\Resource\
    • ..\Intel\DMIX\uninst\
    • ..\Intel\NS2\
    • ..\Intel\NCS2\Agent\
    • ..\Intel\NCS2\Scripts\
    • ..\Intel\NCS2\WMIProv\
    • ..\Intel\NCS2\WMIProv\MOF\
  11. Save and reboot.
  12. Reinstall drivers and re-create the teams and VLANs.

If the above procedures fail, contact Intel Support.