network property sheets already open—NOT! 1

[horqua]

I've hosed my network settings.

When I go to Network Neighborhood, RtClk to Properties, and RtClk Local Connection, I get a message "Network property sheets are already open. Close them and re-open Network Properties to make changes." The settings are greyed out/locked and I can't make any changes.

I've un-installed and re-installed the network card. I've installed another network device (USB) and un-installed it. No difference.

I've gone to System>Device Manager and viewed Hidden Devices. What it finds is my network card and multiple references to NetBui/Wan Dial-up Miniports. I'm on a router/cable modem and don't use dial-up. I can't uninstall the Miniports as the system won't allow.

I've gone to Add/Remove Programs and attempted to remove Networking, but the process gets half-way thru and reports the system won't allow this to happen, so it reverses itself.

In my research, I've learned there's such a thing as ghost devices not displayed in Device Mgr. I'm not sure how the "Bust" these devices. Any ideas?

Have any of you Tek-ies ever encountered this issue and recovered without a re-install? God, how I hate the thought of re-installing Win2K and all the programs I've accumulated over the past couple years. I'm looking for easy answers here, folks. Got any?

Knock and the door will be opened to you; Seek and you will find; Ask and it will be given to you!

 

[bcastner]

Use the utility discussed in faq779-4625

 

[horqua]

I tried the utility suggested by bcastner, but it didn't solve this specific issue. Thank you for the suggestion, though.

FYI: I did solve this problem. First, I had to go into Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Component Services>Services(Local) and Turn off the Network Connections. This allowed me to access the network settings in Network Neighborhood>Properties>Local Connection. In the Local Connection, I uninstalled all of the connections (NetBui, tcp/ip, etc.) and the Network card. Then I re-booted.

Next, I went back into Control Panel>Add/Remove Software>Windows Components> and I removed all the network components. Rebooted, uninstalled the network card a second time, and ran two different registry cleaners. Rebooted.

Then I went back to Control Panel>Add/Remove Software>Windows Components> and re-installed the network components. Then to Network Neighborhood where I re-installed the local connections and completed the tcp/ip configuration. Rebooted.

Now the system works properly and acts correctly. I am able to access the Local Connections thru the Network Neighborhood and make changes without getting the error messsage that started this whole mess.

Knock and the door will be opened to you; Seek and you will find; Ask and it will be given to you!