Question on Device Mgr

[DelJo63]

System was sane for a long time but now has an issue.

Using the Device Mgr, [+] expanding Network Devices, I no longer see the Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller :sigh:

Can someone confirm, Devices only show up if:

• a) the devices is installed physically
• b) the driver is also installed

IMO, there's no way to determine (a) without (b)

I have symptoms that the NIC died as it can NOT be seen in any normal locations; device mgr or network & sharing -> change adapter settings.

I've downloaded the Dell driver for it, run it and after twirling for a few minutes, very late in the process it reports Controller Not Found, and some junk about Deep Sleep.

Yes, I've rebooted too

 

[DelJo63]

HMM; Bizarre. System crashed during a drag-n-drop to external device.

reboot into safe mode, run chkdsk c: /f just to be sure (it's ok)

final reboot - - NIC was present and active puzzling:

 

[DelJo63]

The crash is likely due to d-n-d too many folders at the same time, overloading memory - - not nice, but that can be taken as User Error.

The original symptom and he magical restoration after the crash has only one rational explanation:- Virus'