Sometimes the ethernet will disappear in device manager. This can sometimes be resolved by disabling it in the BIOS setup and letting Windows load with the ethernet disabled, then powering down, entering the BIOS setup and re-enabling the ethernet. If this fix does not work it usually indicates the NIC has failed.
Variant A – Older Systems
- Power down your computer. Wait 10 seconds and power it up. Press F2 at the Dell BIOS Screen.
2. This will take you to the BIOS setup. Press [↓] and highlight Onboard Devices and press Enter to expand. Press [↓] to get to integrated NIC and press [Enter].
3. Change Enabled to Disabled/Off.
4. Press [Esc.]
5. Select save and exit.
6. The system will reboot.
7. Log into Windows and then shut down.
8. Re-enter the BIOS setup and revert the change.
Variant B – Newer Systems
- Power down your computer. Wait 10 seconds and power it up. Press F2 at the Dell BIOS Screen.
2. This will take you to the BIOS setup
3. Press the [→] key and then the [enter] key to select the Advanced tab.
4. Press the [↓] key until you get to get to System Configuration and press [Enter].
5. Press the [↓] key until you get to Onboard Land Controller and press [Enter].
6. Press the [↑] key until you get to Disabled and press [Enter]
7. Press F10 to save and exit. When prompted select yes by moving the [←] key and press enter.
8. The system will reboot.
9. Log into Windows and then shut down.
10. Re-enter the BIOS setup and revert the change.
