Device Manager: Network Adapters always expanded -- Gigabit Network

Gigabit Network Connection network adapter is disabled on my computer that talks to my router over wi-fi, not through a cable. I don't recall having disabled it, but I clearly don't need it when my wi-fi router is only 8 feet away, and everything internet- and home network-related works beautifully and fast as lightning. Bothers me, though that Device Manager always has Network Adapters expanded, clearly to call attention to the fact that the GNC adapter is disabled. Should I uninstall that adapter and its driver software to calm the Device Manager? Would uninstalling it make the Device Manager happier?

(See Computer specs, System 2) Win 10 Pro 20H2

Thanks, oscer1. I guess it just bothers me (okay, I worry! ) when anything isn't just perfectly shipshape, even though everything else is working perfectly. This is the same machine that has the broken dropdowns from Copy To and Move To in the Home ribbon (see earlier post and discussion -- still unsolved). Those buttons work perfectly if I just accept the fact that the dropdown menus don't look the way they should. Gotta stop being a worrier. Device Manager seems to be fine, but it just doesn't look fine.

Using Device Manager as a diagnostic tool can be helpful, always shows an expanded sublist when a device isn't working right, needs updated drivers or has been Disabled by the User. It usually can be seen which item on a list is involved, depends upon the display settings and one's eyesight. If not wanting to see the drop down might disable the adapter in the BIOS, the Operating System reads the BIOS to see what resources it has to work with.

Berton said:

... always shows an expanded sublist when a device isn't working right, needs updated drivers or has been Disabled by the User.

Thanks, Berton. In this case, it's not working (which is right, since there's no ethernet cable connected to this machine), it almost certainly doesn't need updated drivers (checked fairly recently), and I don't remember disabling it, but I probably did, to kill an error message I kinda sorta remember getting when I moved it from cable-connected to wi-fi that said something like "Network cable unplugged." And yes, I check the DM from time to time just to see whether anything is on the blink but not (yet) noticeably affecting my daily use of the machine.

Wanting complete freedom from even very tiny "error" indicators is just my way, I guess. Some live with them; some don't.

It would help if you posted an image of device manager with the issue.

That's how it looks when I open it. I didn't expand the Adapters. It's automatic when there's something to check, as you know.

That image shows as a normal function, as I mentioned you may need to disable the NIC in the BIOS if it's a problem. Most folks don't go to Device Manager or Disk Management in normal computing. The BIOS controls the onboard/built-in devices, if it's an Add-in card it can simply be removed.

Wisewiz said:

Gigabit Network Connection network adapter is disabled on my computer that talks to my router over wi-fi, not through a cable. I don't recall having disabled it, but I clearly don't need it when my wi-fi router is only 8 feet away, and everything internet- and home network-related works beautifully and fast as lightning. Bothers me, though that Device Manager always has Network Adapters expanded, clearly to call attention to the fact that the GNC adapter is disabled. Should I uninstall that adapter and its driver software to calm the Device Manager? Would uninstalling it make the Device Manager happier?

(See Computer specs, System 2) Win 10 Pro 20H2

Hi Wisewiz,

Sometimes settings just seem to magically change state without warning, especially with Windows OSs.

Your device manager is designed to open in an expanded state to draw attention to any deficiencies. While you may be happy to have your Ethernet Controller disabled, Windows just doesn't agree and wants you to know about it.

I only use an Ethernet connection for testing and quite rarely, so I understand your thinking that having it enabled isn't necessary. Remember, we only lease Windows and Microsoft always knows best.

When I disable my Ethernet Controller and then open the device manager, the Network Adapters section is expanded and the icon for the controller is altered like yours.




I too dislike seeing the Network Adapters expanded and choose to keep my Ethernet Controller enabled so that when I open the Device Manager, everything looks as it should, no sections appear expanded and no unusual icons.




If you uninstall the adapter, it will install again after the next boot. As Berton mentioned, your bios settings may have an option to disable the Ethernet Adapter, however; this action will create a new task should you ever decide to use an Ethernet connection.

Whenever I to use an Ethernet connection, I plug in the RJ45 connector and I'm done. No closing all apps and restart to access bios settings. That just sounds like too much effort.

If you choose to enable the ethernet controller, this entire issue will disappear.

Tweaker, you old fellow-Canuck,

You've covered it for me. And your two screenshots answered my question about where I saw the "unplugged" notice. I'm going to go with your solution. Many thanks for taking the time to do the shots and address my problem. Stay safe.